As we mentioned previously, we’re joining forces with Fantasy iTeam (FiT) for this season’s Champions League campaign. Having supported their popular World Cup game, we’ve teaming up once again to cover Europe’s elite club competition, which gets underway later tonight.
A free Fantasy football app, FiT is available on a number of mobile devices, including iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Android. It’s free to download and play, so you can already go in and start drafting up your starting XI, with unlimited transfers right up until 10 minutes before this evening’s kick-off.
We’ll be supporting FiT throughout the competition and have an official Fantasy Football Scout League, with an iPad mini available to the winner. There’s also a VIP European Match Day Experience for two on offer for the overall winner of the Fantasy iTeam Champions League game.
Having rolled out a Rule Guide and taken a look at some of the best budget options in the player price list, we now get to grips with the upcoming schedule and offer five player tips for both Tuesday and Wednesday’s matches.
Tuesday
Semih Kaya offers a budget-friendly route into the Galatasaray defence ahead of a plum home tie with Anderlecht. The hosts have served up a clean sheet in each of their last four matches in all competitions and at a price of just 5.1, Kaya is the cheapest option amongst their defensive regulars.
Rested to the bench for Saturday’s disastrous home loss to Villa, Raheem Sterling’s presence was sorely missed. The youngster is set to start for Liverpool this time around as Brendan Rodgers’ side look to bounce back and rack up a home win against Bulgarian outfit Ludogorets – with two goals in three starts so far, Sterling’s 6.8 price tag looks a bargain.
Beaten by bitter rivals Atletico last weekend, defending champions Real Madrid have the perfect opportunity to return to winning ways. A home encounter with Swiss side Basel looks promising for Carlo Ancelotti’s troops and at a price of 7.8, Gareth Bale is a relatively budget friendly option for those looking to double up with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Atletico’s Raul Garcia will be hoping to replicate the form which saw him serve up four goals and three assists in last year’s Champions League run. Diego Simeone’s troops face a testing trip to Greek side Olympiacos but, as mentioned, could barely arrive in better form after emerging victorious from the Bernabeu – available for 7.1, Garcia looks a real alternative to those unwilling to splash the cash on the likes of Mario Mandzukic (9.4) up top.
Our final punt for this evening’s fixtures is Juventus youngster Kingsley Coman. Classified as a midfielder – and available for a mere 5.9 – he was fielded as the lone striker for the Old Lady’s opening league fixture and left the pitch to a standing ovation. If he is afforded a start tonight, Coman could be worth a real flutter at home to Swedish side Malmo – luckily, with the FantasyiTeam game allowing us to make alterations to our sides up to 10 minutes before kick-off, we can monitor the team sheets before weighing up his acquisition.
Wednesday
A home clash with Schalke offers Chelsea the chance to kick-start their European campaign with a win. Andre Schurrle’s eye for goal has already came to fruition domestically this term and, available for just 6.6, the German looks a real mid-price contender for our midfields as Jose Mourinho’s free-scoring side look to rack up the goals again.
Barcelona’s new teenage sensation Munir el Haddadi looks one to consider ahead of a home clash with APOEL. Setting you back just 7.5, the youngster has started all three of his side’s league matches so far and has found the net once – he’s a definite double-up option for those already considering the obvious options such as Lionel Messi and Neymar.
Jackson Martinez has been in red hot form for Porto already this term. The 7.7 priced striker has netted five times in four appearances for the Portuguese outfit and with a home encounter against BATE Borisov up next, could be a great value option for our front lines.
A goal and assist in his first two league appearances brings Roma’s Radja Nainggolan into consideration. Coming in at a mere 5.8, the Belgian has excelled on the left of midfield in a 4-3-3 for the Serie A side and offers Fantasy managers a real budget friendly option at home to CSKA.
Defeated by Barcelona at the weekend, Athletic Bilbao will be looking for Aritz Aduriz to make the difference at home to Shakhtar Donetsk tomorrow. The prolific frontman has been handed a very reasonable 6.8 price tag in the FantasyiTeam game and, with 30 goals and 13 assists in his previous two La Liga campaigns, his contribution looks key for the Spanish side.
FANTASY FOOTBALL SCOUT LEAGUE
We’ve already set up an official Fantasy Football Scout league for you to join, with an iPad mini on offer to the winner – the league name is Fantasy Football Scout and the pin is 11155.
