After a two-month hiatus, we’re now just hours away from the start of the knockout stages of this season’s Champions League. As always, we assess the Fantasy iTeam (FiT) Player Price List ahead of this evening’s deadline and offer a couple of players over the four evenings that comprise Matchday 7.
A free Fantasy football app, FiT is available on a number of mobile devices, including iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Android. Fantasy managers have until 10 minutes before the first kick-off in any given Matchday to make any final alterations to their starting XIs – this evening, then, that deadline is 7.35pm, ahead of PSG’s clash with Chelsea and Shakhtar’s home encounter with Bayern Munich.
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 published a Rule Guide and assessed some of the best budget options in the player price list, we get cracking with our next batch of tips.
Tuesday February 17
Priced at 5.9m, Juan Bernat offers one of the cheaper routes into Bayern Munich’s defence for their clash against Shakhtar Donetsk. The Spanish international offers the added bonus of out-of-position scoring potential – having jostled with David Alaba for the left-back berth earlier in the season, he has recently been stationed on the left wing. The visitors notched four clean sheets in the group stages and will be bristling with confidence having thrashed Hamburg 8-0 last Saturday.
Laurent Blanc’s PSG face a tough task to get the better of Chelsea later this evening. The French side will be looking for Edinson Cavani to continue the form that has produced five goals in this season’s competition so far – only Luiz Adriano (nine) and Lionel Messi (eight) have netted more. The Uruguayan, who is valued fairly at 9.0m and scored in midweek, will certainly be buoyed by the Blues’ domestic form on the road – Jose Mourinho’s men have managed just two shut-outs in their last six Premier League away fixtures.
Wednesday February 18
FC Basel’s Shkelzen Gashi looks a real under the radar prospect for tomorrow’s clash against FC Porto. The Albanian international winger – who netted on his European debut against Ludogorets Razgrad in the fourth round of fixtures – leads the scoring in the Swiss Super League with 13 goals in 17 appearances and can be recruited for a mere 4.7m. Having won two of the three group matches in front of their own fans, the hosts have the form to spring a shock.
Karim Benzema is Real Madrid’s form forward at the moment, with four goals to his name in Los Blancos’ last five La Liga ties. Considering that their next opponents in the Round of 16 are a Schalke outfit that shipped nine goals at home in the group stages – including five against Chelsea – the 10.3m–priced French striker looks a fine alternative to team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.
Tuesday February 24
With Carlo Tevez the only mainstay forward in Juventus’ 4-4-2 set-up, Alvaro Morata has been forced to share the other striker berth with Fernando Llorente and, to a lesser extent, Sebastian Giovinco. Nonetheless, two goals and a pair of assists in as many Serie A outings has given the budget frontman (6.7) a great chance of starting against a Borussia Dortmund side that – despite their recent upturn in results – are labouring in the Bundesliga.
Luis Suarez (9.2) has struggled to find rhythm at Barcelona since his ban was lifted, yet he silenced his naysayers in spectacular fashion with an outrageous scissor kick against Levante on Sunday. The ex-Liverpool hit man enters the clash against Manchester City off the back of two goals in as many league appearances, strengthening his claim for a slot in our squads ahead of the pricier Neymar (10.3).
Wednesday February 25
Since Mesut Ozil’s return from a lengthy injury lay-off, the German playmaker has tallied two goals and three assists in three league starts. Although the Gunners possess a wealth of creative midfielders, Arsene Wenger’s recent team selections – namely for Arsenal’s FA Cup tie against Middlesbrough – suggest Ozil is less prone to rotation than the likes of Theo Walcott. Priced at 6.5, the former Real Madrid star could be a real thorn in Monaco’s side at the Emirates.
Bayer Leverkusen are up against it when they welcome Atletico Madrid to the Bay Arena for their Round of 16 encounter. Werkself’s Fantasy potential shouldn’t be overlooked, though – Son Heung-Min (6.8), who scored a hat-trick within 10 minutes in a 5-4 loss to Wolfsburg last Saturday, certainly looks in the mood to ruin the La Liga champions’ night.
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.
