FC 26 Team of The Week 9 Predictions!

Could TOTW 9 finally be the week that EA award some SIFs? With the likes of Doekhi, Lucumi, and Thiago all excelling, I would expect it to be the case. Outside of the SIF contingent, there are several top players to get excited about, with Vitinha’s two assists, Lewandowski’s hat trick, and Doku’s dazzling display all standing out.

Audrey Kingsbury - GK - 83 > 86 OVR

Penalty shootout hero  /  Washington 1 - Louisville 1  /  8.6 Sofascore Rating 

The NWSL is a division that has received a lot of love from EA so far this season, so with the playoff quarter-finals taking place this week, it was hard to ignore the division. Kingsbury looks the best bet to me after she made seven saves during Washington’s 1-1 draw before then making two penalty saves in the shootout to help them progress to the semi-finals.

Giulia Gwinn - RB - 84 > 86 OVR

One goal, one assist and clean sheet /  Bayern 4 - Union Berlin 0  /  8.9 Sofascore Rating

There were two options from Munich this week after two dominant victories. Buhl stood out in the first win, having scored once and assisted twice, but with EA continuing to be reluctant when it comes to SIFs, I am happy to opt for Gwinn instead. The German defender managed both a goal and an assist while helping to maintain Munich’s clean sheet during a comfortable 4-0 win over Union Berlin.

Jhon Lucumi - CB - 76 > 84 OVR

Goal and clean sheet  /  Bologna 2 - Napoli 0  /  7.5 Gazzetta Rating 

Once again, I am opting to include SIFs despite numerous snubs from EA. With the increased base rating on IFs occurring last week, they seem to be following last year’s system, and SIFs were a thing after that stage. For that reason, I am happy to include them again this week. Lucumi scored one of Bologna’s two goals as they secured a 2-0 home win over Napoli.

Danilho Doekhi - CB - 78 > 86 OVR

Two goals  /  Union Berlin 2 - Munich 2  /  1 Kicker Rating 

Although Doekhi’s original IF came just three weeks ago, in previous years this gap has been enough in certain scenarios. I believe this falls into one of those scenarios. Doekhi scored twice again from CB, this time against Munch as Union Berlin secured a very impressive point. Doekhi was awarded a perfect 1 match rating for his performance.

Alejandro Garnacho - LM - 77 > 86 OVR

Two assists  /  Chelsea 3 - Wolves 0  /  8 Sky Rating 

Wolves remain winless after eleven matches and look destined for relegation with just two points from those opening fixtures. Chelsea were the latest side to beat them, comfortably winning 3-0 at home. Garnacho looks settled now, and we are starting to see his performances improve as a result. He provided two assists this week, and with a lack of Premier League options, that really stands out.

Vitinha - CM - 89 > 90 OVR

Two assists  /  Lyon 2 - PSG 3  /  8 L’equipe Rating 

PSG vs Lyon is still one of the highest-profile matches in Ligue 1 each season despite Lyon not being the powerhouse they once were. Vitinha was named MOTM for his two assists as PSG went on to secure a 3-2 away win in what was a highly entertaining match.

Jeremy Doku - LW - 80 > 84 OVR

One goal  /  Man City 3 - Liverpool 0  /  9 Sky Rating 

The Liverpool rut continued with Man City convincingly beating them 3-0 this weekend. Doku excelled throughout the match and claimed MOTM for his goal in the 3-0 win. With it being such a high-profile match, I would expect EA to include someone from it this week, and that really has to be Doku.

Domenico Berardi - RW - 82 > 85 OVR

Two goals, one assist  /  Atalanta 0 - Sassuolo 3  /  8.5 Gazzetta Rating

If Gazzetta award anything above an 8/10, you can tell it has been a superb performance. Berardi will go down as a Sassuolo legend, having stayed with them while they played in the second tier of Italian football. The Italian continues to be their star man now back in Serie A. With two goals and an assist to his name on Sunday, he was an easy selection for TOTW 9.

Romee Leuchter - ST - 79 > 84 OVR

Two goals, one assist  /  PSG 4 - Fleury 0  /  8.9 Sofascore Rating 

The D1 Arkema title race is shaping up the same way as it usually does, with PSG and Lyon winning every match comfortably before it’s decided in their head-to-head. PSG’s latest match saw them win 4-0 at home to Fleury. Both Karchaoui and Leuchter excelled, but it’s the latter I expect to get the nod after scoring twice and assisting another.

Lionel Messi - ST - 86 > 87 OVR

Two goals, one assist  /  Inter Miami 4 - Nashville 0  /  10 Sofascore Rating

With the MLS currently in the playoff stage, I would expect an IF more than ever. Messi continues to dominate the division and while EA have been reluctant to pull the trigger on the Argentine, with it now being TOTW 9 and Messi still without an IF, it can’t be much longer before they opt to award him one. With two goals and an assist, could this be the week?

Robert Lewandowski - ST - 88 > 89 OVR

Hat trick  /  Celta Vigo 2 - Barcelona 4  /  9 Sofascore Rating 

One of the only gold hat tricks this week came late on Sunday, with Barcelona securing a 4-2 away win over Celta Vigo. Lewandowski was the man behind three of those four goals as he continues to score regularly at the top level despite now being 37 years of age.

Substitutes

Phillip Sander - CB - 75 > 83 OVR

One goal  /  Gladbach 3 - Koln 1  /  1.5 Kicker Rating 

With Sander receiving a 1.5 Kicker rating, he stands out among defensive options despite not keeping a clean sheet. The Gladbach CB scored the opening goal just before halftime, spearheading Gladbach toward their 3-1 win over Koln.

Laia Alexandri Lopez - CM - 81 > 85 OVR

Two goals  /  Barcelona 8 - Deportivo 0  /  9.8 Sofascore Rating 

Barcelona bounced back from their shock defeat to Sociedad with a dominant 8-0 home win over Deportivo. Alexandri Lopez looks the best option for the IF after scoring twice from central midfield and claiming MOTM.

Ibrahim Maza - CDM - 71 > 83 OVR

Two goals  /  Leverkusen 6 - Heidenheim 0  /  1 Kicker Rating 

There were several Leverkusen players in line for an IF on paper after their 6-0 victory at home to Heidenheim, but Kicker then made that decision easy with Maza securing MOTM with a perfect 1 match rating. The Algerian youngster scored twice from CDM, showing huge potential throughout the match.

Wesley Said - CAM - 74 > 83 OVR

Two goals  /  Monaco 1 - Lens 4  /  8 L’equipe Rating 

It was an excellent performance from Lens this weekend as they secured a 4-1 away win over Monaco. Several players impressed, with four earning an 8/10 rating from L’Equipe. Only one is likely to make it into TOTW, and that should be Said after the Frenchman scored twice in the victory.

Emanuel Emegha - ST - 78 > 83 OVR

Two goals  /  Strasbourg 2 - Lille 0  /  7 L’equipe Rating 

Emegha is a superb base card, so with a couple of upgrades, I would expect him to become a very usable option. The first of those upgrades could be set to come on Wednesday after the Dutch striker scored twice for Strasbourg as they went on to beat Lille 2-0.

Guus Til - ST - 77 > 83 OVR

Hat trick  /  AZ 1 - PSV 5  /  10 Sofascore Rating 

Unlike last week, there were only a few hat tricks scored that counted towards TOTW 9. That means those who scored three are highly likely to be included. One of those hat tricks came from PSV’s Til, with the Dutch giants recording a 5-1 away win over AZ.

Igor Thiago - ST - 75 > 84 OVR

Two goals  /  Brentford 3 - Newcastle 1  /  9 Sky Rating

Newcastle continue to struggle this season, with Brentford being the latest side to defeat them. Thiago scored two of their three goals on Sunday as the hosts recorded a 3-1 win after coming from behind. Could Thiago finally be the player EA opt to give an SIF to?

Reserves

Daniel Ballard - CB - 73 > 83 OVR

One goal  /  Sunderland 2 - Arsenal 2  /  9 Sky Rating 

Prior to this match, high-scoring Arsenal had conceded just three times, so Sunderland scoring twice is impressive. The newly promoted side continued to impress this season and picked up another valuable point to remain inside the Champions League positions. Ballard scored the opener, which ultimately saw him named MOTM with an impressive 9 Sky rating.

Amario Cozier-Duberry - RM - 66 > 83 OVR

Two goals, two assists  /  Bolton 4 - Port Vale 0  /  10 Sofascore Rating

Freya Godfrey - RM - 65 > 83 OVR

Two goals, one assist  /  London City 4 - Tottenham 2  /  9.5 Sofascore Rating

Espiau - ST - 64 > 83 OVR

Hat trick  /  Arka Gdynia 3 - Lech Poznan 1  /  10 Sofascore Rating

Roger Martinez - ST - 72 > 83 OVR

Hat trick  /  Al-Fateh 2 - Al-Taawoun 5  /  10 Sofascore Rating

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