Champions League Focus – Matchday Four

Back after another fortnight’s hiatus, we roll out our Champions League regular once again. As always, we name check the top performers in the Scout League so far, analyse the recent transfer trends and also list a few “Ones to Watch” for your consideration ahead of this evening’s 7.30pm deadline:

Scout League

Shindokung remains at the top of the Scout League after racking up 58 points in Matchday 3. A forward line of Robin Van Persie, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has so far proven invincible and helped him to 220 points – joint 13th overall. The likes of Lucho Gonzalez, Oscar, Roman Shirokov and Toni Kroos have all chipped in from midfield, while a pair of Premier League full-backs, Rafael and Branislav Ivanovic, have also boosted his tally.

Climbing to second is bijuclone, who amassed 74 points last time out. Seven of his side scored seven points of more, with Luiz Adriano, Roberto Soldado, Jeremy Menez, Isco, Lucho Gonzalez, Jordi Alba and Wilfredo Caballero the men in question. Bijuclone has now accrued 210 points, 74th place overall.

In third spot is mafesan, who sits on 209 points, or 86th in the overall standings. Messi, Ronaldo and Hulk lead the line, while the likes of Alba and Joao Perreira both produced points from the back in Matchday 3 – mafesan managed 58 points in Matchday 3.

Tricky2006 takes fourth position after returning 67 points last time out, albeit with a two point penalty for an extra transfer made. A front two of Ronaldo and captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic produced 18 points between them, while Alan (with a double at United), Lucho Gonzalez and Alex Teixeira also plundered the points from midfield. He sits on 208 points, which is 124th overall.

Finally, in fifth spot, we welcome Seamy88. He grabbed 74 points in Matchday 3, with a front pair of Ronaldo and Soldado scoring four times between them. Alan, Jordi Alba and Cluj keeper Mario Felgueiras were amongst his main protagonists as he climbed to 130th overall, with 207 points to his name.

Market Forces

Roberto Soldado has been the most popular player over the past fortnight after bagging a hat-trick (and 14 point haul) in Valencia’s 3-0 win at Bate Borisov. The 8.5 priced forward now welcomes the same opponents to the Mestalla and has been acquired by over 7,700 Fantasy managers after his Matchday 3 exploits.

Cristiano Ronaldo, with five goals to his name already, is next up for forwards – over 4,300 have snapped him up ahead of Real Madrid’s home match with Dortmund, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic is third – nearly 2,000 have picked him up with a home clash against Dynamo Zagreb to follow.

In midfield, Chelsea’s Oscar is by far the most sought-after; over 7,700 have acquired the 6.5 Brazilian, who has notched three times already for the defending champions. He leads a list of mid-price midfield options, with Lucho Gonzalez (Porto), Isco (Malaga) and Jeremy Menez of PSG all receiving 3,000+ transfers in on the back of their recent exploits. Braga’s Alan is also proving popular; priced at 4.5, his double at United took his tally to three for the campaign.

At the back, PSG’s Thiago Silva and Martin Demichelis of Malaga are head and shoulders above the rest for new investment. Sitting joint-top for defenders in terms of points so far (21), they have been acquired by around 6,000 Fantasy managers, with the latter’s 4.0 price tag looking particularly appealing. Jonny Evans, Jordi Alba and Ali Cissokho have all been snapped up by 2,500+ prior to this evening’s deadline, while between the sticks, the cut-price appeal of Mario Felgueiras and Wilfredo Caballero has been impossible to ignore. Priced at 3.5 and 4.5 respectively, they are the top two keepers for points after the first three Matchdays.

In terms of transfers out, Real Madrid’s injured left-back Marcelo leads the way (3,500), though a surprise name is second – Robin Van Persie. With United winning their first three, perhaps many feel the Dutchman’s European game time could be at risk, as rest and rotation kicks in. Zenit forward Hulk is the third most offloaded player – reports suggesting he is a doubt for tonight’s game with Anderlecht could have played a part in the exodus of 2,500+ Fantasy managers.

Arsenal and Chelsea have both been subject to plenty transfers out of late. Gunners pair Gervinho and Lukas Podolski are third and fourth most unpopular forwards after the 2-0 home defeat by Schalke, while Santi Cazorla has seen more transfers out than any other midfielder; around 2,700 have parted company with the playmaker. Blues midfield duo Frank Lampard and Eden Hazard have been shifted on by 2,100 and 1,800 respectively after the Matchday 3 defeat by Shakhtar, while David Luiz has also accumulated plenty of transfers out, with over 2,000 bidding their farewell to the centre-half.

Ones to Watch

To begin with, I just want to say that although Andy has stopped writing, he is still having an input behind the scenes. Mr Goddard’s name may not be on this article under “author” but for those who have followed his Champions League recommendations over the past season and a half, here are the six names Andy forwarded my way for Matchday 4:

Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Having scored in two of his opening first three Matchdays, PSG’s big-money buy is a nailed-on pick this time round. Ibra faces a home clash against a Dynamo Zagreb side that have lost all three of their fixtures thus far – he notched in the corresponding away fixture a fortnight ago and could well be set to rack up the points yet again as Carlo Ancelotti’s men continue their pursuit of Porto at the top of Group A.

Sergio Aguero
The only one of Roberto Mancini’s four star strikers not to start against West Ham last Saturday, the Argentine will surely return to City’s first XI as the Premier League champions attempt to avenge their Matchday 3 defeat in Amsterdam. Ajax roll up to the Etihad and, with a single point from their opening three, City simply must win this evening – Aguero’s contribution could be the difference as Mancini looks to avoid another early exit from the Champions League.

Arturo Vidal
Juventus will be licking their wounds after finally losing their 49-match unbeaten Seria A record at the hands of Inter at the weekend, but tomorrow’s home clash with FC Nordsjælland affords them the perfect opportunity to bounce back. Arturo Vidal is another obvious pick – a midfielder classified as a defender, he is also on spot-kick duties and warmed up for this one by scoring the opener in Saturday’s 3-1 defeat.

Angel Di Maria
Jose Mourinho’s side welcome Dortmund to the Bernabeu and will be intent on revenge after losing away to the German champions last time out. Di Maria provided a pair of assists in Real’s only home clash so far (a 3-2 Matchday 1 win over City) and arrives in good form ahead of tonight’s game; he grabbed a goal in the 4-0 weekend home win over Zaragoza.

Oscar
While Juan Mata and Eden Hazard provide us with points aplenty on the domestic front, the Brazilian seems to keep his best displays for the European stage. Oscar has racked up 26 points already; joint-top with Cristiano Ronaldo at the top of the standings. With three goals accrued thus far, his 6.5 price tag has proven to be a real bargain and with a victory over Shakhtar enough to take Chelsea back to the top of Group E, his contribution could be crucial tomorrow.

Oleg Gusev
Having played just 13 minutes of Matchday 1, the Dynamo Kiev left winger has returned to the first-team with a couple of stand-out displays. Gusev has found the net in each of his last two and was instrumental in the 2-0 Matchday 2 win over Dinamo Zagreb – his side’s only home match so far. Kiev now play host to Porto and with a win enough to take them within three points of their opponents, the 5.5 price midfielder offers us a strong mid-price prospect ahead of this evening’s deadline.