The Champions League returns on Tuesday ,as PSG host Real Madrid in the stand out tie of the last 16 fixtures. Here are my favourite picks for the DraftKings 4-game Champions League slate.
The slate runs over two nights, and with the likes of Tottenham and Real Madrid involved, there’s plenty of choice on offer. However, with Manchester City and Liverpool both coming into their second leg ties with a healthy lead, predicting lineups will be more difficult. Still, this may not be a bad thing.
We also have PSG vs. Real Madrid and Spurs vs. Juventus to build a lineup from. My favourite picks on this Champions League slate are both High Salary and High Value plays. I have also created a possible lineup from players I have singled out.
Goalkeepers
High Salary
Hugo Lloris ($5,000)
Spurs’ Mr. Consistent has helped Tottenham become one of the tightest defences in Europe this season. Hugo Lloris has only conceded two goals at Wembley in the Champions League this year, which is even more impressive as two out of the three opponents were Borussia Dortmund and reigning European champions Real Madrid.
Spurs face Juventus on Wednesday in the second leg of the last 16 tie. The first leg ended 2-2, giving Spurs a slight advantage going in to the second game. While Juventus did manage to breach Spurs’ defence twice on the night ,Tottenham dominated the game for 80 minutes, and Juve struggled to create any real chances later in the game.
Spurs should dominate the ball on Wednesday, and with Gonzalo Higuain questionable for the match, I fancy the home side to be solid and robust limiting Juve to half chances, as the London side maybe wary of conceding a away goal.
High Value
Jose Sa ($3,900)
It’s safe to say Jose Sa and Porto didn’t have the greatest of nights in the first leg against Liverpool. FC Porto come into Tuesday’s game 5-0 down, facing an almost impossible task of reaching the next round. However, with the likelihood of the Reds resting, key players such as Mo Salah, Bobby Firmino and Sadio Mane might have the night off
Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp may have an eye on Saturday’s huge game against fierce rivals Manchester United. I expect Sa to have a busy night; however, with Liverpool’s attacking threat weakened, we may not see the reds at 100 percent.
Defenders
High Salary
Dani Alves ($5,400)
The Brazilian full back will be flying down the right flank all night long in a must win game for PSG. The French side go into Tuesdays game 3-1 down to 2017 Champions League winners Real Madrid. Dani Alves is one of the best attacking full backs in the game, and his attacking abilities will be relied upon if PSG have any chance of overturn their first leg defeat .
PSG have a small injury crisis at the moment with five first-team players, including Neymar and Marco Verratti, all questionable. The experienced full back will be one of PSG’s key men. I expect Alves to spend most of his time in the attacking third of the pitch, giving plenty of opportunity for the full back to pick up points .
High Value
Oleksandr Zinchenko ($4,400)
Manchester City full back Oleksandr Kinchenko, or Kevin to his teammates, due to his physical resemblances to City’s star man KDB, is an interesting option for this Champions League slate. The full back has deputized well for Fabian Delph at left back, and he will be needed again this week as City are still without Benjamin Mendy and Fabian Delph, who both are still out with injuries.
Zinchenko has impressed in recent weeks and didn’t look out of place against EPL giants Chelsea at the weekend. The full back’s normal position is left wing, and his attacking qualities will be on display on Tuesday as City should dominate against a Basel side they beat 4-0 in the first leg. Also, as much as City are an quality attacking side, their defensive record is impressive. Manchester City have only conceded one goal at home in the Champions League this season.
Midfielders
High Salary
Kylian Mbappe ($7,900)
Kylian Mbappe already has four goals in this year’s Champions League campaign. Mbappe is part of a PSG side who have scored 26 goals in total in only seven matches. That’s an average of more than 3.5 goals per game. PSG will need the young Frenchman to step up to the plate, as the home side are without key man Neymar , who is injured for the tie.
PSG need a minimum of two goals just to equal the tie, so will put the pressure on early in the game. The champions League is PSG’s number one competition this year, and progression in the tournament is key if PSG want to keep their top players. I am expecting plenty of goals in this tie as PSG have no choice but to attack Real Madrid, who have struggled at times this season .
High Value
Adam Lallana ($5,100)
The Englishman will be hoping to get his chance to impress from the start against Porto on Tuesday. Adam Lallana has seen his playing time dwindle this season. The Reds have been spoiled for choice in the forward positions this year, as the form of Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Bobby Firmino been nothing short of exceptional. So Lallana’s playing time has been limited.
However, with the tie almost over at 5-0 to Liverpool, the Reds may give playing time to the midfielder. Lallana will be desperate to impress Jurgen Klopp ahead of an important few months coming up. With Liverpool’s race to finish in the top four and progression in the Champions League, Lallana will be hoping for more game time, as the Englishman will have one eye on being in the England Squad for this year’s World Cup.
Forwards
High Salary
Cristiano Ronaldo ($10,300)
Cristiano Ronaldo is a man for the big occasion, and Tuesday’s game against PSG is certainly that . With the La Liga title race all but done, with Barcelona looking unstoppable at the top, Ronaldo stepped up for Madrid in the first leg. With Real down by one, Ronaldo’s quick fire double turned the tie on its head .
Ronaldo is always a threat in any game, and PSG will have to keep a close eye on the forward who could win the tie by himself. The forward will come into the game with PSG full of confidence. Ronaldo scored two at the weekend, his 300th and 301st in La Liga making him the second player to reach the 300 goal milestone. The Real Madrid forward will be hoping to help his side reach a third Champions League side in a row, and I expect Ronaldo to play a huge part in the second leg vs PSG.
High Value
Son Heung-Min ($6,200)
The Spurs forward has develop in to one of Tottenham’s main men his season. Son brings energy and pace to Spurs front line. The forward, who didn’t start in the first leg, should be one of the first names on the team sheet for the second leg.
Son scored two goals in a 2-0 win against Huddersfield on Saturday before being subbed off with 20 minutes left, which suggests Spurs boss Maurico Pochettino was looking to keep the forward fresh for Juventus. Another stat to consider is Son’s record at Wembley is outstanding: He has scored 13 of his 15 goals this season at Wembley. Don’t be surprised if the Spurs forward is on target on Wednesday.
Potential Lineup
F –Cristiano Ronaldo
F- Heung-Min Son
M-Kylian Mbappe
M-Adam Lallana
D-Dani Alves
D-Oleksandr Zinchenko
Gk- Hugo LLoris
UTIL – Dele Alli