Champions League - Choose 'em or lose 'em

Eurosport - Tue, 25 Nov 15:20:00 2008

As the Champions League returns for another thrill-packed round of games, this is the place for some handy hints when choosing your Fantasy team.

FOOTBALL 2007-2008 Bundesliga Bayern-Leverkusen Toni Klose - 0

Forwards

Choose 'em: Group A leaders Chelsea put four past Bordeaux at Stamford Bridge on Matchday One, and at a reasonable price Nicolas Anelka (12m) looks set to make it another miserable night for Les Girondins.

If you're looking for a budget signing to find blockbusters elsewhere, then you could do worse than Anorthosis Famagusta forward Lukasz Sosin (2.2m), who will line up against Group B basement boys Bremen. If you have the cash to splash then you can take your pick from the fearsome Bayern Munich strike pairing of Luca Toni (20m) and Miroslav Klose (15m) (pictured) that faces struggling Steaua Bucharest.

But surely the best value is Juventus veteran Alessandro del Piero (12m), currently the game's highest scoring forward.

Lose 'em: Villarreal have not kept a clean sheet at all in November - conceding 10 times this month, including three at home to Valladolid at the weekend - but they have drawn their last three encounters with Manchester United 0-0, so don't expect the expensive duo of Wayne Rooney (30m) and Carlos Tevez (22m) to set the world alight.

Midfielders

Choose 'em:Cesc Fabregas (34m) will take to the field as Arsenal's club captain for the first time against Dynamo Kiev, and he can herald a new era for the club if he steps up with a commanding performance at the emirates. Gunners fans, time to put your money where your mouth is.

For those still thinking with their heads rather than their hearts, Bayern's Franck Ribery and Barcelona's Xavi are both almost 10m less at 25m each, while Inter's in-form Sulley Muntari (11m) looks good value at home against Panathinaikos.

Lose 'em: Real Madrid's Mahamadou Diarra (17m) is one of those players who is brilliant but won't win you many points, best avoid him, especially when team-mate Wesley Sneijder is only 2m more.

The same thing goes for Inter's Esteban Cambiasso (22m) and Liverpool's Javier Mascherano (19m), when respective team-mates Mancini (16m) and Albert Riera (10m) are cheaper.

Defenders

Choose 'em: Not so long ago Gael Clichy was the quiet man of the Arsenal side, going about his business in efficient and unspectacular manner. A few recent errors have blotted his copybook somewhat, but he's still easily worth 12m as one of the game's highest scoring defenders.

Chelsea's Jose Bosingwa (14m) has installed himself effortlessly as first-choice right-back for Chelsea, and he will have space to get forward and earn points against Bordeaux.

For real value, though, look no further than Lino (1m), who was returned a handsome 22 points so far as Porto prepare to face a stuttering Fenerbahce in Turkey.

Lose 'em: Barcelona's Dani Alves (24m) is twice Clichy's price, yet hasn't delivered nearly as much in the points stakes.

Similarly, Real Madrid Sergio Ramos (20m) may be the top-scoring defender at the moment, but he costs a packet and looks like Dylan from Neighbours, so there are two good reasons not to pick him right there.

Dorin Goian (1.8m) of Steaua Bucharest looks very tempting at that price having picked up a whopping 36 points to date, but he's in for a torrid time at the Olimpistadion, Munich.

Goalkeepers

Choose 'em: Normally this page tries to tempt you away from the obvious choices - any two-bob Johnny-come-lately can pick Leo Messi (45m) - but in the case of Bayern Munich keeper Michael Rensing (7m) he really is the outstanding candidate, bringing in a huge 57 points up to now.

Arsenal's goalkeeper Manuel Almunia (4m) is also outstanding value, playing as he does for a side that could seal their place in the knockout phase tonight.

Lose 'em: Petr Cech (20m) may be a clean sheet virtually in the bag against Bordeaux, but his price is very prohibitive.

In general you have to pay through the nose for household names such as Juve's Gigi Buffon (25m) and Real Madrid's Iker Casillas (18m), and they are not among the higher points earners.

Eurosport

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