The Kick-Off: DraftKings DFS Soccer Picks for 9/28/2021 (UCL Matchweek 2-Day 1)

Welcome back to “The Kick-Off”! After a quick turnaround, we have our second Champions League matchweek! There will be six games on the main slate today, but eight games total with two early matches. 

The main slate will kick-off at 3:00 PM EST. Our two biggest favorites today are Real Madrid -950 and Borussia Dortmund -285. There will be a few big matches at the weekend and it is expected to not see full rosters for a few teams on the slate, most notable Liverpool. Also, make sure to follow the news as it comes down to the wire. Both Erling Haaland and Toni Kroos are questionable and if they play, it will drastically alter the playing field and the slate. 

Remember that during the Champions League and Europa League play, things are much messier and goals come from everywhere or nowhere. When betting, it is not as easy to predict as the domestic play, but the heavy favorites typically never disappoint. On that note, let’s jump right into the matchups and their projected players for the day.

If you have any questions on today's slate, bankroll management, GPP strategy, Cash game strategy, or anything else don’t hesitate to email me [email protected] or via Twitter @df_solutions or on “SLACK”.

The Kick-Off - UCL Matchweek 2

Vegas Odds for the Day

[H] Paris Saint-Germain (+200) vs [A] Manchester City (+133):  Total: 3u  

The hosts struggled last time out when they drew with Club Bruges. However, they have followed that up with three consecutive wins in domestic play, while averaging, 2.0 goals for and 0.66 goals against. The visitors will also be high on confidence after their statement win over reigning champions Chelsea. This matchup will all come down to the trio of PSG and if they can finally start to click. Otherwise, it will be a relatively goal-less matchup. 

Expected Outcome: 1-1

PSG:

Cash/GPP: 

M/F: Messi($9.5K), Neymar($8.5K)

GPP: Mbappe($9.1K), Donnarumma($4.6K)

MCL:

Cash/GPP: 

D: Cancelo($5.1K)

M/F: KCB($8.2K), Grealish($8K)

GPP: Magrez($7.5K), Torres($7.1K), Ederson($4.9K)

[H] RB Leipzig (-205) vs [A] Club Bruges (+515):  Total: 3u  

Leipzig is just getting over a lull in their early season where they lost to Wolfsburg, Bayern Munich and Manchester City to a combined score of 4-11. Since then, they have tied FC Koln 1-1 and beaten Hertha Berlin at the weekend 6-0. A pretty drastic turnaround to give them confidence which they will need going against Bruges. The visitors have been all over the place as of late. They got stomped by KAA Gent and then have won twice and drawn twice -- 1-1 draw with Manchester City -- since. There does look like a pretty good chance that goals are scored here and it may be one of the more exciting matches of the slate. 

Expected Outcome: 3-2 Leipzig

RBL:

Cash/GPP: 

M/F: Nkunku($9.8K), Szoboszlai($8.4K), Forsberg($5.1K)

GPP: Gulacsi($5.7K), Poulsen($5.1K), Mukiele($4.6K)

BRU:

Cash/GPP: 

D: Sobol($4.2K)

M/F: Vanaken($5.6K), Rits($4K), Sowah($3.8K)

GPP: Ketelaere($5.5K), Lang($5K), Mignolet($4K)

[H] FC Porto (+368) vs [A] Liverpool (-143):  Total: 2 1/2o  

Porto’s first outing in the Champions League this year saw a hard-fought zero-goal draw with Atletico Madrid, meanwhile, Liverpool overcame a talented AC Milan 3-2. Since then Porto has won both matches with a combined score of 6-1 and Liverpool has won two of their last three with the most notable outcome a 3-3 draw with Brentford at the weekend. Due to the abundance of goals conceded, Liverpool will most likely be making some rotations for their travels. In the past two meetings between these clubs, Liverpool has won with a combined score of 6-1 and that includes a 4-1 win away two years ago. The Reds will look to secure another three points to only strengthen their grip on the top of the table before they travel home for a tough matchup against Manchester City. 

Expected Outcome: 3-1 Liverpool

POR: 

Cash/GPP: 

M/F: Otavio($4.4K)

GPP: Taremi($5.3K), Costa($4.2K), Martinez($3.7K), Grujic($3K)

LIV:

Cash/GPP: 

G: Alisson($5.5K)

D: Tsimikas($6.5K)

M/F: Salah($10K), Mane($8.8K), Firmino($6.5K), Milner($4.2K)

GPP: Jones($3.4K)

[H] AC Milan (+193) vs [A] Atletico Madrid (+152):  Total: 2 1/2u  

The Italian giants are coming into another hard matchup with two back-to-back wins on their plates after they lost to Liverpool in their first UCL matchup and tied Juventus afterward. Atletico Madrid will not be coming in with much confidence after they had a surprise 0-0 draw with Porto in the first UCL matchweek and they then drew, won and lost all in a row. These two sides have not met in seven years and the last time they did, Atletico won both matches with a combined score of 5-1. With both clubs having a mediocre season compared to expectations, they will look to right the wrong here, but the spoils may be shared. 

Expected Outcome: 2-1 Atletico Madrid

ACM:

Cash/GPP: 

D: Hernandez($5K)

M/F: Saelemaekers($4.3K)

GPP: Rebic($7.6K), Diaz($5.8K), Giroud($5.4K), Maignan($4.6K)

ATL: 

Cash/GPP: 

G: Oblak($5K)

D: Trippier($5.6K)

M/F: Carrasco($6.9K)

GPP: de Paul($7.5K), Suarez($6.4K), Felix($5.1K), Koke($4K)

[H] Borussia Dortmund (-285) vs [A] Sporting CP (+760):  Total: 3o  

Dortmund is coming into this match off yet another surprising loss for the season, meanwhile, Sporting is coming to Germany with back-to-back wins. Prior to the loss, Dortmund had won four straight and they will look to make things right when they host the Portuguese outfit. These two clubs have only met twice, both in 2016 and in both games Dortmund won. It would not be a surprise to watch Malen and company blow up and send the total over three.

Expected Outcome: 3-1 Dortmund

DOR:

Cash/GPP: 

G: Kobel($5.8K)

D: Meunier($5.1K), Schulz($4K)

M/F: Hazard($9K), Reus($8.3K), Malen($7.3K)

GPP: Brandt($5.6K)

LIS:

Cash/GPP: 

D: Porro($3.5K)

M/F: Sarabia($4.7K), 

GPP: Adan($3.8K), Palhinha($3.6K), Vinagre($3.2K), Pote(3K)

[H] Real Madrid (-950) vs [A] Sheriff Tiraspol (+2000):  Total: 3 1/2u  

Both clubs support the best form on the entire slate. Each club has won five of their last six and drawn the other match. Madrid had a big surprise 1-0 away win over Inter Milan two weeks ago and Sheriff also had a surprise win with a clean sheet -- 2-0 -- over Shakhtar Donetsk. It will certainly be a battle though for the Modovian outfit traveling into the Bernabeau. Expect the hosts to notch back-to-back wins to start the new campaign.

Expected Outcome: 3-1 Real Madrid

RMA:

Cash/GPP: 

G:  Courtois($5.9K)

D: Nacho($3.4K)

M/F: Benzema($10.5K), Hazard($6.9K), Modric($6.2K)

GPP: Asensio($9.3K), Junior($7.4K)

TIR:

Cash/GPP: 

D: Costanza($2.9K)

M/F: Traore($4.7K), Velez($4.1K), Thill($4K)

GPP: Athannasiadis($3.6K), Cristiano($4.1K), Kolovos($3.6K), Yakshiboev($3.5K)

Expected Corner Takers:

Paris Saint-Germain: Neymar

Manchester City: Grealish/KDB

RB Leipzig: Angelino/Forsberg//Szoboszlai

Club Bruges: Sowah/Rits

FC Porto: Oliveira/Otavio

Liverpool: Alexander-Arnold/Robertson

AC Milan: Tonali/Hernandez

Atletico Madrid: Carrasco/De Paul/Koke

Borrusia Dortmund:Guerreiro/Reus/Brandt

Sporting CP: Porro/Sarabia/Santos

Real Madrid: Kroos/Modric

Sheriff Tiraspol: Castaneda Velez/Thill

Thanks for reading The Kick-Off! Good luck in all of your contests today!