Champions League - Choose 'em or lose 'em

Eurosport - Tue, 30 Sep 18:21:00 2008

The greatest show in Europe is rolling back into town, and it's time for you to jump on the bandwagon with our Fantasy picks for Matchday Two.

FOOTBALL 2007-2008 La Liga Atlético de Madrid Sergio Kun Agüero Aguero - 0

GOALKEEPERS

Choose 'em: Liverpool's success under Rafael Benitez has always been based on a strong defence, and they are joint-top of the Premier League by virtue of conceding just two goals so far. Goalkeeper Pepe Reina (12.0) has had more than a little to do with that.

It's Spanish 'keepers galore among our picks, as Villarreal's Diego Lopez (6.5) is set for a clean sheet against Celtic on Tuesday, and Barcelona's Victor Valdes (9.0) will have many tougher tests than at Shakhtar this season.

Lose 'em: Juventus' Gianluigi Buffon (25.0) and Petr Cech (20.0) are probably the two best men between the sticks in the world, but their prices are incredibly high considering the relatively small amount of points 'keepers actually score.

Atletico hosting Marseille promises goals, so best steer clear of Gregory Coupet (4.0) and Steve Mandanda (5.0).

DEFENDERS

Choose 'em: He may be crazy expensive, but Barcelona's Dani Alves (24.0) is a full-back in name only, and will get forward to join in the fun in Donetsk at every opportunity.

Liverpool's Alvaro Arbeloa (6.5) is also not afraid to get forward, and at almost a quarter of Alves's price he is more likely to gather clean sheet points too.

Juventus' Zdenek Grygera (5.0) looks a bargain, especially when you consider he is facing up against Belarusians BATE Borisov.

Lose 'em: Players looking for what should be a clean sheet for Manchester United at Aalborg beware. Gary Neville (6.0) has not travelled to Denmark, or his midfielder team-mate Owen Hargreaves (12.0), so it's safe to say they won't feature.

Bayern Munich have lost two on the bounce, including being on the wrong end of a 5-2 shoeing at home to Werder Bremen. Therefore Philipp Lahm (17.0), Martin Demichelis (12.0) and co should be given a wide berth against free-scoring Lyon.

MIDFIELDERS

Choose 'em: Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo (35.0) reminded everyone what a fantasy points-machine he is on his full Premier League return at the weekend, and is virtually indispensable, whoever the opposition.

If you want to be less predictable (but only slightly) then Real Madrid's Rafael van der Vaart (24.0) is always useful, as is Inter's Ricardo Quaresma (19.0) at home to Werder Bremen.

On the cut-price tip, Villarreal's Robert Pires (5.0) will be more than a handful for a Celtic side that just don't travel and Cluj's Emmanuel Culio (1.5) - who made a name for himself as the Romanian side's two-goal hero in the win at Roma - looks a shrewd pick for his price and could lift his game against Chelsea in front of his home fans.

Lose 'em: Barcelona playmaker Xavi (25.0) may be one of the most visionary and cultured players in the world, but if he doesn't score then he scores disappointingly low in fantasy games.

The same goes for Inter's Esteban Cambiasso (22.0) who, for all his undoubted contribution and talent, just doesn't tick the boxes required to score points in this type of game.

For reasons known only to the makers of the game, Sporting's Miguel Veloso (6.0) is listed as a defender, so will be unfairly penalised for goals conceded.

STRIKERS

Choose 'em: No spotters' badges will be handed out to people who pick Inter's Zlatan Ibrahimovic (35.0), Barcelona's Lionel Messi (45.0) or Atletico's Sergio Aguero (pictured, 30.0), some of Europe's most coveted forwards, but what about Porto's in-form forward Hulk (3.5) if you fancy Arsenal's domestic blip to continue?

Dynamo Kiev's European stock in trade is being a tough place to visit - just ask Arsenal. They'll get a taste of their medicine when they travel to Fenerbahce, with Colin Kazim-Richards (3.0) in amongst the goals and Dani Guiza (11.0) always a threat.

Werder Bremen have to be mentioned after banging in a monster 10 goals in their last two games, so strikers Markus Rosenberg (6.0) and Chelsea old-boy Claudio Pizarro (8.0) have to be worth a look.

Cypriot minnows Anorthosis Famagusta have already eliminated Olimpiacos on their historic run to the group stage, and now they aim to ruin Panathinaikos' European dreams. Striker Lukasz Sosin (2.2) could break more Greek hearts in a hostile atmosphere.

Lose 'em: As previously mentioned, Celtic cease to be any kind of threat as soon as they leave Scotland, but that winless away record has to end sometime, right? Not this week. A goalless draw at El Madrigal would be a great result, so don't bet the farm on Georgios Samaras (2.5) or Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (6.0) bagging braces, despite the former netting seven times domestically this season.

Juventus have been struggling for goals so far this season, with only four in five Serie A matches. Cluj proved two weeks ago that you can't underestimate the minnows this year, so Juve's Amauri (12.0) might be a bit expensive.

Tony Mabert / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 5 of 5

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  1. I kept Xavi, let me see what happens...

    From Meelad, on Tue 30 Sep 3:53PM
  2. To any of you that fantasy euro ferdinand is in the team unlike wot is said above its neville who has been left at home with hargreaves

    From , on Tue 30 Sep 2:15PM
  3. Most likely FC Bayern, having lost two Bundesliga games in the row, is gonna come up stronger and more focused against Lyon. Other outcome the a win to Bavarians is gonna be a disaster with possible repercussions in FCB management...

    From piotrfedurek, on Tue 30 Sep 1:35PM
  4. second

    From mathew, on Tue 30 Sep 1:24PM
  5. first

    From beanie McBean, on Tue 30 Sep 1:18PM
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