DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday UCL Picks

MATCHES (EDT)

• 4:00 pm: Manchester City vs. Mönchengladbach
• 4:00 pm: Real Madrid vs. Atalanta

For detailed stats and odds, check out the

DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday UCL Cheat Sheet

MIDFIELDERS

Kevin De Bruyne. MCI v. MGB ($10,000): De Bruyne was rested this past weekend and figures to slot back into his regular starting spot against Borussia Monchengladbach, who he didn't play against in the first leg. However, he's fully back from injury and taking almost every set piece, and given that Manchester City are the biggest favorite, De Bruyne could be the most popular player in cash games while also being on tons of GPP rosters. He is the most expensive player on the slate, but he's still well worth being prioritized.

Toni Kroos, RMA v. ATA ($7,800): Real Madrid bring a 1-0 aggregate lead back home, but a lead hardly means they're going to sit back and hope to hold it. Like De Bruyne, Kroos takes basically every set piece for Real Madrid, with his floor well rounded from shots, chances created and crosses. Kroos actually seems a bit under-priced, so while De Bruyne will be extremely popular, Kroos figures to be too, especially in cash games.

Jonas Hofmann, MGB at MCI ($6,300): Hofmann's matchup isn't ideal, but Borussia Monchengladbach have to make up a two-goal deficit, so they'll have to push quite a bit. He is responsible for most of their set pieces, so he's more of a cash-game play, but there are definitely paths to getting all three of these midfielders because there aren't a number of forwards or defenders that need to be prioritized. If you're into the idea that Gladbach will be able to push a lot, we have a few cheaper possibilities, including midfielder Hannes Wolf ($3,200) plus forwards Alassane Plea ($5,500) and Lars Stindl ($5,700), though it's understandable to question just how much of the ball they'll have against the current favorites to win the Champions League.

FORWARDS

Luis Muriel, ATA at RMA ($8,800): Atalanta lost the first leg 1-0, so they'll need at least one goal to force extra time, but any other score victory will move them onto the next round. Muriel's role on set pieces will surely have fantasy players looking his way to help fill a forward spot in cash games, with Duvan Zapata ($8,400) potentially more popular in GPPs even though they have the same anytime goal scorer odds. The price may feel a bit high because they're playing away, but Atalanta like to attack and need at least one goal to extend the tie. If you're really looking for a negative it's that Muriel seems highly unlikely to play 90 minutes, with Josip Ilicic ($9,000) likely to sub on for him if he doesn't start.

Sergio Aguero, MCI v. MGB ($7,500): Aguero finally got back into the starting XI this past weekend after a number of substitute appearances following an injury recovery, but he's no guarantee for Tuesday after playing the full 90 minutes. However, he's a worthwhile target if he does start considering he has the highest anytime goal scorer odds and Man City have the highest implied goal total on the slate by a pretty decent margin, and he could be a solid piece of a Manchester City stack because he's one of the cheaper attackers.

Karim Benzema, RMA v. ATA ($9,400): Real Madrid offer a few cheaper forward options, such as Marco Asensio ($6,600), Vinicius Junior ($6,000) or Rodrygo ($5,000), depending on who starts, but Benzema is far and away the better threat. His high price could have many fantasy players looking elsewhere, but he's shown a consistent floor of late thanks to his shots and chance created, and he adds plenty of upside, scoring five goals in his last four starts (he did not play in the first leg due to injury).

DEFENDERS

Sergio Ramos, RMA v. ATA ($4,000): There are no defenders on the slate worth prioritizing, and even if you have money for guys like Joao Cancelo ($5,800) or Lucas Vazquez ($6,900), it almost seems more worth it to pay down at defender and up at goalkeeper. Ramos is on penalties for Real Madrid, and while starting a lineup decision with that isn't usually the best course of action, he's fairly priced given Real Madrid are home favorites. Of course, they don't have strong clean sheet odds, but Ramos is enough of a wildcard that he could be worth the risk at his price.

Aymeric Laporte, MCI v. MGB ($3,200): Laporte's viability is almost exclusively based on Manchester City's potential for a clean sheet, which seems pretty good as the biggest favorite. The Gladbach attack has really struggled recently, and given the way Man City control possession, Laporte should also get plenty of accurate passes to go along with his assumed clean sheet. It's not much to go on, and he could really struggle to make value if they do concede, but again, with no defenders worth prioritizing, paying down at the position to spend up elsewhere seems optimal.

GOALKEEPER

Ederson, MCI v. MGB ($5,900): With only four goalkeepers on the slate, it seems Ederson and Pierluigi Gollini ($4,400) appear to be the two most people will focus on. Getting up to Ederson may not be that easy given the expensive attackers who are worth prioritizing, but you can make the case that Ederson, with a win and clean sheet, is just as effective (if not better) than any of the Manchester City attackers who don't make the score-sheet. Of course, they're all in good spots to have a goal or an assist, and his ceiling certainly doesn't match theirs. Gollini is the cheapest goalkeeper not facing Manchester City, and while there will be some who try to play Yann Sommer ($3,600) because of the salary savings, he definitely has the highest likelihood of getting lit up.