#UCLFantasy: Reporters' matchday two tips
Monday, September 26, 2016
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With one free transfer available before the second round of games, our team of reporters make the case for who you should pick from each of their respective clubs.
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After the limitless possibilities of matchday one, when you had a vast array of options, only one free transfer is allowed before the second round of group games, so it's vital you make the most of it. Whether you need a stouter defence, more goals from midfield or a more clinical attack, our team of reporters has all the answers.
Arsenal (Andy Brassell, @UEFAcomAndyB)
Héctor Bellerín (DF, €6.5m)
The fast-rising Spain full-back isn't cheap, and with good reason. His searing pace makes him hugely influential at both ends of the pitch, and he showed that on Saturday, contributing his first assist of the season in the resounding 3-0 win over Chelsea.
Atlético Madrid (Joe Walker, @UEFAcomJoeW)
Saúl Ñíguez (MF, €7.5m)
The all-action central midfielder is a Fantasy points machine. A provider and a goalscorer, Ñíguez became the top-scoring Spaniard in the UEFA Champions League since the beginning of last season with his winner against PSV and will have fond memories of playing Bayern, having made the difference when the sides met at the Calderón last season with a wonderful solo effort.
Barcelona (Graham Hunter, @BumperGraham)
Gerard Piqué (DF, €6.5m)
In the form of his life, loves a goal (ten in the UEFA Champions League, 44 overall), very capable of an assist and addicted to trying to keep a clean sheet for his team – Piqué's a good investment.
Basel (Ian Holyman, @UEFAcomIanH)
Seydou Doumbia (FW, €7.0m)
The Ivorian has bona fide UEFA Champions League credentials from his time at CSKA Moskva, and six goals in ten outings this season – including one at the weekend – suggest he is recapturing the form he showed in the Russian capital. Look out, Arsenal!
Bayern München (Jordan Maciel, @UEFAcomJordanM)
Franck Ribéry (MF, €7.0m)
The evergreen winger has been directly involved in five of Bayern's last seven goals in the league (four assists, one goal), along with an assist on matchday one, so expect him to be at the heart any attack on the resilient Atlético defence.
Benfica (Paul Bryan, @UEFAcomPaulB)
Kostas Mitroglou (FW, €6.5m)
Injured for the opening draw against Beşiktaş, Mitroglou has scored three goals in two Liga appearances since returning to action and the Greek international will be keen to keep that scoring run going away to Napoli.
Beşiktaş (Çetin Cem Yılmaz, @UEFAcomCetinCY)
Caner Erkin (DF, €5.0m)
With Adriano also competing for a starting role at left-back, Caner Erkin is not a risk-free choice, but he is known for his crossing ability and has set up two goals in his four starts for Beşiktaş. Could be used on the wing if Adriano is preferred at the back.
Celtic (Alex O'Henley, @UEFAcomAlexOH)
Scott Sinclair (FW, €6.0m)
The left-sided attacker has rediscovered his best form since joining up again with mentor Brendan Rodgers and has scored in six consecutive league fixtures. The 27-year-old Englishman will be eager to impress against Manchester City, where he spent three seasons after joining from Swansea in 2012.
Club Brugge KV (Berend Scholten, @UEFAcomBerendS)
Jelle Vossen (FW, €6.0m)
Brought into the side after the 3-0 home defeat against Leicester, the forward scored twice in Club Brugge's next game before notching his 100th goal in the Belgian top flight against Excelsior Mouscron on Friday. Full of confidence right now.
CSKA Moskva (Richard van Poortvliet, @UEFAcomRichVP)
Lacina Traoré (FW, €6.5m)
After a slow start to his CSKA career, the tall Ivorian forward is starting to find form when it matters. He has scored three goals in his last three games domestically and proved to be a handful for Leverkusen's defence on matchday one.
Dinamo Zagreb (Elvir Islamović, @UEFAcomElvirI)
Adrian Šemper (GK, €4.0m)
This 18-year-old is now the fourth youngest goalkeeper to appear in the UEFA Champions League. A top talent already, he has tremendous potential and will be Dinamo's first choice throughout so at this bargain price he's an excellent option for your second goalkeeper.
Borussia Dortmund (Steffen Potter, @UEFAcomSteffenP)
Gonzalo Castro (MF, €6.0m)
The central midfielder has enjoyed an outstanding start into the season – like his club – and, with three goals and four assists in the Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League, has filled the İlkay Gündoğan hole nicely.
Dynamo Kyiv (Bogdan Buga, @UEFAcomBogdanB)
Derlis González (FW, €5.5m)
The Paraguayan winger has taken time to find his best form this season, but in the last two league games he looked Dynamo's most potent attacking force, delivering an assist and a goal in Saturday's 4-0 win at Olimpik Donetsk.
Juventus (Paolo Menicucci, @UEFAcomPaoloM)
Alex Sandro (DF, €5.5m)
The left-back didn't start against Sevilla but only a great save by Sergio Rico denied him a late goal as a substitute. He then got an assist in the following Serie A game against Inter; I don't think Massimiliano Allegri will ignore his pace again.
København (Nicklas Vinde, @UEFAcomNicklasV)
Federico Santander (FW, €6.0m)
The scorer of the play-off winner against APOEL struggled to find the net in the domestic league before his double against Randers on 21 September. Another in the weekend match against AGF confirms his return to form.
Legia Warszawa (Piotr Koźmiński, @UEFAComPiotrK)
Steeven Langil (MF, €5.0m)
A quick, tricky winger, Langil will be a key part of Legia's gameplan at Sporting, with the Polish champions looking to sit deep and hit on the break. If he gets the service, he can cause plenty of problems.
Leicester City (Simon Hart, @UEFAcomSimonH)
Islam Slimani (FW, €7.0m)
Scored twice on his home debut for Leicester on 17 September but the big reason to draft him in is his scoring record against Porto with his former club Sporting. He put four goals past Iker Casillas last season – two in each league game – and scored again in a 2-1 Sporting win over Porto in August on his final appearance for the Lisbon club.
Bayer Leverkusen (Matthew Howarth, @UEFAcomMattH)
Javier Hernández (FW €8.0m)
The Mexican scored a superb hat-trick in a 3-2 Bundesliga victory at Mainz on Saturday. With Leverkusen desperate for a result in Monaco after being held to a home draw by CSKA Moskva, 'Chicharito' will be hoping to pick up where he left off.
Ludogorets Razgrad (Stoyan Georgiev, @UEFAcomStoyanG)
Wanderson (MF, €6.0m)
The little magician from Brazil has already scored crucial some goals for Ludogorets in qualifying, including a hat-trick against Crvena zvezda. If he is given space and time, he could be devastating with his skill and runs from the wings.
Lyon (David Crossan, @UEFAcomDavidC)
Nabil Fekir (FW, €6.5M)
Fekir looks a player transformed since undergoing an operation during the recent international break to clear some floating meniscus in his right knee. Against Montpellier last Wednesday the French international scored his first goals in over a year and was desperately unlucky not to add more at Lorient on Saturday. The 23-year-old's mesmeric dribbling ability was back and he appeared pain-free.
Manchester City (Simon Hart, @UEFAcomSimonH)
Sergio Agüero (FW, €10m)
The Argentinian is as close as you can get to a guarantee of goals right now. His two at Swansea City on Saturday took his season tally to 11 in six appearances – including two hat-tricks already in the UEFA Champions League.
Monaco (David Crossan, @UEFAcomDavidC)
Thomas Lemar (MF, €6.0M)
A scorer off the bench at Tottenham on matchday one, Lemar turned Saturday's home game with Angers as a substitute. Possessing a wand of a left foot, the former Caen midfielder was the creative inspiration behind two set-piece goals.
Borussia Mönchengladbach (Matthew Howarth, @UEFAcomMattH)
Lars Stindl (FW, €7.0m)
With three goals in six appearances, Stindl was one of Gladbach's star performers in last season's group stage. The skipper has two goals and two assists in the league this season, and will need to deliver another big performance if the Foals are to get anything against Barcelona.
Napoli (Paolo Menicucci, @UEFAcomPaoloM)
Arkadiusz Milik (FW, €7.5m)
Replacing Gonzalo Higuaín in the Napoli attack was never going to be easy but the former Ajax striker scored twice on matchday one and needed only half an hour as a second-half substitute to add two more in the following Serie A game against Bologna – his third double in all competitions since joining the Partenopei.
Paris Saint-Germain (Chris Burke, @UEFAcomChrisB)
Edinson Cavani (FW, €9m)
After following up his early goal with a series of missed chances against Arsenal on matchday one, the Uruguayan forward will be keen to make amends away to Ludogorets. He has struck five times in his last three Ligue 1 outings.
Porto (Paul Bryan, @UEFAcomPaulB)
Felipe (DF, €4.5m)
The Brazilian defender has been ever-present in Porto's nine games this season, scoring twice from set-pieces and helping Nuno Espírito Santo's team keep four clean sheets.
PSV Eindhoven (Derek Brookman, @UEFAcomDerekB)
Davy Pröpper (MF, €6.5m)
This attack-minded midfielder is proving to be a real goal threat with his willingness to get into the box. Scored twice in the cup in midweek and again in the league on Sunday. Overall form is also good.
Real Madrid (Joe Walker, @UEFAcomJoeW)
Toni Kroos (MF, €7.5m)
When Kroos puts his foot on the ball and pulls the strings, invariably Madrid win. The classy central midfielder, who takes a lot of his side's corners and free-kicks, has already scored once and provided three assists this Liga season and will be crucial when Madrid visit his native Germany to take on Dortmund.
Rostov (Richard van Poortvliet, @UEFAcomRichVP)
Sardar Azmoun (FW, €5.5m)
The young Iranian, like the rest of Rostov's side, came up short during the 5-0 hammering against Bayern in the first round of games. However, expect the forward to have more opportunities against PSV Eindhoven, having been instrumental in helping Rostov to see off another Dutch side, Ajax, in qualifying.
Sevilla (Graham Hunter, @BumperGraham)
Samir Nasri (MF, €6.5m)
Noticeably trim and fit after his move to Sevilla, Nasri had a storming game at the weekend, scoring and picking up his club's man of the match nomination. Has scored eight career UEFA Champions League goals, but none in seven meetings with Lyon.
Sporting (Paul Bryan, @UEFAcomPaulB)
Bas Dost (FW, €5.5m)
The in-form Dutch striker took his tally to four goals in his first three Portuguese Liga games at the weekend, weighing in with a double in his new team's 4-2 win at home to Estoril.
Tottenham (Daniel Thacker, @UEFAcomDanielT)
Toby Alderweireld (DF, €6.0m)
A key reason Tottenham boast the Premier League's best defensive record (only three goals conceded), the centre-back has started the campaign flawlessly. A goal in the 2-1 defeat against Monaco on matchday one underlined the Belgian's potential for points at both ends of the pitch.