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Below is a brief summary of each match-up on the slate as well as my initial targets & picks. However, the real key to making money is making adjustments in the hour before kick-off, after lineups are released. Our VIPs have access to our staff in Slack Chat during this pivotal time. Become a DFS Army VIP and use code SNIPER for a 10% discount!
Initial Thoughts
The Champions League continues Tuesday & Wednesday with the second leg of matches for the top-half of the bracket. Even more so than usual, this slate will be ENTIRELY different than the contests two weeks ago that featured the same teams. Injuries, lop-sided first-leg scores, and change of venue will all play a major factor in lineup selection. Value will absolutely open up when official lineups are released on each day, so make sure you check the VIP Slack Chat on match day. Become a DFS Army VIP and use code SNIPER for a 10% discount!
Liverpool vs. FC Porto
Liverpool return to Anfiled with a commanding 5-0 lead after the first leg, thanks in large part to a Sadio Mane hat trick. You have to wonder what kind of lineup Jorgen Klopp is going to roll out, potentially resting superstar Mohamed Salah as well as any other Liverpool player who may need rest. Anyone who does start could be in danger of being substituted out early not to mention the complication of game flow as Porto will be chasing five goals. Alex Telles would be a lock-and-load play for me but he is unlikely to play with a recent injury. In the end, the Liverpool stars are more of a GPP target despite being the second biggest favorite of the week and going bonkers against Porto. The value pieces are definitely in play on the Liverpool side as well as the fullbacks. Since being smashed by Liverpool, Porto has won four straight by a combined 15-3 score. However, with Telles out and uncertainty where the goals will come from, all of the FC Porto forwards are better suited as GPP only options.
Targets
Liverpool: James Milner or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (whoever starts), Alberto Moreno, Trent Alexander-Arnold
FC Porto: Alex Telles (if active)
Paris Saint-Germain vs. Real Madrid
The other game on Tuesday should be full of fireworks even if PSG superstar Neymar is out of action for the foreseeable future after undergoing surgery. PSG is home in the second leg and trails 1-3 on aggregate but after last year, aggregate means just about nothing when these two teams clash. Cristiano Ronaldo will be the chalk of the week and I have a hard time seeing myself with a cash game lineup without him, even on the road. Interestingly enough, PSG is still a decent favorite in this game and their forwards are all in play and reasonably priced, with the exception of Angel Di Maria (who is still a fine play). This game also has a pair of attacking fullbacks I like in Dani Alves & Marcelo, though they may also be chalky, while the midfielders in this potential shootout always interest me for salary relief.
Targets
PSG: Edison Cavani, Dani Alves, Kylian Mbappe, Marco Verratti, Adrien Rabiot
Real Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcelo, Luka Modric
Manchester City vs. Basel
This one could be UGLY. I wish this game was on Tuesday so I had clarity on the lineup as Manchester City dismantled Basel 4-0 on the road and will return home Wednesday as massive favorites. I’m also not overly concerned about the strategy of City in this one as it’s just not Pep Guardiola’s style to lay back, even if they are up four goals on aggregate. The keeper, presumably Ederson, is your safest bet as far as net minders. But if you’re new to DFS soccer, that’s not saying a whole lot. The key is simply, who is going to play and who is going to rest. Similar to Liverpool, if the studs start they could very well be pulled at halftime and at over $10,000 that’s hard for me to stomach in cash games. Other than that, everyone is viable but my favorite will be whoever starts in the midfield (Kevin de Bruyne, David Silva, Ilkay Gundogan). As far as Basel goes, I’ll toss out a GPP dart in Mohamed Elyounoussi and a more reasonably priced defender in Michael Lang.
Targets
Manchester City: Ederson, Any starting Forward or Midfielder
Basel: Mohamed Elyounoussi, Michael Lang
Tottenham vs. Juventus
The last game on the slate is the only when that featured two teams tied after the first leg. Unfortunately, we have some more injury news to address as Gonzalo Higuain is out for Juventus after scoring a brace in the opener. Tottenham scored a pair of unlikely goals in the match in Italy. I say unlikely because those were the only goals Juventus has surrendered in their last 11 matches. Son Hueng-Min has been on absolute tear as of late with three goals in his last two matches. He’s priced reasonably enough that he’ll be on my radar if he gets the start. Other than that, I think I’ll be underexposed to the Tottenham forwards as EPL teams always gain a little more exposure from casual players and as I mentioned, Juventus is usually very sound defensively. The Spurs defenders are always in play because they are so heavily involved in the attack. Gianluigi Buffon makes for an interesting GPP keeper play as he should face a few shots and could absolutely get a win. Paulo Dybala is the most likely Juventus player to score while Mario Mandzukic has also found himself starting up front with Higuain out. Miralem Pjanic is GPP viable but at his salary I’m more likely to pay up or down at midfield, especially on DraftKings where he is only midfield eligible.
Targets
Tottenham: Son Hueng-Min, Both Fullbacks (Tripper, Rose, Aurier, Davies)
Juventus: Gianluigi Buffon, Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzuikic
Extra Time
Just one more reminder that the real key to making money in DFS Soccer is making adjustments in the hour before kick-off, after lineups are released. Our VIPs have access to our staff in Slack Chat during this pivotal time. Become a DFS Army VIP and use code SNIPER for a 10% discount!