Dugout Discussion

Man City v Chelsea team news: O’Reilly starts, no Sanchez or Cucurella

4 January 2026 775 comments
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The final match of Gameweek 20 sees Manchester City and Chelsea square off at the Etihad Stadium.

Kick-off is at 5.30pm GMT.

TEAM NEWS

Pep Guardiola makes three changes from Thursday’s goalless draw at Sunderland.

Josko Gvardiol, Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders come into the starting XI.

Nathan Ake drops to the bench, while Nico Gonzalez and Savinho are injured.

Nico O’Reilly starts for the hosts at left-back.

Calum McFarlane will be in the dugout for Chelsea today after Enzo Maresca’s sudden departure.

He makes five alterations to the side that drew with Bournemouth.

In come Filip Jorgensen, Benoit Badiashile, Reece James, Pedro Neto and Joao Pedro.

Robert Sanchez (muscle), Wesley Fofana (illness) and Moises Caicedo (suspension) miss out, while Alejandro Garnacho and Liam Delap are named among the substitutes.

Marc Cucurella remains absent.

LINE-UPS

Manchester City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Rodri, Bernardo, Reijnders, Cherki, Foden, Haaland

Subs: Trafford, Ake, Doku, Khusanov, McAidoo, Mukasa, Lewis, Mfuni, Heskey

Chelsea XI: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Chalobah, Badiashile, Gusto, James, Enzo, Estevao, Palmer, Neto, J Pedro

Subs: Slonina, Merrick, Tosin, Hato, Santos, Garnacho, Gittens, Delap, Guiu

LIVE GAMEWEEK PAGE!

New to Fantasy Football Scout this season is the Live Gameweek page, which you can see on the side menu.

Here you can follow the scores, watch the defensive contribution (DefCon) points roll in, see who the leading players are for xG and more as the games play out, as seen below:

Introducing The Eye Test 2
775 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Koflok
    • 13 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Etikite > Watkins?

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    1. terranullius
      • 1 Year
      3 months, 10 days ago

      yes.

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    2. Old Wulfrunian
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Etikite->Thiago?

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      1. Boxwoods
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        Yes

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        1. terranullius
          • 1 Year
          3 months, 10 days ago

          Bowen->Thiago? Now or 2 GW23?

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      2. Koflok
        • 13 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        Still have Thiago..

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      3. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 11 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        i am doing this in the most kneejerk move in my fpl history lol

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  2. terranullius
    • 1 Year
    3 months, 10 days ago

    What a gw!

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    1. mixology
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Not much outside of Gabriel and Thiago

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      1. MikeS
        • 11 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        Yer not like rice scored many PTS!

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  3. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    OReilly to haul as I sold him

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    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      well done for keeping thiago though.

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  4. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    100k rank drop because of the donkey Thiago hauling. What a joke

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    1. Qaiss
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Sold him for a hit, didn’t expect him to start and could never have predicted Everton shipping 4 at home like that. Painful but shows the lucky rollercoaster of this game

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      1. Qaiss
        • 10 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        He is a season hold though, started at £6m

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      2. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 11 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        what did you think he would be benched? i also sold him lol

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    2. Tic Tacs
      • 6 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Benched (third), absolute catastrophe. Have played him every week up to now.

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  5. Cojones of Destiny
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    who to lose first
    a. Szob
    b. Ekitike

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    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      i am losing both but I would drop szbo first and hope ekitike is fit for burnley

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    2. Mr. O'Connell
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      A is the 2nd worst pick in the whole game after Timber

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      1. Cojones of Destiny
        • 8 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        to Rice, Wilson ??

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    3. Manani
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      a

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  6. F4L
    • 11 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    honestly can fpl towers please just get rid of -4 bps for goals conceded for defenders. i know defenders are getting more points this season but teams concede goal, not individuals. bps system is mainly about individual actions

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    1. Nightcrawler
      • 6 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      so defenders should not get clean sheet points too??

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      1. F4L
        • 11 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        defenders need to get bps boosts for a clean sheet otherwise they'd never be in the conversation for bonus. but its still only 12 bps for clean sheet, defenders get most of their bps from individual actions

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    2. Brosstan
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      no. if your team concedes, a defender shouldnt get bps unless in execptional circumstances

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  7. PogChamp
    • 14 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    The Wirtz goal really looks offside.

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    1. F4L
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      it was i thought. the freeze frame they used his foot was in the air but that was too early, his foot clearly offside when the ball left bradley's foot

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    2. mookie
      • 12 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      It looked like it. Maybe they stopped the image a bit late.

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    3. keefy59
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      It's okay Fulham will get an "apology" later in the week
      That will make everything fine

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    4. Bigbars
      • 15 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      I've always thought they pick and choose the line and thickness and moment of frame freeze to suit. They never clearly broadcast when and where semi automated VAR is in effect. And it is so frustrating that Sky get to hear their dialogue

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  8. Nightcrawler
    • 6 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Anyone contemplating deleting their teams ???

    No Rice
    No Gabriel
    No Thiago
    No Bruno G
    No Thiaw
    No Wirtz
    No rogers or watkins
    No verbruggen
    Raya VVD Tark Dorgu Saka Ekitike Andersen Lacroix in the team

    Dropped out of top 25k

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    1. mookie
      • 12 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Nope

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      1. mookie
        • 12 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        Speaking on behalf of everyone.

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    2. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Must be elite

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    3. mixology
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Most on here would happily trade ranks with you, including myself

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    4. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Try being around 350 k and then come back to me.

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    5. Tic Tacs
      • 6 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      At 25K? Ridiculous

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  9. mookie
    • 12 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    There are bad days, and there are legendary bad days.
    Can Cherki turn a legendary in a regular one?

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    1. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      No but Palmer & Foden can 😉

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      1. mookie
        • 12 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        Foden is too highly owned.

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    2. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      lol

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  10. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    How many left to play?

    Haaland C Palmer Foden NOR

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    1. Pompel
      • 12 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Same. Expect Cherki, Nunes and Ruben to run away with the points

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  11. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 13 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Trollago scoring a hatrick away to Everton is just laughable.

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    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      People benching him and still getting the points is even worse

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  12. Vazza
    • 5 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Ekitike, Wirtz => Thiago, Palmer

    Free

    Good moves?

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    1. REDMOND IN SANDALS
      • 5 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      If Ekitike hauls against Burlney, you will have a breakdown

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  13. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Benching both Virgil and Ekitike GW21 (ars) and save FT, too much money idle?

    Will give them BUR GW22 and ship them out then.

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    1. mixology
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      That’s fine. Many will be in same boat

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    2. Atimis
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Same here

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  14. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    What a bonkers WC. Some big purchases and so horrible sales 😯

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    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      *and some

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  15. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Kept Wilson and Thiago, but on the other hand also kept VVD and have no Newcastle, so it can never be too good

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  16. Dubem_FC
    • 10 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    That sounds you hear is FPL managers activating their WC.

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    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      You can hear last week? 😯

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  17. Dynamic Duos
    • 12 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    O'Reilly off bench, just beat 4 please.

    Haaland Foden O'Reilly to go with 54pts

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    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Haaland (c)

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  18. F4L
    • 11 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    miley is playing so well at RB, wonder if he even keeps his spot there with Livra back

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    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Doubt it very much

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  19. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 11 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    I assume hall subbed off was just to give him a rest?

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    1. F4L
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      yeah

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  20. Jebiga
    • 14 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Why people's selling Saka and Timber?
    I don't get it

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    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Need Gabriel and Rice. Some people already have 3 Arsenal and needing to sell to create space

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      1. Jebiga
        • 14 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        Are both rice and Gabriel that important? More then timber and Saka?

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        1. Jafooli
          • 14 Years
          3 months, 10 days ago

          Some weeks yes, some weeks no, some weeks the same. That's the issue.

          But cheaper is much cheaper, which helps....

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          1. Jafooli
            • 14 Years
            3 months, 10 days ago

            *Rice is cheaper

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    2. Studs Up
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Gabriel

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    3. MVDP
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Mid week snow expected in London could affect the Arsenal game. Snow drifts of up to 1cm may cause major disruption. Maybe?

      Two foot drifts for the Newcastle game have even led to police advising folk to put a coat on.

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  21. Dynamic Duos
    • 12 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Ekitike to Watkins?

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    1. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Or Thiago?

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      1. Dynamic Duos
        • 12 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        Got him

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  22. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    My team is dropping another 40k post subs. Lucky ducks

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  23. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Palmer 4% EO! What an opportunity.

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    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      I’ll take a scabby penalty

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  24. Nightf0x
    • 10 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    dub (alison)
    gabriel keane mukiele clyne (richards)
    gordon foden saka rice (king)
    tiago haland (ekitike)

    which ?

    a) saka king to 2 of rogers enzo cherki wilson, bench clyne
    b) saka clyne king -4 to cherki timber garner (or) enzo timber wilson
    c) ekitike clyne to watkins alderete (or) richar enzo/cherki/wilson (or) bowen/pedro garner
    d) saka clyne to cherki/enzo/rogers/wilson timber

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  25. dansmusen
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    That Wirtz goal took the fun out of FPL. Clearly offside and most of my rivals got him.

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    1. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Looking at the lines in the grass very offside, can see it being another VAR apology layer

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      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        A cert

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    2. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      There was one frame that showed his foot clearly over the grass line, with the defender clearly behind. They should be fired.

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  26. Dynamic Duos
    • 12 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Prediction? City 4-0?

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    1. Jebiga
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      0-1

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    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Score draw

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    3. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      3-2

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    4. The Philosopher
      • 5 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      4-1

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    5. MikeS
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      0-0

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  27. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Has Sanchez lost the GK spot? Or rest/rotation?

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    1. Von Lipwig
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      slightly injured. back next game prob

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    2. Pompel
      • 12 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Minor niggle according to Daily Mail

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    3. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Cheers both, don’t need another issue to deal with in addition to:

      Ekitika, Cunha, Guehi, VDB, Dorgu & Esteve, yikes....

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  28. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Tarkowski to Munoz will be popular once he's back

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    1. MikeS
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Tarkowski worth keeping imo

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    2. F4L
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      tark feels abit overpriced tbf. i dont mind owning for now, everton had a similar odd match spurs at home when they shipped 3 and barely competed, so can happen. was unlucky with a header cleared off the line

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  29. F4L
    • 11 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    thiago took his goals so well today. starting striker for brazil at the world cup?

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    1. tuturututu
      • 5 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Would be for me

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    2. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Probably, since main competition is Richard & Jesus?

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      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        *Richarlison

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    3. Captain Mal
      • 1 Year
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Vini false 9 with Raphina/Estevao on the wings?

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  30. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Any chance Guehi grabs another defcon for 2pts, currently on 9 DCs

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