Matchday 10 gives us another split slate, meaning two chances to get the captaincy right – one on Tuesday and one on Wednesday. That flexibility can be a real advantage if you plan it right.
In this piece, we’ll discuss the standout captain options from both nights, as well as a few different picks that can help you move up the ranks.
TUESDAY’S OUTSTANDINGS
Newcastle convinced more than any other side on Matchday 9, and that was arguably down to their opposition. The Magpies weren’t exactly consistent ahead of their match against Qarabag, but they still managed to dismantle their opposition 6-1.
However, that loss wasn’t the first time Qarabag fell apart from a defensive perspective. During the league phase, they averaged an average of 2.6 goals per match. This shows that targeting them on a round-robin basis can be beneficial.
Newcastle has several good options, the most obvious being Anthony Gordon (€7.1 million). While his return of 27 points in the previous round is arguably enough to be captain, it is the continued Champions League form that is really driving his appeal – with ten goals, two assists and three Player of the Match awards.
However, will he start? The Magpies are all but done after the demolition job in Azerbaijan and Howe has little need for a start for Gordon, who played around 80 minutes at the Etihad on Saturday.
UCL Fantasy managers could therefore simply choose another Newcastle player as captain, such as Harvey Barnes (€6.9 million). Despite having less playing time than his teammate, Barnes has still delivered an impressive five Champions League goals and one assist this season. With the tie arguably over, we should see Barnes – on the bench in the Premier League on Saturday – get a run-out.
TUESDAY DIFFERENCES
Those who are not convinced by a Newcastle captain on Tuesday have plenty of alternative options. One of them is of course a full-back Alejandro Grimaldo (€6.2 million). The Spaniard bagged his sixth attacking return of the season last time out, along with a clean sheet. Leverkusen hosts Olympiakos this time, so Grimaldo could be an excellent option again.
Atletico Madrid’s 3-3 draw once again highlighted Club Brugge’s strengths and weaknesses. Although the Belgian team is more than capable offensively, they continue to leak goals. Come on Julian Alvarez (9.1 million euros) is a player who could benefit from this. Even when he failed to convince from open play, Alvarez showed his points potential by converting a penalty last time.
EXCELLENT WEDNESDAY
After losing a place in the top eight in the league stage, Real Madrid got revenge in their Matchday 9 victory against Benfica, the side that left them behind in Matchday 8.
This week, Real Madrid host Benfica at the Bernabeu, one of the most intimidating stadiums in Europe. The Portuguese side will likely investigate Real Madrid’s weak backline, but they too run the risk of conceding. They have already scored three goals in their previous two matches against Los Blancos, so goals for the home side are expected.
That’s why we naturally look at Real Madrid’s attackers, and no one stands out more than the penalty taker Kylian Mbappe (€11.0 million). It may be easy to overlook the Frenchman, but we shouldn’t forget that he has been one of the most consistent assets in UCL Fantasy this season.
In terms of his performances in the Champions League, Mbappe has achieved thirteen goals, one assist and three Player of the Match awards. This means that he came back a whopping seventeen times in eight games, which equates to an average of two per game.
WEDNESDAY DIFFERENCES
Wednesday is a lot more limited. The pool of alternatives is less compelling, but there are still several options that could return for those looking for a different choice.
An away match against Atalanta will not be easy for Dortmund, but the German team goes into the match in good form, winning all four previous matches. We also have to take the score into account. A 2-0 lead means that Atalanta must attack and that must produce a striker Serhou Guirassy (€8.3m), who has scored six goals and one assist in his previous four appearances, has the potential to return.
PSG’s home match against Monaco is also appealing. Offers both defensive and offensive routes to points this week Ashraf Hakimi (€5.9 million) and Nuno Mendes (€6.3 million) could be considerations. Although Mendes has a better attacking record than Hakimi, the Moroccan scored on matchday 9.
Choosing an alternative Real Madrid striker could also be a wise move. Mbappe has been extremely consistent, but also a teammate and midfielder Vinicius Junior (€9.5 million) has collected almost 30 points in his previous three Champions League games.
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