As you’ll be aware by now, we’ve joined 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 and with Matchday 4 only hours away – due to Zenit’s home clash against Bayer Leverkusen kicking off at 5pm GMT– we’re back with out latest round of picks for your perusal.
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 first kick-off.
We’re 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 four player tips for the next two evening’s matches.
Tuesday
As domestic defences know only too well, Alexis Sanchez has looked in irresistible form since moving up front for the Gunners. Available for 9.1m, the Chilean already has a goal and assist in this season’s Champions League and a plum home clash with Anderlecht looks too good to ignore, offering us serious armband potential.
A weekend defeat to Bayern Munich kept Dortmund mired in the Bundesliga drop zone but Jurgen Klopp’s side have cast aside their domestic woes to flourish in Europe. Dortmund have won all three Group D matches without conceding a single goal and, having already beaten visitors Galatasaray 4-0 last time around, will be confident of yet another victory. Marco Reus (7.4m) grabbed a goal and assist in Turkey a fortnight ago and netted against Pep Guardiola’s side at the weekend, highlighting his strong form ahead of this one.
Juventus will be out to avenge a 1-0 reverse in Olympiacos in the previous round of fixtures as the Greek outfit pay visit tonight. The Serie A side have won every home match in the league this season and, after being utilised as a sub at the weekend, the 9.2m-priced Carlos Tevez will be fully refreshed as he looks to replicate the form that has already served up six goals and four assists in nine league appearances.
Defending champions Real Madrid could be set for a goal feast as Liverpool’s dodgy defence rolls up to the Bernabeu. Carlo Ancelotti’s team have scored at least three goals in each of the last six in all competitions and have already eased past the Reds at Anfield – James Rodriguez warmed up for this one with a brace against Granada at the weekend and, available for 8.0m, the Colombian is finding his best form just in time for the Merseysiders’ meeting.
Wednesday
Shakhtar Donetsk look strong favourites for tomorrow evening’s home match with Bate Borisov. The Ukrainian outfit put seven past their opponents without replay in the previous Matchday, with Luis Adriano bagging an incredible five-goal haul – the Brazilian, who is also on spot-kicks, comes in at 7.4m.
After winning each of their first three Group E matches, Bayern Munich know a home win against Roma will be enough to clinch a place in the knockout stages. Having beaten their opponents 7-1 on the road last time out, Pep Guardiola’s side look in irresistible form right now and Arjen Robben (8.1m) will be hoping to replicate his brace and assist against the Serie A side once again.
A win for Bayern could prove pivotal to City’s chances of progressing. Manuel Pellegrini’s side would climb to second if they can see off CSKA Moscow at the Etihad and after being omitted from the starting XI against United on Sunday, Edin Dzeko (8.4m) could be poised to return to the first-team and fire his side to a vital victory.
PSG’s home encounter with APOEL Nicosia brings Lucas Moura into consideration. Having back match-winner Edinson Cavani last time around, we’re opting for the 6.6m-priced Brazilian, who has scored five times in the league this term – joint-top for Laurent Blanc’s 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.
