Team of the Week 43 (TOTW) predictions

The Premier League is up and running again, with the second round of fixtures being completed this weekend. There was a crushing victory for champions Manchester City as they hit six past Huddersfield, and Brighton & Hove Albion picked up the first shock win of the new campaign, defeating Manchester United 3-2.

Action returned in Serie A, with Cristiano Ronaldo making his debut for Juventus in a dramatic 3-2 win over Chievo Verona. The new La Liga season also got underway, with Barcelona and Real Madrid picking up routine victories, but there was a surprise as Levante shocked big spending Real Betis in a 3-0 away win. PSG are the team to beat in the French Ligue 1, with Kylian Mbappe netting a brace in the 3-1 victory over Guingamp as Gianluigi Buffon lined up against Marcus Thuram, son of his former teammate Lilian.

There were some superb performances in the weekend’s action, so who could have done enough to land a spot in the FIFA 18 Team of the Week? A squad of 23 players will be released on Ultimate Team at 6pm on Wednesday, August 22, and they will receive an in-form boost to their FUT card. You can challenge the squad for a coin bonus in Ultimate Team or find them in packs from the FUT store. They can also be bought and sold individually on the transfer market.

Neil Etheridge (OVR 68 – IF 78)

Neil Etheridge made it two penalty saves in successive weeks after denying Newcastle’s Kenedy late on. The Cardiff goalkeeper’s stock is increasing, and he will be vital if the newly promoted club stay up this season.

The Filipino’s rating should improve from 68 to 78 this week, with his base card costing 850 coins on PS4 and 1,400 on Xbox One.

Kendall Waston (OVR 74 – IF 82)

Vancouver Whitecaps rock Kendall Waston turned goal scorer in the 2-2 draw with New York Red Bulls in the MLS, grabbing both his side’s goals. The draw means the Whitecaps are still in mid-table obscurity in the Western Conference, lying in eighth place, 17 points off the bottom of the table, and 11 away from the top spot.

Costa Rican international Waston's 74 rating could jump up to 82 on Wednesday, and you can get his base card for 1,000 coins on PS4 and 1,600 on Xbox One. He also has an 80-rated Hero card (for sending Costa Rica to the World Cup), priced at 50,000 on both consoles.

Steve Cook (OVR 77 – SIF 83)

Steve Cook was instrumental in Bournemouth’s 2-1 win over West Ham. The centre back first gave the ball to Callum Wilson who weaved his way through the Hammers defence to equalise, and then just six minutes later Cook was on the scoresheet himself to grab the winner for the Cherries. 

Cook’s vital display should see his 77 overall improve to second in-form rating of 83. His 77 base card is valued around 1,500 coins on both consoles, with an 81 in-form costing 24,000 on PS4 and 38,000 on Xbox One. 

Marcos Alonso (OVR 82 – SIF 85)

Marcos Alonso has been one of Chelsea’s most consistent performers since arriving in the Premier League and has been a goal threat as well. That hasn’t changed since moving to a more conventional left back, with the Spaniard setting up Pedro before scoring the winner in the 3-2 triumph over rivals Arsenal at the weekend.

Alonso’s 82 overall could now improve to 85, and his left wing back position could slide back to left back. His gold card costs 2,900 coins on PS4 and 3,200 on Xbox One, with an 84 in-form valued at 35,000 on PS4 and 32,500 on Xbox One.

Alex Gallar (OVR 66 – IF 72)

Alex Gallar was the star for Huesca as they returned to La Liga action against Eibar. The wide midfielder netted both goals in the 2-1 victory, as the newly promoted club got their season off to a perfect start.

Gallar’s 66 overall could rise to 72 or beyond this week, with his position flipping from left to right midfield. You can get his silver rating for 300 coins on PS4 and 800 on Xbox One.

Albert Rusnak (OVR 72 – IF 79)

Back to MLS action, and Albert Rusnak was the star off the bench for Real Salt Lake, as the attacking midfielder popped up with two late goals to defeat Houston Dynamos 2-1. Houston’s season could fizzle out as they sit tenth in the Western Conference, with still some 20 games to go and 10 points off the play-off places. 

The Slovakian Rusnak is likely to improve from 72 to 79 for his heroics, and you can pick up his base card for 500 coins on PS4 and 1,500 on Xbox One.

Mikael Rosheuvel (OVR 66 – IF 77)

Over in the Dutch Eredivisie, NAC Breda new signing Mikael Rosheuvel showed his quality in the 3-0 win over Graafschap. The right midfielder grabbed two assists in the triumph; Breda’s first victory of the new campaign.

Rosheuvel’s 66 overall rating should improve from 66 to 77 this week, and you can pick up his old Roda Kerkrade card for 1,00 0 coins on PS4 and 2,400 on Xbox One in Ultimate Team.

Kristoffer Peterson (OVR 70 – IF 77)

Staying in Holland, Heracles left winger Kristoffer Peterson netted a brace in the 3-0 victory over Den Haag. That ensured Heracles’ first win of the campaign, as they now have four points from their first two games, sitting in fourth place in the Eredivisie. 

The Swedish Peterson could head from 70 to 77 for the Team of the Week, with his base card costing 550 coins on PS4 and 750 on Xbox One. 

Jose Luis Morales (OVR 78 – IF 82)

Jose Luis Morales moved into a more advanced position for Levante, and it worked a treat as he netted a brace against a very strong Real Betis side. The left midfielder played in a strike pairing for the Valencia-based club, as Levante won 3-0 over the likes of Marc Bartra, Andres Guardado, Sergio Canales, William Carvalho and Ryad Boudebouz.

Morales’s 78 overall could improve to an 82 rating off the back of that performance, with his position possibly moving to striker. His base card costs 500 coins on PS4 and 700 on Xbox One. 

Sergio Aguero (OVR 89 – SIF 95)

Sergio Aguero bagged his ninth Premier League hat-trick in the 6-1 dismantling of Huddersfield for Manchester City. City looked to have picked up from where they left off last season and may have even stepped up gear after their record-smashing Premier League triumph.

Aguero’s 89 overall could hit an outrageous 95 rating this Wednesday, with the Argentine’s base card valued at 66,000 on PS4 and 57,500 on Xbox One. A 93 in-form will cost you 377,000 on PS4 and 310,000 on Xbox One with his 97 Team of the Season requiring 840,000 on PS4 and 740,000 on Xbox One.

Andre Silva (OVR 78 – IF 83)

Sevilla new boy matched Aguero’s effort by also netting a hat-trick in the 4-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano. The 22-year-old forward has joined on loan with an option to buy, and he could be a shrewd signing by the Spanish club after hitting 31 goals across the last two seasons for Porto and AC Milan.

Silva’s 78 overall could rise to an 83 rating for the Team of the Week, and you can get his base card for 450 coins on PS4 and 1,200 on Xbox One. 

RealSport’s TOTW 43 prediction

Who should make the Team of the Week? Let us know in the comments section below.