Champions League

UCL Fantasy: Tuesday review, Wednesday preview and tips for substitutes and captaincy

We’re midway through the penultimate round of matches in the UEFA Champions League group stage, with another eight fixtures taking place tonight.

And all is still to play for in the UEFA Champions League Fantasy game, which allows managers to change their starting XIs and captains – with certain restrictions – following the culmination of the Tuesday matches and before the start of Wednesday’s games.

In this article, we’ll recap last night’s fixtures and summarise the captaincy and substitution options available to UCL Fantasy bosses before this evening’s 17:55 GMT deadline.

Porto and Liverpool both confirmed their places in the knockout stages as a hard-to-predict set of fixtures produced a hard-to-predict series of results. Meanwhile, Atletico and Real Madrid both failed to win and must now face crucial Matchday Six fixtures against their direct rivals for qualification.

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LAST NIGHT’S REVIEW

With no better place to start, we’ll begin in Group A.

Lokomotiv Moscow had not conceded more than two in a game having played Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid but fell 3-1 to a Mergim Berisha (€7.2m) brace in Moscow. With Patson Daka (€7.4m) still not back from injury, Berisha proved an ample replacement.

Atlético failed to capitalise on a second-string Bayern Munich side, although Joao Felix (€9m) finally saw a return on his great attacking stats from the doubleheader against Lokomotiv with a goal. Simeone‘s fabled defence have now only kept one clean sheet in their first five games in the competition.

Group B continued to produce surprise after surprise. In the early kick-off, Shakhtar Donestk became only the third team in the last 12 years to do the double over Real Madrid in the group stages, as Zinedine Zidane’s toothless side, bereft of their usual star power, conceded to substitutes Manor Solomon (€5.4m) and Dentinho (€5.4m). 

The other match in Group B was comfortably the game of the night, as Inter Milan won their first fixture of the competition so far to give themselves a late chance at qualification. Conte’s defence has conceded two or more goals in four of their five games, so that looks best avoided, although Romelu Lukaku (€10.8m) scored a brace last night to take his tally to 16 goals in his last 17 matches. If anyone can carry Inter to the last 16, it’ll be the big Belgian.

Group leaders Borussia Moenchengladbach continued their scintillating attacking form, as Alassane Plea (€8.4m) notched his fourth and fifth goals of the group stages and had a late equaliser ruled out. Marcus Thuram (€8.7m) also added his fourth assist of the competition.

Group C saw Porto and Manchester City produce a wholly boring goalless draw, with both sides going into half-time with 0.0 xG. Porto collected their fourth Champions League clean sheet on the bounce, with Zaidu Sanusi (€4.8m) adding another eight points to his total of 37. Manchester City’s attack continues to flounder, although Raheem Sterling (€10.5m) missed two big chances and Gabriel Jesus (€9.5m) had a late goal disallowed.

Marseille scored their first goals of the competition to beat a poor Olympiacos side 2-1, thanks to two Dimitri Payet (€7.8m) penalties. 

Liverpool qualified for the last 16 at the second time of asking with a 1-0 win over Ajax. Despite Mohamed Salah (€11.6m), Sadio Mane (€11m) and Diogo Jota (€7.7m) all starting, the goal came from Curtis Jones (€5.4m), who looks set for another start next week against Midtjylland. Liverpool have now kept four clean sheets from five games and face the Danish minnows next week, but expect heavy rotation from Jurgen Klopp. 

The shock of the evening was perhaps Atalanta failing to beat Midtjylland at home in a must-win game. The Bergamo side will now set up for a winner-takes-all match in Amsterdam next week where goals will certainly be on the menu. After his great start, Duvan Zapata (€9.7m) has now blanked three weeks in a row, although goalscorer Cristian Romero (€4.9m) became the game’s top scorer having played only four matches, with 16 balls recovered adding to his total of 60. 

Substitutions and Captaincy

The best players to sign and captain for UCL Fantasy Matchday Three

As always, anything around four points or less is normally worth the risk of a substitution.

In the Wednesday night team news, Borussia Dortmund’s Thomas Meunier (€5.3m) is confirmed out injured, with Raphael Guerreiro (€6m) training individually and therefore also a doubt.

Lionel Messi (€12.1m), Philippe Coutinho (€9m) and Marc-Andre ter Stegen (€6m) have all been left at home for the Blaugrauna’s game in Budapest, meanwhile.

RB Leipzig, Juventus and Barcelona have the pick of the fixtures when it comes to captaincy.

For Juve, expect Cristiano Ronaldo (€12m) and Alvaro Morata (€9m) to start up front after the first was rested and the second sent off at the weekend.

Martin Braithwaite (€5.8m) is on penalties for Barcelona and looks set to be their main man, alongside a resurgent Antoine Griezmann (€9.9m).

Erling Haaland (€11.1m) and Jadon Sancho (€10m) will be looking to build on their great form in this competition, likely supported by Gio Reyna (€6.5m). 

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377 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Cavani likely to rise this week... wow.

    1. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Intowesting

    2. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      - Plays for Man United
      - Well known name
      - Hauled last GW

      Happens every time, more so for United player than others due to the fanbase.

  2. Weak Become Heros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Whats the deal with Aguero? Has he aggravated his injury again?

    1. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Had a "setback" according to Pep. Jesus looks more and more viable considering fixtures and ability.

      1. Weak Become Heros
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks

  3. Rinseboy
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Thoughts on

    Ziyech and Robbo to KDB and Dallas?
    or get James instead?

    Martinez
    Lamptey Dias Chilwell Robbo
    Son Ziyech Jota Bruno
    DCL Vardy
    Brewster Mitchell Grealish

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yay from me.

      Our teams are starting to converge again 😀

      Next week I'm gonna have Salah though with 1 FT of Sterling > Salah.

      1. Rinseboy
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        cheers Camzy! Dallas or James!

      2. aborg
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Same here....just hope Sterling plays against Fulham or we have another bench headache this GW

  4. Ci Siamo
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    I have decided to upgrade my 5th non playing defender to a 4.5m with all these injuries and COVID fears. I already own Ayling, should I get:

    a) Clyne

    b) Dallas

    c) Cahill

    1. Rinseboy
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      B

    2. NATSTER
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      still B for me too

    3. Pitch Perfect
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Think Southampton offer some value options over the next 2.

  5. NATSTER
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    So many blanks & doubts in my team and I practically can field just 7 sure starters.
    Blank : Martinez, Steer, Grealish

    No GK
    Lamptey - Chilwell || Cancelo(?) - Kilman(?) - Mitchell(?)
    Salah - Jota - Bruno - Rashford
    DCL - Kane(?) - Brewster(?)

    What should be my priority?
    (A) Fix Defender : Cancelo out for someone playing
    (B) Get City attacking mid and captain him

    1. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Wow... Bruno can take the armband this week, I'd focus on having as close to a playing 11 this week as possible.

    2. Rinseboy
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      tough probably Kane and Rashford to KDB and Bamford. Hope one of Kilman, Mitchell or Cancello plays. Brewster should play or get minutes.

  6. Pacer.
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    I'm in a fairly dire situation, so please tell me what your thoughts are on my escape plan

    Martinez, (Forster)
    Chill, Canc, Konsa, Justin, Mitch
    KdB, Son, Bruno, Jota, Greal
    Kane, Wilson, Brewster
    1FT

    4 major problems and Cancelo.I cannot see moving on Wilson to Bamford for a hit productive this week. I think I will go

    Martinez to Mes
    Cancello to Dallas
    Mitchell to a 4.4 Taylor or Lowton

    Those three transfers are likely to cover at least half of the -8

    Leaves me with a straight KdB to Salah next week and enough left over to upgrade Justin if he tanks for Pereira by the following week to James

    1. Pacer.
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I know Leeds have chelsea but no cheapies have a great game and Leeds then hit a lovely patch after

    2. ZimZalabim
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I wouldn't double up on Leeds def might be better to just get Dallas for Cancelo and hold Martinez and play 10 dont see that hit paying off.
      Also if u do Kdb to Salah whats ur plan for the following week when Kdb has West Brom ?

  7. Assisting the assister
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Ziyech to

    A, Jota
    B. Mahrez

    Cheers all

    1. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Do you have Salah? A City player already?

    2. Assisting the assister
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      No Salah but KDB

  8. ZimZalabim
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Hi guys, any ideas on what to do here ?

    Martinez*
    Chilwell, Cancelo*, Coufal
    Kdb, Bruno, Ziyech, Jota, Grealish*
    Vardy, Dcl

    Forester, Brewster, Lewis*, Fodder

    Was originally thinking ill get Mahrez in for Ziyech or Jesus in for Vardy but looks like I'm likely to end up with 9 players this week, Don't really see an option with Martinez out so will probably hold him and either get a second keeper or Cancelo replacement, not sure who to go for though.

    what do you guys think ?

  9. bobbyg
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Son and Grealish to

    KDB(C) and Jota -4?

    Yay or nay guys?

  10. King Kohli
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Can I get away with no Salah for gw 12?

    He's the standout captain in only 4 of the next 10 gws imo,which apart from next week, I can cover with other players.

    Gw 12 - ful, my alternative one of Vardy/Jota/Son
    Gw 15 - WBA, my alternative KDB(c) - NEW
    Gw 16 - new, my alternative Son(c) - FUL
    Gw 18 - BUR, my alternative KDB(BHA)/Bruno(ful)