Champions League Group Stage Matchday Four gets underway on Tuesday night, offering two exclusive opportunities to win a share of $200 playing DraftKings via a pair of free to enter contests.
The contests are posted in the DraftKings lobby, one for Tuesday and another for Wednesday, give new users, as well as experienced ones, the opportunity to liven up the midweek Champions League action and win some money in the process.
Both contests have the exact same pay-out structure that sees first place get $100, while the top 49 participants are guaranteed to win cash.
Things kick off on Tuesday night where we are tasked with picking the very best eight-man squad from the seven fixtures taking place from 7:45pm onwards, which means the early fixture between Besiktas and Napoli is not included.
On Wednesday it’s all eight games with the same $100 free-roll contest available.
Those feeling confident can get involved in the scores of other contests on offer, the UCL $12,000 Striker contest to pick of the lot and offering a guaranteed $12,000 prize pool. Entry costs just $3.
If you’re new to DraftKings, check out our strategy guide which should help you get to grips with the concepts of Daily Fantasy Football and the key elements of squad selection.
Here are our player picks to aid your selection process for the midweek games.
Tuesday Player Picks
Group A
Basel v Paris St G
Ludogrets v Arsenal
Group B
Benfica v Dynamo Kiev
Group C
Monchengladbach v Celtic
Manchester City v Barcelona
Group D
Atletico Madrid v FC Rostov
PSV Eindhoven v Bayern Munich
Alphonse Areola – Goalkeeper – PSG – $5,300
The French keeper has kept six clean sheets in ten appearances across all competitions this campaign. A clean sheet against Basel in their last Champions League outing bodes well for the return fixture. The 3-0 score-line in that previous encounter also suggests the shot-stopper could gather the win bonus, worth five points to goalkeepers on DraftKings.
Alejandro Grimaldo – Defender – Benfica – $4,500
The left-back has scored twice and created three goals over his last five outings in the league. Rested at the weekend, the Spaniard is expected to return for the visit of Dynamo Kyiv. The Portuguese side won 2-0 in Ukraine and will be expecting to improve on that scoreline in front of their own fans. Benfica have lost just one of 15 matches this term in all competitions and have kept four straight clean sheets in the league.
Yannick Carrasco – Midfielder/Forward – Atletico Madrid – $7,700
The Belgian midfielder has scored in back-to-back Champions League matches against FC Rostov and Bayern Munich. Getting into threatening positions for the Spanish side, he’s recorded three shots on target in each of those outings. Five goals and two assists in ten La Liga appearances this campaign, including a brace against Malaga at the weekend, means the Atleti asset is in fine form ahead of the home tie with FC Rostov.
Alexis Sánchez – Midfielder/Forward – Arsenal – $9,600
The Arsenal forward notched his second goal in Europe this season against Ludogorets with a deft chip and also provided an assist in the 6-0 rout. In the Gunners previous Champions League outing he served up both assists for Theo Walcott’s goals against Basel. A brace against Sunderland at the weekend saw the Chilean maintain his blistering form for the upcoming trip to Bulgaria.
Arjen Robben – Midfielder/Forward – Bayern Munich – $7,700
The Dutchman scored a goal and struck four shots on target to pick up 23 DraftKings points against PSV Eindhoven in his first European start of the campaign. The veteran winger stood out against the Dutch side and has started the last three for Bayern in the Bundesliga, scoring twice and getting two assists. A hand in all three goals at Augsburg at the weekend indicates his recent influential role for the German Champions.
Wednesday Player Picks
Group E
Monaco v CSKA Moscow
Tottenham v Bayer Leverkusen
Group F
Borussia Dortmund v Sporting Lisbon
Legia Warsaw v Real Madrid
Group G
FC Copenhagen v Leicester City
FC Porto v Club Brugge
Group H
Juventus v Lyon
Sevilla v Dinamo Zagreb
Gianluigi Buffon – Goalkeeper – Juventus – $5,900
The veteran shot-stopper saved a penalty in the 1-0 victory at Lyon last time out, denying Alexandre Lacazette from the spot to keep the score level. He demonstrated his importance to Juventus with a further four saves in open play, helping the Italian amass a score of 21 points. Lyon visit Turin having lost five of their last seven in all competitions, failing to score in four of those outings.
Kieran Trippier – Defender – Tottenham – $4,700
Bayer Leverkusen visit White Hart Lane following the goalless draw with Spurs in Germany. Kieran Trippier has played the last two matches in Europe for the North London side, providing nine crosses over those two appearances. It’s worth checking in with the teamsheets, but the right-back should provide a good value route into a defence that has secured four clean sheets and conceded only twice in their last six domestic and Champions League matches.
Riyad Mahrez – Midfielder/Forward – Leicester City – $8,400
While the Algerian is not repeating last season’s form domestically, in Europe he’s been hugely impressive, scoring a brace against Club Brugge and picking up an assist for Islam Slimani’s winning strike against Porto. Also clinching victory with the goal against Copenhagen last time out, he’s been the key figure in the Foxes trio of wins, hitting 11 crosses and nine shots so far.
André Silva – Forward – Porto – $8,000
The young forward scored from the spot against Club Brugge in stoppage time to secure a vital three away points for his side. An assist in the opening group match with Copenhagen demonstrates he also has an eye for a pass. The Portuguese’s domestic form is also encouraging, netting five goals in his last three Liga NOS outings ahead of Club Brugge’s visit to Porto.
Gonzalo Higuaín – Forward – Juventus – $9,600
A 3.7 shots per game average in three Champions League run-outs makes the Argentine a tempting prospect for the home tie with Lyon. The frontman scored his only goal so far against Dinamo Zagreb on Matchday Two. Seven goals in 11 Serie A outings including a goal at the weekend against Napoli suggests he’s worthy of investment against the struggling French side.
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