Champions League

Champions League Picks – Semi-Finals, First Leg

Our coverage of the official UEFA Fantasy Champions League game returns this afternoon. With just four teams left in this year’s competition, our options are a little restricted ahead of tonight’s 7.30 pm deadline – nonetheless, we still manage to hand-pick a differential from each of the remaining sides for your consideration:

Filipe Luis – the Atletico left-back sets you back just 5.5 ahead of tonight’s home encounter with Chelsea. With Eden Hazard a major doubt, the visitors are likely to be stunted in attack against a side that have been mean in defence all season; the La Liga leaders have conceded just 22 times in 34 league games this term and with Jose Mourinho bound to keep it tight, Luis – owned by less than 3% of Fantasy managers – looks a real differential worth considering.

Fernando Torres – with Samuel Eto’o set to miss out due to a knee injury, the script looks set for the 9.0-priced Spaniard to lead the line against his former club in tonight’s first-leg. Torres will always have his critics but there’s no doubt he has a tendency to pop up with goals in the matches that matter most – the chance for him to ‘not celebrate’ a winner against his old team could well be the big story of the last four.

Gareth Bale – Real’s summer signing is back in full training after recovering from flu earlier in the week. With Cristiano Ronaldo poised for a return from injury, Carlo Ancelotti will surely target a Bayern backline that struggled against Man United’s pace through the centre in the previous round. Available for 12.0, Bale notched an oustanding winner in last week’s Spanish Cup final triumph over Barcelona and welcomes the defending champions to the Bernabeu in his best form of a superb debut season.

Thomas Muller – handed a brief 17-minute run-out for the weekend win over Braunschwieg, the Bayern forward will be fully refreshed for tomorrow’s trip to Spain. Priced at 11.0, Muller has a habit of netting vital goals in the big games and, with four strikes in his last six Champions League matches, will be confident of finding the net against a Madrid side that has mustered a mere three clean sheets in their 10 matches in this season’s competition.

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1,503 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Nice to Finally Michu
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 18 days ago

    How many minutes will Ronaldo play?

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    1. Toonzie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      more than a min

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      1. Toonzie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 18 days ago

        nah i reckon he will start, no one knows tbh

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    2. LOCO ABREU
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      90

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    3. MaRooney 5
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      0
      and maybe he won't play 2nd leg “a la Messi“ last year

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  2. ScottyMaz12
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 18 days ago

    Alright chaps, here's my team as it stands currently:

    Boruc (Davis)
    Cahill, Baines, Coleman (Ward, Olsson)
    Silva, Mata, Eriksen, Lallana (Mutch)
    Suarez, Aguero, Lukaku

    Original plan - Silva & Lukaku > Ramsey & Rooney (-4), but is it worth keeping Lukaku and sorting out the awful defence instead - Baines/Coleman > Koscielny, perhaps?

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  3. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 18 days ago

    Anyone looking forward to the end of the season? Looking forward to a break, quite a tiring season 😛

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    1. LOCO ABREU
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      wc next!

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      1. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 18 days ago

        Yeah but that's not so intense......just a bit of punty fun.....

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    2. Hank Scorpio
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      No, I'm on a tear, don't want it to end now!

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  4. Hakuho FPL
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 18 days ago

    whats the best front eight for the remaining fixtures?

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    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      Aguero and 7 others

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    2. President Giggs
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      Ramsey, Yaya, Mata, Eriksen, Gerrard
      Rooney, Aguero, Suarez

      Personally I'm choosing Podolski over Rooney though

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    3. Nice to Finally Michu
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      Ramsey Eriksen Nasri Kagawa/Mata Salah/Schurrle
      Rooney Suarez Aguero

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    4. MaRooney 5
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      Mata, (City MF), Ramsey, Erik, Gerrard
      Kun, Rooney, Suarez

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    5. LOCO ABREU
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      Mata-Yaya/Nasri-Eriksen-Ramsey-Sterling
      S-A-R

      or both Yaya and Nasri instead of Ramsey/Eriksen

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    6. Bedknobs and Boomsticks
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      Exactly the same 8 as everyone was suggesting this time last week.

      Not.

      😉

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    7. Leaf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      Mata , AJ , Ramsey , Eriksen , yaya

      Rooney , Aguero , Suarez

      🙂

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    8. Hakuho FPL
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      thanks guys

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    9. sinik
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      debatable whether Suarez is essential until GW38

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  5. FACUPARSE
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 18 days ago

    Man U will be the new Chelsea.

    Changing manager every season

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    1. Heydudes13
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      Okay.

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    2. Hakuho FPL
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      that would be great, CL,Europa titles etc ... nice

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      1. FACUPARSE
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 18 days ago

        Without the trophies

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    3. Hank Scorpio
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      Rubbish.

      Moyes was wrong all along, they are rectifying it which is sensible and all being well the next man will be in charge for a few years.

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      1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 18 days ago

        Moyes was not wrong.

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        1. Hank Scorpio
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 18 days ago

          Well, he clearly was, we're 7th!

          What further evidence do you want/need?

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          1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            10 years, 18 days ago

            Less arrogance from MUN supporters, for a start.

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            1. Hank Scorpio
              • 12 Years
              10 years, 18 days ago

              Arrogance?

              We're the reigning champions, we can legitimately expect to be higher than 7th, having spent more than 70million to add to a title winning squad!

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            2. sinik
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              10 years, 18 days ago

              Why was he not wrong, name one thing he did correctly.

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      2. FACUPARSE
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 18 days ago

        What about when you're 7th next season? Same thing, ungrateful fans will be calling for his head.

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        1. Heydudes13
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 18 days ago

          😆

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        2. Hank Scorpio
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 18 days ago

          If we are playing, or trying to play attractive, attacking football, with some impetus and tactical plan, then the vans will be a lot happier than they are now, even if we are still 7th.

          Moyes's problem wasn't just that we are 7th, it's that the football was terrible, slow and outdated, and he showed no signs of having any idea of how to turn it round.

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          1. Heydudes13
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 18 days ago

            Honestly don't bother. He hates United and will do anything to try and annoy their associates.

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            1. Chris_Fàbregas #DOOS…
              • 14 Years
              10 years, 18 days ago

              Yep, he doesn't it to pretty much all of the teams above his in the league. But don't pick on his beloved Arsenal though, otherwise him and his cronies will all come out of the woodwork.

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    4. sinik
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      missing the point as usual

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  6. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 18 days ago

    Distin -> any of these worth a 4 pointer this week? Will also raise enough cash for Punch -> Yaya for the DGW:

    A) Alonso - nailed on, good fixtures for all remaining GWs and has great attacking stats. Downside is he plays for SUN

    B) Smalling - good fixture this week and a great DGW. Not nailed on.

    C) JEvans - see B).

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    1. jimski
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      A

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    2. Bedknobs and Boomsticks
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      I'm not sure I'd build my team around getting Yaya in TBH. It could end in tears.

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  7. Bedknobs and Boomsticks
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 18 days ago

    Quiz:

    Which 3 ManU managers have had a better win percentage than Sir Matt Busby?

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    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      Nicely done. 😉

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  8. Toonzie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 18 days ago

    Atletico Madrid XI v Chelsea: Courtois; Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Filipe; Mario, Gabi; Koke, Raul Garcia, Diego Ribas; Diego Costa.

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    1. Toonzie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      Double Diego, Double the D 😯

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    2. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      Costaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

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    3. Heydudes13
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      All my players there nice.

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    4. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      Courtois, Gabi, Koke, Raul Garcia, Diego Costa 😎

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    5. PINKFISH (SANCTIONED AND GA…
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      David Villa ridiculous

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  9. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 18 days ago

    504 Gateway Time-out

    UCL choking again. God damn it fak u amateurs

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  10. asquishypotato
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 18 days ago

    Distin to Koscielny for -4?

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  11. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 18 days ago

    Oops! UEFA.com seems more popular than ever before.
    We¹ll be restoring our regular service as soon as possible. Thanks for your patience.
    In the meantime, check our Facebook and Twitter pages for updates.
    Return to UEFA.com

    Suckkk my dckkk I say @!!!!

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    1. Heydudes13
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      Done my team ages ago nice and early. 🙂

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  12. Jacketts Potatoes
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 18 days ago

    Ok then here's the choices...
    1. Silva to Erikson (-8)
    Then next week Erikson to Yaya for DGW

    2. Silva to Yaya this week for -8 and hope the yaya plays

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    1. jimski
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      2

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    2. UnderstandablyDistraught
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      Wait until later in the week in the hope of doing 2

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      1. Jacketts Potatoes
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 18 days ago

        Worrying about TV though. Don't fancy anymore price drops

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    3. Leaf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      1 is a bit silly

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      1. Jacketts Potatoes
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 18 days ago

        I like Eriksons chances of a decent return next game though.

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    4. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      Neither?

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      1. Jacketts Potatoes
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 18 days ago

        Neither? What would be your plan dude

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        1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 18 days ago

          Have you Ramsey?

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          1. Jacketts Potatoes
            • 10 Years
            10 years, 18 days ago

            Yeah should have said to be fair.

            Mata Rambo silva Barkley punch
            Rooney Suarez Aguero

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            1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              10 years, 18 days ago

              Gerrard or Sterling, then. Imo.

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              1. Jacketts Potatoes
                • 10 Years
                10 years, 18 days ago

                LIV have Chelsea next game. Then no DGW.
                Granted though I want Gerrard or Sterling for the final game.

                Thinking I need to feature more DGWers so Bringing A LIV player in for 1 game against Chelsea seems hard

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  13. Portsmouth Bubblejet
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 18 days ago

    Chelsea: Cech Azpilicueta Cahill Terry Cole Mikel Luiz Lampard Ramires Torres Willian. No Hazard on bench

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    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      Very defensive line up

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      1. Jimmers
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 18 days ago

        A leopard and his spots

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    2. Heydudes13
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      Lol @ that.

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    3. Chucky
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      thanks 🙂

      Cech

      Azpilicueta - Cahill - Terry - Cole

      Luiz-Mikel-Lampard

      Ramires-Torres-Willian

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    4. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      Lol jesus. Why not just play 11 defenders Jose

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  14. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 18 days ago

    Courtois is playing. Costa coming to Chelsea in the summer then. 🙂

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    1. turd ferguson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      he'd be awesome to have in the EPL. great shout

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  15. Total Foot 5 - romario 11
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 18 days ago

    best duo? thnx

    1--bale + koke
    2--di maria + diego ribas
    3--di maria + R Garcia

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  16. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 18 days ago

    Azpil my only Chelsea player. Make or break, Athletico win please.....

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  17. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 18 days ago

    tempted to punt on Diego Ribas over Kroos.

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  18. DelPuich
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 18 days ago

    my ass > Manchester united

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    1. turd ferguson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      always liked your booty

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  19. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 18 days ago

    Fat frank gonna be wheezing out his ring by half time....

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    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      He is thinner than pig. 😉

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      1. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 18 days ago

        Pork roast 😀

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  20. Tinmen
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 18 days ago

    Puncheon to Sterling worth it for -4, or hold on? Anyone keeping hold of Puncheon or thinking that ship has sailed..

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  21. Acquafresca
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 18 days ago

    No David Villa? Weird.

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    1. PINKFISH (SANCTIONED AND GA…
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      I love that player, hope he's on the bench for last goal.

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  22. Sweetpea
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 18 days ago

    Feck this, hit city recently.

    After Mirallas>Mat -4 last week.......rank is fooked.

    Gonna have to do another hit to get Ramsey and Rooney, may asw ell be this week and captain wayne.

    Silva > Rambo and Lukaku > Rooney (-4?? on the money for it today)

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  23. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 18 days ago

    We are going to the final in Portugal, that's all I know. 😎 🙂

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  24. Toonzie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 18 days ago

    Ucl players

    who's yr front 3?

    CR7 - Costa - Benzema for me

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    1. Jimbo123
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      Same

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    2. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      Muller instead of Benzema.

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    3. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      CR7, Costa, Muller

      got 7.5 to spend on a midfielder to go with

      Robben, Bale and Koke

      a) Raul Garcia
      b) Kroos
      c) Diego Ribas

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      1. Toonzie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 18 days ago

        diego ribas is an interesting punt for me, but i have my doubts over his gametime in the second leg, kroos is a "safer" pick and on corners/free kicks when he plays

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        1. JK - Cønt ⭐
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 18 days ago

          Ribas allows me to keep Cahill over Azpi.

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          1. JK - Cønt ⭐
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 18 days ago

            and avoid a hit

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          2. Toonzie
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            10 years, 18 days ago

            yea get ribas, worth a punt

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  25. Messiah Hazard
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 18 days ago

    Benzema + Bale
    OR
    Robben + CR7

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    1. Toonzie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      the latter, will work out better over the two legs imo if you think cr7 will start

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    2. Jimbo123
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      I've got all 4 🙂

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    3. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      B

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  26. Snikiii
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 18 days ago

    Lol Chelsea going to 4-5-1

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    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      Why a lol?

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    2. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      They're playing a striker??? 😯 😉

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    3. UnderstandablyDistraught
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      has worked for them before at this level and they do it well. Madrid will handle Chels counter imo but not sure why the lol

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  27. PINKFISH (SANCTIONED AND GA…
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 18 days ago

    Subs tonight?

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    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      Meatballs.

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      1. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 18 days ago

        😯

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    2. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      Yes please, meatball if you're buying....

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    3. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      Balls.

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  28. Disco Stu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 18 days ago

    Crazy to Captain Courtois?

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  29. Crouch Potato!
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 18 days ago

    Silva to Ramsey I'm having no problem in doing, a little bit more edgy regards ditching Lukaku for Rooney for a hit. It's the kind of game he could have a good day, Saints ain't impressed me as much lately, plus Everton probably played the best I've seen all season against Utd. Any thoughts?

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    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      I'm keeping. Ditched Mata.

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        • 10 Years
        10 years, 18 days ago

        kept silva ahead of mata? 😯

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        1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 18 days ago

          Don't have Silva! 😀

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            • 10 Years
            10 years, 18 days ago

            ah, lukaku.

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      1. FionnMac
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 18 days ago

        jesus lol

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      2. Sweetpea
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 18 days ago

        ahead of the DGW. wowsers

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      3. Crouch Potato!
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 18 days ago

        Yup I'm kinda stuck with Mata, however last time I felt that way he delivered big time. He's on board until the end at this stage.

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      4. Jimbo123
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 18 days ago

        Ditched Mata?

        ZOIKS! Not many will do that this week..........are you expecting Giggs to play himself in the hole? 🙂

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    2. Sweetpea
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      want to keep lukaku but if youre getting wayne for ahit better to do it this week - more chance to make the 4 back

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      1. Crouch Potato!
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 18 days ago

        Only if he outscores Lukaku tho.

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    3. ScottyMaz12
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 18 days ago

      Same transfers being pondered here pal! Contemplating keeping Lukaku though for this week while we see how Utd line up, and sorting my defence instead

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      1. Crouch Potato!
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 18 days ago

        Leaning that way myself.

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  30. FionnMac
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 18 days ago

    Mannone
    Baines Chester Coleman
    Ramsey Nasri Gerrard Eriksen
    Suarez Lukaku Dzeko

    Bench - Dann, Delph, Baker

    1 FT this week and £2.5m in bank. How does this sound -

    Dzeko > Podolski

    And next week use 1 hit to do -
    Lukaku > Rooney
    Baines > 6.9m defender for the DGW (Zabaleta?)

    Considering the likes of Podolski, Rooney, Bony, Mata, Man City defence etc. Would appreciate some thoughts!

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