This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
Welcome to another edition of Champions League coverage curtailed towards DraftKings contests. Your total available salary is $50,000 to build your best squad of eight players, which includes one goalkeeper, two defenders, two midfielders, two forwards and one FLEX. Points are awarded on DraftKings as follows:Goal = +10 PTs
Assist = +6 PTs
Shot = +1 PTs
Shot on Goal = +1 PTs
Crosses = +1 PTs
Fouls Drawn = +0.75 PTs
Red Card = -1 PTs
Saves (GK) = +2 PTs
Goal Allowed (GK) = -2 PTs
Clean Sheet (GK, D) = +5 PTs
One Goal Allowed (GK, D) = +2 PTs
Win (GK) = +5 PTs
Penalty Kick Save (GK) = +3 PTs
With that out of the way, here are the best available GPP contests for Champions League soccer Tuesday and Wednesday:
$6K Equalizer ($1,200 first prize), Entry Fee: $27
$4K Golden Boot ($2,000 first prize), Entry Fee: $200
$4K Striker ($300 first prize), Entry Fee: $3
and many more…
Be sure to check out the $100K Fantasy Soccer World Championship Satellites a $12, $33 and $55
The following games are included:
Tuesday: Real Madrid at Juventus
Wednesday: Bayern Munich at Barcelona
And then there were four.
Real Madrid travels to face Juventus in a matchup the home squad will likely do everything they can to limit goals. This game could be very reminiscent of the first leg between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid that ended as a scoreless draw. Juventus plays a very stingy defense with a packed midfield, and with the first leg at home they gain the greatest advantage from holding Real Madrid scoreless – possibly even forfeiting many scoring opportunities themselves. The game doesn't seem like a great target as far as offensive prowess. Juventus will again be without Paul Pogba (hamstring) while Real Madrid will be without Karim Benzema (knee) and Luka Modric (knee). Roberto Pereyra will likely once again fill in for Pogba, while on the other side, Gareth Bale is back and will return to manning the right wing. The actual formation Real Madrid goes forward with is up in the air. Cristiano Ronaldo could go back to his traditional left wing spot, which would give Chicarito another opportunity at striker, or Ronaldo could play as striker – a position that saw him score a hat trick over the weekend. In this game, the Juventus defense is the best value offered.
An injury-laden Bayern Munich travels to face a hot Barcelona squad that has won its last two domestic matches by a combined 14 to nil. Bayern's injury struggles are rippling through the entire organization. They've had their lead doctor step down following questionable remarks from manager Pep Guardiola, and they will likely to be without Arjen Robben (calf), Robert Lewandowski (head), Frank Ribery (ankle), and David Alaba (knee), so maybe Guardiola's frustrations can be understood. Nonetheless, their 0-2 loss in the Bundesliga this past weekend, and net 3-1 deficit in first legs in the Champions League this year point to Bayern Munich being in a lot of trouble come Wednesday. Barcelona comes into this match atop La Liga, absolutely blitzing their competition. Barcelona, and their young Brazilian phenom Neymar, will look to avenge his home country's embarrassing loss to Germany in the World Cup. Barcelona is heavily favored, they should win, but this could possibly turn into a rout.
There is a bit of guesswork in projecting until the lineups are actually announced, so every recommendation comes with the same warning label: check the starting lineups upon their announcement approximately one hour prior to kickoff.
Goalkeepers
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen ($5,600)
Barcelona is the sharp favorite, should be, and buying into the squad is a good choice at every level.
Gianluigi Buffon ($4,300)
The price discrepancy between Buffon and Real Madrid's Iker Casillas is unwarranted. Buffon's chances for a clean sheet are not $900 less than Casillas', and he figures to see even more save opportunities, thus having a higher fantasy ceiling.
Defenders
Dani Alves ($5,400)
Alves is the best place to buy into Barcelona outside of their top-class forwards. This past weekend he picked up two assists while crossing the ball a ton. Barca doesn't offer too much to be enticed by in the midfield, but Alves is a spectacular buy at this price.
Dani Carvajal ($3,700)
This is a game that doesn't figure to be offensively inclined, so buying in on a potential defensive bonus is a good proposition. Carvajal gets up field to cross the ball a good amount with the occasional assist, but most importantly the price is right.
Patrice Evra ($4,000) and Stephan Lichtsteiner ($4,500)
The Juventus fullbacks are the only wide players they put forth, and so they have responsibilities to get forward while playing as wings. Juventus have a strong chance to pick up defensive bonuses, and these backs provide cheap buys comparatively to the rest of the options at the defensive end.
Midfielders
Sebastian Rode ($4,100)
I don't know if he goes or not, but with so many injuries it's hard to see Bayern really having many other options. Rode plays a style favorable to the DK scoring model playing from the wing and crossing the ball a lot. Rode, if he starts, is the best value offered in the midfield.
Thiago Alcantara ($5,300)
Thiago has been one of the very few bright spots for Bayern lately, with two goals and an assist against FC Porto in the Champions League quarterfinal second leg. His price is still very reasonable when looking to stow away some extra funds to spend of forwards.
Ivan Rakitic ($4,900)
As far as the Barcelona midfield goes, Rakitic has the most upside because he can score goals, and the price is cheap enough to take a swing at a goal-scoring opportunity.
Gareth Bale ($8,500)
If you're going to spend big money on a midfielder, Bale's wide position and high quantity of quality crosses makes him the easiest to spend on. James Rodriguez ($7,900) may be a slightly better goal scorer, but Bale's crossing ability makes him the more desired selection.
Forwards
Neymar ($9,200)
Barcelona is going to score here, it's just a matter of who grabs the goals. The angle is Brazilian vengeance over the Germans after the World Cup debacle. Neymar had three goals in the two games against PSG, so he also brings in some very good form. He's also among the world's best skillers, which is a strong indicator of ability to draw fouls.
Luis Suarez ($8,600)
This is a fantastic price for Barcelona's most potent scorer of late. Is he the one that gets it done?
Lionel Messi ($11,800)
Messi hasn't scored in the Champions League since the group stage, but it's not for lack of trying with 19 shots in four matches. Nonetheless, his teammates are a tad more desirable at lower prices.
Cristiano Ronaldo ($11,500)
Even if I don't favor his side nearly as highly as Barcelona, Ronaldo still finds a way to fire a ton of shots. He scored 20 FPTs in the second leg against Atletico Madrid, and he did so without scoring a goal
Alvaro Morata ($5,000)
The best thing there is in terms of punt play in the forward position. Morata can score, and is actually a product of the Real Madrid youth academy, which should give him some initiative – as if being in the Champions League semifinal isn't enough.
