Champions League Fantasy: Who's in form?
Monday, March 9, 2020
Article summary
With the UEFA Champions League resuming, UEFA.com looks at which players have been hitting the heights on the domestic front.
Article top media content
Article body
UEFA.com outlines which players have hit form heading into the round of 16 second legs.
GOALKEEPERS
Manuel Neuer (€6.0m) vs Chelsea (H)
The Bayern No1 is currently the second highest ranked #UCLfantasy goalkeeper and is starting to show his best form in both domestic and European competition. Bayern have not conceded a goal in their last four matches in all competitions, including their 3-0 win at Chelsea in the first leg of their round of 16 tie, and Neuer is looking like the ideal in-form goalkeeper to have in your #UCLfantasy side on Matchday 8.
Marc-André ter Stegen (€6.0m) vs Napoli (H)
Ter Stegen kept a clean sheet in Barcelona's most recent Liga fixture, a 1-0 win at home to Real Sociedad on Saturday. After a 1-1 draw in Italy against Napoli, Barcelona come into Matchday 8 knowing that not conceding at home will guarantee their passage into the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. Given the importance of a clean sheet for the Catalan side, Ter Stegen is an enticing option.
Honourable mention: Péter Gulácsi (€4.4m)
DEFENDERS
Achraf Hakimi (€5.8m) vs Paris (A)
Hakimi continues to provide an offensive threat for Dortmund, the highest scoring #UCLfantasy defender this season having contributed four UEFA Champions League goals this season and also found the net at Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday. The German side have tightened up defensively in recent weeks, having conceded just one goal in their last four league matches. Another clean sheet at Paris would see Dortmund advance to the quarter-finals, and Hakimi's form at both ends of the pitch could play a big role in the outcome of this match.
Lukas Klostermann (€4.6m) vs Tottenham (H)
A strong defensive performance brought Leipzig a clean sheet and a 1-0 away win in the first leg of their tie with Tottenham. Julian Nagelsmann's side have proved incredibly hard to breach in recent weeks, the German side only conceding once in their last six matches in all competitions. A key part of that defence has been centre-back Klostermann, who has started all but one UEFA Champions League match this season, accruing 26 #UCLfantasy points so far with two clean sheets, an assist and an impressive 53 ball recoveries. Furthermore, Klostermann's side now have home advantage against a Tottenham team deprived of main attacking threats Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son.
Honourable mention: Joshua Kimmich (€6.5m)
MIDFIELDERS
Serge Gnabry (€8.2m) vs Chelsea (H)
The winger was one of the stars of Matchday 7, scoring twice against Chelsea to help earn Bayern a three-goal lead to take back to Munich. The Bavarian giants have since scored nine times in their last three fixtures in all competitions, Gnabry finding the net once and providing an assist in their most recent Bundesliga match, a 2-0 win over Augsburg. He boasts an excellent record against English sides in this season's UEFA Champions League, scoring all six of his goals in this year's competition against Premier League opposition.
Daniel Parejo (€5.0m) vs Atalanta (H)
Valencia face a stiff uphill task after losing 4-1 away to Atalanta in Italy. With no choice but to go on the attack, they will be hoping their captain Parejo can continue his recent form and lead from the front. Parejo has two goals in his last two Liga matches and with his side now needing to score at least three at Mestalla, the midfielder will be afforded the freedom to push forward.
Honourable mention: Aaron Ramsey (€7.9m)
FORWARDS
Kylian Mbappé (€10.5m) vs Dortmund (H)
The forward has a huge role to play on Matchday 8 with Paris Saint-Germain trailing by two goals to one going into their second leg tie against Dortmund. The 21-year-old set up Paris's goal in Germany and after scoring a hat-trick in their 5-1 defeat of Lyon in the Coupe de France semi-final last week, looks in the right shape to get on the scoresheet more than once and potentially turn this round of 16 tie on its head.
Olivier Giroud (€7.4m) vs Bayern (A)
An injury to Tammy Abraham has given Olivier Giroud a recent run of starts for the London club and so far, the French striker has taken full advantage of the opportunity. Giroud has two goals and one assist in his last three Premier League games and is set to lead the line once again for the Blues on Matchday 8, with at least three goals needed for Chelsea at Bayern. Daunting though that may be, the English side have no choice but to take the game to the home side, and the onus will be on Giroud to continue his recent good form in Germany.
Honourable mention: Paulo Dybala (€9.0m)