With just a few hours left until this evening’s quarter final second leg deadline, we cast an eye over UEFA’s official Champions League game once again. As always, we give a nod to the top five in the Scout League and take a look at the transfer market before rolling out our picks for the upcoming Matchday.
Scout League
Russ Kitson holds onto top spot in the Scout League after delivering an impressive 65 points last week. Bayern duo Thomas Muller and Daniel Van Buyten both earned seven points apiece in the 2-0 home win over Juventus, while Malaga’s Martin Demichelis and Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane returned similar scores with a clean sheet apiece. Lionel Messi and captain Cristiano Ronaldo were both amongst the points as Russ’ side moved to 617 points – 27th in the overall standings.
Climbing to second is Tricky2006, thanks to a 67 point haul. No surprise to see he also opted for Messi and Ronaldo as part of his front three, though he also benefitted from Varane, Mesut Ozil and Diego Lopez from Jose Mourinho’s side. Dortmund defensive duo Marcel Schmelzer and Felipe Santana picked up eight points apiece in their first leg goalless draw at Malaga and helped Tricky2006 up to 96th overall, on 605 points.
In third spot is Tomodbk after he also scored 68 points last time out. Once again, Messi and captain Ronaldo led the line, while Demichelis, Varane and Schmelzer all registered clean sheets – as did Bayern’s Manuel Neuer at the back, who was joined by team mates David Alaba and Mario Mandzukic. Tomodbk sits on 602 points, 126th in the overall standings.
Dropping to fourth position is Ville Sillanpaa, who registered 53 points last midweek. Varane, Van Buyten and Schmelzer all produce at the back, though only captain Ronaldo and Messi produced attacking points as he moved to 601 points, enough for 133 overall.
Melonfresh also moves down a notch. He picked up 55 points courtesy of Lopez, Demichelis and Varane at the back, while Mandzukic chipped in along with captain Ronaldo and Messi up top.
Market Trends
Faith in Dortmund’s main assets is reflected right across the four categories. The German outfit entertain Malaga this evening on the back of last week’s goalless draw and Roman Weidenfeller, Marcel Schmelzer, Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski are either first or second for their respective classifications for transfers in since last week. Indeed, the 5.0 priced defender Schmelzer has acquired more new owners (3,800+) than any other player heading into this evening’s deadline.
David Alaba’s goal for Bayern against Juventus has earned him over 2,900 transfers in, though the left-back’s classification as a midfielder lessens his appeal. Team mate Bastian Schweinsteiger is third most popular midfielder; he picked up an assist last time out and will be looking to protect that 2-0 lead over the Italian side tomorrow night.
For transfers out, the injured Toni Kroos leads the way, the Bayern midfielder picked up a groin problem last week and is sidelined for the trip to Turin – over 5,100 have shipped him out. Arturo Vidal is next in line – the Juventus man is suspended for Bayern’s visit and has been sold by over 4,300 managers. Indeed, the Serie A side’s first leg defeat has hardly inspired confidence – Gianluigi Buffon, Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Pirlo are all being sold on, with their owners clearly convinced they are on their way out.
The same can be said for PSG, after a 2-2 first leg home draw with Barcelona. Despite doubts remaining over Lionel Messi, the French side have picked up plenty sales – Salvatore Sirigu is the most unpopular keeper, while Alex, Maxwell and Thiago Silva have been part of a defensive exodus. Sergio Ramos’ one-match suspension has persuaded plenty owners to part company with the Real Madrid centre-half despite a 3-0 first-leg win all but assuring his place in the next round – all the more so given Galatasaray’s leading scorer Burak Yilmaz is also banned for this evening’s home return after collecting a yellow card last time out. Unsurprisingly, then, Messi and Yilmaz are the top two forwards for transfers out, though the former may yet play a part.
Ones to Watch
The first-leg results obviously play a part in how we assess the upcoming games. Essentially, all four hosts need to go on the offensive – Juventus and Galatasaray are looking to haul back respective two and three-goal deficits, Dortmund simply need to outscore Malaga at home after a goalless draw, and while Barcelona are perhaps in the driving seat after drawing 2-2 in Paris, a 3-3 draw at the Camp Nou, however unlikely, would send PSG through at the Spanish side’s expense.
Robert Lewandowski gets the nod for Dortmund’s vital showdown with Malaga. Jurgen Klopp’s side will go into this one as favourites – they have won all four of their home matches in this season’s campaign and with a goal or assist in six of his eight starts, the 9.5 priced Pole looks a decent armband shout as his side look to clinch a place in the last four. Named as a sub to face Augsburg last weekend, he warmed up for this one by climbing off the bench to score for the tenth league match in succession.
We’re backing Dortmund big time this week and, having selected Marco Reus for the first leg, we’re changing tact and opting for their raiding right-back Lukasz Piszczek to supplement compatriot Lewandowski. Coming in at 5.5, he was rested completely last weekend but with two goals and seven assists in the league this season already, his propensity for points at both ends of the pitch is obvious.
With Galatasaray having to go on the offensive to chase a 3-0 deficit, the stage looks set for Real Madrid to hit their hosts on the counter. Predicting Cristiano Ronaldo to prosper is obvious and, having selected Mesut Ozil last time out, we’re going for Angel Di Maria; once again, there’s simply too much uncertainty over the forward role, after Jose Mourinho started both Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain in Saturday’s home hammering of Levante.
Fresh from scoring a weekend hat-trick against Mallorca, Cesc Fabregas gets the nod for Barcelona’s home encounter with PSG. As doubts remain over Lionel Messi, the former Arsenal midfielder took his chance in the “false nine” role last Saturday and coming in at 9.0, looks in pole position to lead the line at the Nou Camp tomorrow evening.
Rested for the 1-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt that clinched the Bundesliga last weekend, Mario Mandzukic is expected to return for Bayern’s trip to Juventus. Again, we’re backing the visitors to counter on the break as Juventus desperately try to claw their way back into the tie – with Vidal and Stephan Lichtsteiner both suspended for the hosts, their chances of progressing look slim.
