The international break may be upon us but here’s a look at five players who impressed enough over the weekend to deserve a Team of The Week upgrade.
The weekend’s action was filled with a number of heroic displays across Europe as Manchester United fought back from 2-0 down to win 3-2, while Borussia Dortmund came from behind twice to win 4-3 with a last-minute Paco Alcacer free kick. Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona all dropped points, while Manchester City and Liverpool were unable to get the better of each other in a bore draw.
These and other matches featured top individual performances so here’s who should make the cut for FIFA 19’s Team of the Week 4.
Paco Alcacer
Borussia Dortmund and Paco Alcacer appear to be a perfect fit as he has started his loan spell in storming fashion with seven goals in just 171 minutes. Three of those came in the 4-3 win over Augsburg on Saturday as he grabbed his first hat-trick for his new side. It already seems a certainty BVB will take up the option to sign him permanently at the end of the season.
He only came on as a 59th minute substitute but managed to change the game completely as the focal point of the attack. His confidence is sky-high as shown by his willingness to take the free kick at the end and bag his side three key points to stay at the top of the table. It was an inspiring performance from the 25-year-old as he makes the center-forward role his own.
A place in the Team of The Week is more than deserved because he completely changed the outcome of the game for the Westphalians as they aim to end Bayern Munich’s dominance in the Bundesliga. He would be an excellent option to lead the line in a Bundesliga team with his shooting and dribbling stats that make him an excellent penalty box poacher.
Kylian Mbappe
The 19-year-old continues to show he’s the most talented youngster in world football. Lyon came to Parc des Princes on a six-game unbeaten streak which included a shock 2-1 win over Manchester City, so it was expected to be a well-contested affair. Kylian Mbappe put an end to that in 13 second half minutes as he scored four goals to complete a 5-0 rout.
He ran riot with an xG (expected goals) total of 2.80 for the match from a total of nine shots, per Understat, so he was a constant danger for Lyon as he got into the right areas for teammates to find him as well as fashioning chances of his own. It wasn’t only a showcase of the World Cup winner’s expert finishing, but also why he is so consistent at such a young age.
His teammate Neymar made his way into Team of The Week 3 after dominating Nice and destroying Red Star Belgrade in a flawless display which included a hat-trick with two free kicks. Therefore, a potent Ligue 1 team is forming if Mbappe is getting an upgraded card as well or he could be used as the star in a French team. Either way, his pace and finishing will make him a deadly addition to any team.
Alexandre Lacazette
Another French striker who put in a top display over the weekend. Arsenal also scored five goals against local rivals Fulham in a 5-1 win at Craven Cottage. He broke the deadlock and pulled his team ahead in the second half after the Cottagers had pulled level. His first was an instinctive turn and finish into the bottom corner from inside the box while his second while his second was a strike from distance which caught out Marcus Bettinelli.
This platform allowed his team to be patient and wait for defensive mistakes from the opposition as Arsenal continued their strong run of form with a ninth consecutive win. They may have started the season with two losses to Manchester City and Chelsea respectively, but they have made up for that since and Alexandre Lacazette has been key to that with four goals and three assists.
His all-round work was on display against Fulham as well because he combined well with others in the final third and his clever movement allows Unai Emery’s dynamic 4-4-2 to work. Having Danny Welbeck alongside him allowed the Gunners to be direct when needed as they worked in close proximity, which took advantage of Fulham’s holes when they transition. An upgraded card could make him a prized possession among Premier League team owners.
Hakim Ziyech
The Moroccan international dominated proceedings against AZ Alkmaar as Ajax romped to a 5-0 win and made it four games unbeaten after the disappointing 3-0 loss to PSV Eindhoven. Ajax’s 1-1 draw against Bayern Munich was during the TOTW 3 period so it can’t be included in this week’s decision, but he was just as impressive in that match as they deserved to win against the German champions.
Hakim Ziyech assisted, scored and hit the post against the sixth place side as the team from the capital asserted their dominance. He also directly contributed to Kasper Dolberg’s goal because his shot was fumbled by the goalkeeper into the Danish striker’s path. They may have been humbled by PSV but that hasn’t affected their confidence in Erik ten Hag’s innovative 4-3-3 possession-based system which contains three playmakers.
Unsurprisingly, there’s a lot of creativity in this side and it allows players such as Ziyech to thrive as he is given the freedom to roam and interchange from his advanced midfield position. His goal came from a mazy run as he tricked his way past a couple of defenders before slotting the ball past the goalkeeper into the corner. His passing and dribbling stats as an in form card would make him a top player for an Eredivisie team.
Paul Pogba
Manchester United have moved on from crisis to crisis this season as “third-season syndrome” appears to be kicking in once again for Jose Mourinho to go along with the systemic issues at the core of the club. The Red Devils looked like they were slumping to a humiliating defeat to Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle as they were 2-0 down at halftime. They fought back to win 3-2 in stunning fashion, though.
The team as a collective upped their game in the second half, but the key tactical switch was moving Paul Pogba to the back line to aid buildup. There was less pressure on the ball in those areas so he was able to dictate proceedings through his excellent range of passing. His measured passes over long distances often took multiple Newcastle players out of the game, so United were able to overload wide areas effectively. He had 112 touches and attempted 87 passes with a 90 percent success rate, per WhoScored.
His influence was less direct than the other four players mentioned above, however, it was just as important. He even linked up with Anthony Martial in the box to provide the assist for the second goal. He deserves an upgraded card after a top display and he could be a fearsome midfield option with his high passing, dribbling and physical stats.