FanDuel Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday UCL Targets

MATCHES (EDT)

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

For detailed stats and odds, check out the

FanDuel Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday UCL Cheat Sheet

FORWARDS/MIDFIELDERS

Kevin De Bruyne, MCI v. BMG ($23): De Bruyne didn't play in the first leg, which Man City controlled in a 2-0 win. While they didn't even manage 10 shots, there's a chance the second leg is a little more open unless Monchengladbach are playing to not get embarrassed instead of going for the win. They'll need two goals to have a chance and should push more than the prior meeting when they managed just three shots. De Bruyne isn't a must in case it's a repeat of the first leg, but he has five shots on goal and 12 chances created in his last four starts, so he could still come close to a floor of 20 points. City are expected to score well over two goals, and given that Gabriel Jesus ($19) and Sergio Aguero ($18) both went the full 90 over the weekend, Raheem Sterling ($20) and Riyad Mahrez ($20) are expected to return to the XI, with Phil Foden ($16) also an option. Sterling may be the best GPP move because he'll be the least popular with just one goal in his last five starts. There's a chance to get three Man City forwards in your squad since Foden, Ilkay Gundogan ($15) and Bernardo Silva ($14) are all fairly cheap for the situation. Even Rodrigo ($9) is viable in cash games because of a floor that usually hits around 10 fantasy points. There's little reason to fade Man City after what happened in the first game. The GPP move would likely be to fade De Bruyne, the best floor play on the slate.

Karim Benzema, MAD v. ATA ($22): If you don't want to stack Man City, Benzema seems like a good pivot after missing the first leg. He's healthy and has five goals in his last four starts, while having better odds than De Bruyne to hit the back of the net. If you like Real Madrid, there's no reason not to use Benzema, who has 15 goals and five assists in 23 La Liga starts this season. With Atalanta likely pressing to find an equalizer, there will be plenty of counter opportunities for Benzema and Co. It's a little less certain for Vinicius Junior ($19) and Marco Asensio ($11), the expected starting wingers, while Toni Kroos ($17) is more of a cash play. Kroos makes a little more sense to pair with De Bruyne, especially in cash games, while Benzema is more of the goal-or-bust route. The main question with Benzema is what Man City player(s) you should use with him. Given his price, you may only be able to use one other high-priced guy.

Duvan Zapata, ATA at MAD ($16): There is a method to taking underdog forwards in GPPs, but there's little reason to use them in cash games, especially with how the first legs went. Even before a red card, Real Madrid dominated the first 15 minutes of the first game, but that probably won't happen again. Fortunately, Zapata and Luis Muriel ($17) come at fair prices and can be plugged in no matter what other players you back. Muriel is more expensive because he's in slightly better form, with five goals and four assists in his last eight appearances, but he's also in play to be subbed after 60 minutes if Atalanta don't find a breakthrough early. That's the main reason I like Zapata, who may be struggling, but he also has better odds to score than Muriel. Matteo Pessina ($8) is at least intriguing because of his price and because he plays in more of an attacking role, though he has just one goal and one assist in 19 league appearances this season.

Florian Neuhaus, BMG at MCI ($11): Backing Gladbach is the ultimate GPP move on this slate because there aren't any numbers that suggest they'll have success in this game. They took only three shots in the first meeting, and while they should get more in a must-win re-match, that's hard to bet on. Instead, I'd rather turn to the midfield, where Neuhaus had a floor of 17.3 points in the first game, mostly from seven tackles, two clearances and two interceptions. Unlike some matchups where opponents are fine with Man City controlling possession and waiting to attack, Gladbach need to press, which should open up more defensive opportunities for their midfielders. Neuhaus is only useful in cash games, though it'll still be hard to use him over Rodrigo, who is more likely to make the score-sheet playing for City. The GPP move is to go with one of the forwards like Alassane Plea ($17) or Lars Stindl ($13), neither of whom have much of a floor.

DEFENDERS

Jose Luis Palomino, ATA at MAD ($7): It's viable to use both $7 defenders because both of them can be productive. Palomino has hit at least 12 fantasy points in each of his last five starts, while Matthias Ginter ($7) has hit double-digit points in half of his league games this season. One doesn't stand out over the other, as both of their teams will need to push for goals and they'll likely be asked to thwart any possible counterattack. I'm leaning Palomino, assuming he starts, mainly because he's slightly more consistent.

Raphael Varane, MAD v. ATA ($8): The Real Madrid center-backs are more likely to have higher floors than the Man City ones because that matchup is a little more even. Varane is at a noticeable discount compared to teammate Sergio Ramos ($15), who is recently back from injury and priced like someone who will make the score-sheet. This match should be a lot more open, assuming there isn't an early red card, and that'll hopefully lead to more defensive opportunities for Varane. If you want to spend, Lucas Vazquez ($14) and Ramy Bensebaini ($13) are plenty active as full-backs, but I can't support spending up on them with guys like De Bruyne, Benzema and Zapata on this slate.

GOALKEEPER

Ederson, MCI v. BMG ($13): I wouldn't say Ederson stands out, but he has the best odds to win and secure a clean sheet by a wide margin. He should get a couple more save chances than the first meeting, which would boost his value even if he allowed a goal. Thibaut Courtois ($11) is in a similar situation, but with worse odds to win, while I'd completely avoid Yann Sommer ($7), as Gladbach have allowed multiple goals in four of their last five matches.