Last week in FIFA 19 Ultimate Team, players were tasked with the heavyweight fight of boxer Anthony Joshua in Squad Battles, with his incredible team unsurprisingly packing a heavy punch with its front line.
Squad battles are a single player mode in FUT which allow you take on a star-studded squad by playing against the AI in order to earn rewards. The higher difficulty you play on, the better the prizes.
This week, it’s the turn of Marseille winger and World Cup winner Florian Thauvin. As an 84-rated card with 83 pace, 84 dribbling, 80 shooting and 81 passing, the midfielder himself is impressive in FIFA 19 but there isn’t room for him in his own elite squad.
The Frenchman has opted for a narrow 4-2-3-1 formation with an impressive contingent of stars that even the most seasoned of FIFA players will struggle with.
Yet again, the offensive line for this squad is a terrifying front four featuring some of the greatest players to have ever graced the sport. The team is spearheaded by Brazilian Ronaldo’s 94-rated Icon card with support from Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo’s One To Watch Card, and Neymar’s 93-rated inform.
Then holding down the fort in midfield is another Icon in Clarence Seedorf (88-rated) and Andres Iniesta, who hasn’t missed a step since moving to Vissel Kobe in Japan. Both midfielders possess exceptional dribbling and passing stats which give the team immense playmaking potential.
But fortunately, this means the squad is vulnerable in defence with little protection for the back four of Roberto Carlos (91-rated), Sergio Ramos (91-rated), Paolo Maldini (92-rated) and Dani Alves, who checks in at an 82 rating.
Rounding out the squad is Gianluigi Buffon (88-rated) in goal.
It says a lot about Thauvin’s team that his weakest player is Alves. The wingbacks are what you will want to abuse as they are isolated by this narrow formation. A 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 formation can help you double up the pressure on them, especially as Alves has a high attacking work-rate and low defensive work-rate.
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Still, you have to be cautious of Thauvin’s bench as there is plenty of talent that can come on and impact the game. Luka Modric could add some extra security to Thauvin’s midfield or in-form 88-rated Kylian Mbappe could take advantage of any tired legs at the end of the game with his ridiculous 97 pace.
When it comes down to defeating Thauvin, it’s likely to be a goal fest. It’s going to be near-impossible to keep out that front line so you’ll need your own forwards to be in especially fine form if you want to take the win.