Leicester begin with a bang, Spurs with a whimper and Sergio Aguero like he’s never been away as Wednesday’s Champions League action provides mixed fortunes for our Fantasy assets.
Aguero issues chilling reminder
It might have been 24 hours late, but the wait was worth it for everyone bar the hardy German fans who stuck around to watch their side taken apart by Pep Guardiola’s City.
Sergio Aguero (13.0) hit a hat-trick and Kelechi Iheanacho (7.0) came off the bench to complete a rout in which City outshot their opponents by 23 efforts to three and had 11 attempts on target to Monchengladbach’s one.
Assists came from Aleksander Kolarov (5.9), Raheem Sterling (8.3), Leroy Sane (7.8) and debutant Ilkay Gundogan (5.4), who replaced the injured David Silva.
The extent of the Spaniard’s problem was played down by Guardiola post-match.
“It is not a big problem but enough for him not to play. I don’t know if he will be in time to play against Bournemouth.”
Guardiola otherwise stuck with the team as announced on Tuesday, suggesting possible weekend starts for the rested Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy (both 5.4) and Nolito (9.0).
Gundongan didn’t do his claims for inclusion any harm either, with Guardiola effusive in his praise.
“Ilkay had three or four months out. He was so intelligent. He’s an amazing player and he’s going to help us a lot this year. We’re so happy to have him with us.”
With Aguero just one more league match away from serving out his suspension, and Iheanacho scoring in the meantime, Guardiola has plenty to keep him content at the moment.
One thing is certain – Aguero hasn’t lost any of his sharpness whilst he’s been absent from first team duties. Bournemouth will be thankful that he sits out Saturday’s encounter, us Fantasy managers will continue to ponder how we plan for his return.
Man City XI: Bravo, Zabaleta, Otamendi, Stones, Kolarov, Fernandinho, Navas, De Bruyne, Gundogan (Clichy 81), Sterling (Sane 79) , Aguero (Iheanacho 83). Subs: Caballero, Sagna, Nolito, Sane, Clichy, Tasende, Iheanacho.
Mahrez clicks on Euro debut
Leicester’s Champions League bow couldn’t really have gone much better – a fine away win, a clean sheet and two much-needed goals for Riyad Mahrez (9.4).
The Foxes’ opener came from Marc Albrighton (5.3), before Mahrez scored from a free-kick, and later a penalty, after fouls on Jamie Vardy (9.9).
It was a welcome return to the Mahrez of last season, whose patchy domestic form prompted us to question his Fantasy Premier League (FPL) value prior to the match.
Claudio Ranieri later revealed that he wanted new signing Islam Slimani (8.5), who looked lively throughout, to take the spot kick instead of Mahrez – bad news for the 17.7% of FPL managers hoping Vardy might have been back on penalty duties.
“Yes, maybe the music woke him (Mahrez) up. Maybe he is very tired, too tired of dilly ding, dilly dong and prefers the Champions League music. I tried to say Slimani because he is the penalty scorer but he has the personality to chose. If he doesn’t score I take the neck and I crush the neck. He took the responsibility.”
Albrighton’s goal came from a long throw by Luis Hernandez (4.4), in for Danny Simpson (5.0), with Ranieri deciding to rest his first-choice right-back despite declaring himself fit after limping off at Liverpool on Saturday.
“Danny Simpson, now he is trying to do something but in this moment I think why take a risk? We play every three days. All the matches for us are important. I risk him I could lose him for one month.”
In the end, he wasn’t needed. The hope now for FPL backers of Mahrez and Vardy is that they, and the team, can take their European form back home with them.
Leicester City XI: Schmeichel, Hernandez, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs, Albrighton, Drinkwater, Amartey, Mahrez (Gray 81), Slimani (Ulloa 62), Vardy (Musa 70). Subs: Zieler, Chilwell, Musa, King, Gray, Ulloa, Wasilewski.
Spurs humbled in Wembley opener
Arsenal fans could have told them – not that their Spurs counterparts would have listened anyway – but playing your home Champions League ties at Wembley rarely ends well.
And so it proved, Tottenham gifting Monaco a two-goal lead before Toby Alderweireld’s header, from an Erik Lamela corner, gave them hope but no points from a frustrating encounter.
Spurs enjoyed 67% possession, had twice as many attempts as their opponents and three times the number of shots on target and yet laboured against a Monaco side in-form and in clinical mood.
The same could not be said of Harry Kane (10.9), who broke his scoring duck in the league last week but still looked shorn of confidence and mobility.
The hope for the 14.4% of FPL managers sticking by the England striker is that the return of Mousa Dembele (5.5), who came on at half-time for the ineffectual Heung-Min Son (7.4), will allow both Kane and Dele Alli (8.3) greater attacking freedom.
Despite his assist, Erik Lamela’s (7.1) strong start to the season seems to be on the wane. Given just 36 minutes against Stoke last weekend, the Argentinian midfielder struggled at Wembley and was at fault for Monaco’s opening goal.
Owned by 13.1% in FPL, his place in the team could be under threat if boss Mauricio Pochettino wants to accommodate Dembele, Son and new man Moussa Sissoko (7.0) in a busy midfield.
Another key FPL asset, the 25.3%-owned Kyle Walker (5.7), played the full 90 minutes. Given Pochettino’s penchant for resting his full-backs after European nights, his involvement in Sunday’s home fixture with Sunderland could be in doubt.
Tottenham XI: Lloris, Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier (Sissoko 81), Alli, Son (Dembele 45), Eriksen, Lamela (Janssen 71), Kane. Subs: Vorm, Janssen, Wanyama, Trippier, Sissoko, Dembele, Carter-Vickers.
