#UCLFantasy: Reporters' matchday five tips
Monday, November 21, 2016
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You might be thinking of playing your wildcard in the penultimate round of group games; our reporters are here to help.
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It's difficult to know exactly when to play your wildcard, but should you be thinking of taking the plunge ahead of matchday five, our team of reporters have all the tips you could wish for.
Arsenal (Andy Brassell, @UEFAcomAndyB)
It's surprising, given Arsenal are one of the biggest names in the UEFA Champions League and they lead Group A going into matchday five, but there are a few bargains to be had in Arsène Wenger's squad. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (MF, €6.0m) and Alex Iwobi (MF, €4.9m) have played prominent roles, with the former laying on a late equaliser for Olivier Giroud (FW, €8.4m) against Manchester United at the weekend.
Atlético Madrid (Joe Walker, @UEFAcomJoeW)
Despite the fact Diego Simeone's men have already qualified for the knockouts, do not expect wholesale changes. Atlético want to win Group D and that means the likes of Jan Oblak (GK, €6.1m) and Antoine Griezmann (FW, €10.0m) will start on Wednesday. The Slovenian custodian has notched up 29 points so far with three clean sheets and a penalty save. Griezmann's double last time out ensured him a place in the team of the week, in addition to securing the Rojiblancos' last-16 berth.
Barcelona (Graham Hunter, @BumperGraham)
Such is the strength of Barcelona's front three that other players are rarely required to supply goals, although 'alternative' candidates include Gerard Piqué (DF, €6.5m), whom I nominated before Barça played in Monchengladbach and who promptly delivered. Ivan Rakitić (MF, €7.4m), whose timing of runs in or around the box is superb, and Rafinha (MF, €6.3m), extremely adept around the area, could also figure on the scoresheet.
Basel (Ben Gladwell, @UEFAcomBenG)
Basel and opponents Ludogorets are already out of last-16 contention but this game may determine which of the two sides will snatch third and move into the UEFA Europa League. Basel head to Bulgaria knowing a victory would wrap up third position – and to win they have to score. Therefore Marc Janko (FW, €6.3m) could be a wise buy having been inspirational when he came on against Paris.
Bayern München (Jordan Maciel, @UEFAcomJordanM)
After losing to Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, I expect a strong reaction from Bayern in Rostov, spearheaded by Robert Lewandowski (FW, €11.0m). The Polish international has four goals in this season's competition, having struck 21 times in 20 games for club and country in the current campaign. If Bayern win big – which I anticipate – then Lewandowski is a must for your team, and you may even consider him for captain.
Benfica (Paul Bryan, @UEFAcomPaulB)
As a midfielder playing as a makeshift forward, Gonçalo Guedes (MF, €5.5m) represents strong value and he consolidated his strong standing with a fine goal and an assist in Benfica's easy weekend Portuguese Cup win against Marítimo. Yet for UEFA Champions League pedigree, it's hard to look past Eduardo Salvio (FW, €5.0m), who has 21 fantasy points courtesy of three group stage goals and one assist.
Beşiktaş (Çetin Cem Yılmaz, @UEFAcomCetinCY)
Ricardo Quaresma (MF, €6.8m) is an obvious choice , yet don't discount Oğuzhan Özyakup (MF, €6.8m) who is set to start for only the second time in Group B. A surprise pick could be Gökhan Gönül (DF, €5.0m), who has broken into the team in recent weeks and is a wing back who loves to get forward.
Celtic (Alex O'Henley, @UEFAcomAlexOH)
Few would have backed Moussa Dembélé (FW, €6.1m) to be leading French scorer in the group stage, yet that is the position the Celtic striker occupies with three goals so far. The 20-year-old missed a penalty in the opening 7-0 defeat at Camp Nou, but having netted in subsequent matches against Manchester City and Borussia Mönchengladbach, Dembélé will want to complete his Group C set when the Catalans visit on Wednesday.
Club Brugge (Berend Scholten, @UEFAcomBerendS)
Club Brugge need a victory to stay in contention for third spot. Jelle Vossen (FW, €6.0m) has scored their only goal so far, also bagging twice in their last two domestic outings, while captain Timmy Simons (MF, €4.8m) had an unexpected international week, becoming Belgium's oldest international, which could give him added motivation.
CSKA Moskva (Richard van Poortvliet, @UEFAcomRichVP)
With CSKA missing several key midfielders of late, the emphasis has been on Pontus Wernbloom (MF, €5.5M) to be the side's creative force. This is not something Wernbloom is particularly renowned for, but the 30-year-old is growing into the role and has been the club's most consistent performer in the UEFA Champions League.
Dinamo Zagreb (Elvir Islamović, @UEFAcomElvirI)
The only team still to score, Dinamo Zagreb are aiming to finally break their duck against Lyon. Young gun Ante Ćorić (MF, €5.3m) is a cheap option while the pace of Junior Fernandes (MF, €6.3m) could lead to both goals and assists.
Borussia Dortmund (Steffen Potter, @UEFAcomSteffenP)
With Dortmund having just edged a massive, and tiring, Bundesliga game against Bayern and already through to the next round, I can see Thomas Tuchel resting a few, but it's difficult to predict who with the group still to be won. I reckon he'll start Adrián Ramos (FW, €6.5m), after the Colombian splendidly deputised for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (FW, €10.0m) on matchday four and had a significant role against Bayern as well. However, this might not necessarily mean a rest for Aubameyang.
Dynamo Kyiv (Bogdan Buga, @UEFAcomBogdanB)
Viktor Tsygankov (MF, €4.5m), who celebrated his 19th birthday and first international start last Tuesday, has impressive statistics in his last ten games for Dynamo: four goals and six assists. Serhiy Sydorchuk (MF, €4.8m) also looks a good bet with a goal and an assist in his last two league appearances while Andriy Yarmolenko (FW, €7.0m) is always capable of getting points.
Juventus (Paolo Menicucci, @UEFAcomPaoloM)
With Paulo Dybala still sidelined by injury, Mario Mandžukić (FW, €7.8m) has the chance to shine, albeit against a Sevilla side who are yet to concede in the UEFA Champions League. Meanwhile, free-kick specialist Miralem Pjanić (MF, €7.5m) has proved his right foot is particularly potent in recent weeks, both in Serie A and on international duty.
København (Nicklas Vinde, @UEFAcomNicklasV)
With strikers Federico Santander and Andreas Cornelius ruled out, coach Ståle Solbakken must find attacking alternatives, so maybe the goals have to come from midfield – where Rasmus Falk (MF, €5.9m) showed quick feet against Aalborg recently, scoring a stylish goal. FCK don't concede many either, and Robin Olsen (GK, €5.0m) has some of the best stats in Europe right now, so why not give him a try?
Legia Warszawa (Piotr Koźmiński, @UEFAComPiotrK)
Vadis Odjidja (MF, €4.9m) has been Legia's most important player in the last few weeks and hit a wonderful goal against Real Madrid in Warsaw. Miroslav Radović (MF, €5.6m) is also back to his best, notching in both games against Madrid to reinforce his status as one of Legia's main men.
Leicester City (Simon Hart, @UEFAcomSimonH)
Riyad Mahrez (MF, €8.1m) was Leicester's match winner in their last home outing against FCK and was on target again, from the penalty spot, at Watford on Saturday. That said, given Leicester's defensive record in the competition – no goals conceded – and the fact Club Brugge have not scored away, you might find better value looking further back. Christian Fuchs (DF, €5.7m) was arguably their best player in Copenhagen three weeks ago while Ron-Robert Zieler (GK, €4.5m), the expected deputy for the injured Kasper Schmeichel, kept a clean sheet at Club Brugge with Hannover 96 in the 2011/12 UEFA Europa League.
Bayer Leverkusen (Matthew Howarth, @UEFAcomMattH)
Leverkusen's highest point scorer in the game, Kevin Kampl (MF, €6.5m) was not only Die Werkself's match winner at Tottenham last time out, he was also on target against Bundesliga leaders RB Leipzig on Friday. Jonathan Tah (DF, €5.5m) and Ömer Toprak (DF, €5.5m) have formed a formidable partnership at the heart of the Bayer defence and will be eyeing a second successive away shut-out at CSKA.
Ludogorets Razgrad (Stoyan Georgiev, @UEFAcomStoyanG)
In football we occasionally see history repeating itself. Two years ago, against Basel, Yordan Minev (DF, €4.3m) grabbed a last-minute winner for Ludogorets against Basel; could lightning strike twice? Dutch winger Virgil Misidjan (MF, €4.3m) may also be a handful, with the pace and skill to cause Basel problems. He's not been at his best yet, so Basel is his chance to shine.
Lyon (David Crossan, @UEFAcomDavidC)
While it would be folly to expect Alexandre Lacazette (FW, €7.8m) to match Bafétimbi Gomis' four-goal haul when Lyon played at Dinamo Zagreb in 2011, the forward should get opportunities to break his UEFA Champions League duck this term. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Maxwel Cornet (FW, 6.4m) has just become the youngest Lyon player to reach ten top-flight goals and is worth a punt as OL are bound to be on the offensive in Croatia.
Manchester City (Simon Hart, @UEFAcomSimonH)
İlkay Gündoğan (MF, €6.6m) could prove a bargain having registered twice on his last outing against Barcelona, and he should travel to Germany for Wednesday's match at Gladbach with a spring in his step after being rested for Saturday's win at Crystal Palace. It will be Gündoğan's first club fixture back in his home country since joining City, and at a venue where he scored for Dortmund in a 3-1 victory in January.
Monaco (David Crossan, @UEFAcomDavidC)
Radamel Falcao (FW, €7.9m) is a must for any team. The Monaco captain has led from the front with six goals in his last five club games in all competitions, including two against CSKA on matchday four. He didn't score against Tottenham on matchday one, or during a two-year spell in the Premier League, and will want to put that right. Picking Kamil Glik (DF, €4.6m) covers your bases. The Polish centre-half is a goal threat and could collect a clean sheet as Monaco would advance with a draw.
Borussia Mönchengladbach (Matthew Howarth, @UEFAcomMattH)
The two standout performers of a Mönchengladbach side struggling for consistency this season, Lars Stindl (FW, €7.0m) and Thorgan Hazard (MF, €6.5m) have contributed three of the Foals' four goals in Group C so far. If André Schubert's team are to cause an upset against Man. City at Borussia-Park, the attacking duo will need to have their shooting boots on.
Napoli (Paolo Menicucci, @UEFAcomPaoloM)
Dries Mertens (FW, €7.4m) and Marek Hamšík (MF, €8.5m) have both replicated their scoring form on international duty. Napoli also have a good chance of a clean sheet at home to Dynamo Kyiv and, considering the Ukrainians conceded twice from headers against Maurizio Sarri's men in September, Kalidou Koulibaly (DF, €5.3m) poses a threat from set pieces.
Paris Saint-Germain (Chris Burke, @UEFAcomChrisB)
Taking a punt on a goalkeeper ahead of a trip to Arsenal may seem risky, but Alphonse Aréola (GK, €4.6m) represents unmissable value. Only six keepers have racked up more points than the 23-year-old – expected to return from an ankle injury – and he's the cheapest option among the 17 highest points-earners between the posts. Put that down to the remarkable manner in which the emerging talent has supplanted Kevin Trapp this term.
Porto (Paul Bryan, @UEFAcomPaulB)
Porto's top points scorer André Silva (FW, €6.5m) may be low on confidence having missed a key penalty in his team's Portuguese Cup shoot-out defeat at the weekend. That paves the way for the exciting Otávio (MF, €4.0m) – who already has a group stage goal and assist – to finally realise his potential when the Dragões visit København.
PSV Eindhoven (Derek Brookman, @UEFAcomDerekB)
How about Jeroen Zoet (GK, €5.4m)? The PSV and Dutch international keeper has fully overcome his recent injury – and don't forget he twice shut out Atlético last season, making a couple of crucial stops to deny Antoine Griezmann in Eindhoven. Bart Ramselaar (MF, €5.3m) is having a fine first campaign in Phillip Cocu's side, injecting both drive and craft.
Real Madrid (Joe Walker, @UEFAcomJoeW)
With Cristiano Ronaldo (FW, €12.1m) returning to his boyhood club just two away from a century of UEFA club competition goals, he is a must-have in your team. He turned around the first meeting between the pair back in September and will be out to make history. A draw is enough to see the holders through but that's not their way, and Isco (MF, €6.5m) looks a bargain – in fact, if he translates his recent Liga form into European football then he's an absolute steal.
Rostov (Richard van Poortvliet, @UEFAcomRichVP)
Sardar Azmoun (FW, €5.5m) showed why he's so highly rated with a well-taken goal against Atlético on matchday four as Rostov almost claimed what would have been a deserved point. Rostov have been increasingly solid in defence, with keeper Soslan Dzhanaev (GK, €5.0m) playing a particularly important part. It may be a tough ask for Dzhanaev to shut out Bayern, but Rostov will take a lot of confidence from their two matches against Atlético.
Sevilla (Graham Hunter, @BumperGraham)
He was born Víctor Machín Pérez; you know him as Vitolo (MF, €7m). In fact, you'll be knowing more and more about the winger with each passing week. In the form of his life, he won't have an easy night against Dani Alves, yet he rises to the occasion. Not prolific in front of goal, he's got three in four internationals this season and two in his last two for Sevilla.
Sporting (Paul Bryan, @UEFAcomPaulB)
The highest points tally of any Sporting player – 16 – and a weekend performance that included a goal, two assists, a penalty award and hitting a post means that Bruno César (MF, €5.5m) is his side's in-form player ahead of Real Madrid's arrival.
Tottenham (Daniel Thacker, @UEFAcomDanielT)
Hugo Lloris (GK, €6.0m) is a must-have: Tottenham have kept clean sheets in both away fixtures and will need to be solid at the back once more in Monaco. At the other end, Harry Kane (FW, €8.9m) will start after scoring twice against West Ham. Having missed the last three European games, the England striker will be keen to maintain Spurs' hopes of qualification in a tight Group E.