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Welcome back to “The Kick-Off” and welcome to the 24-25 Champions League season! We are back with our second Matchweek of the Champions League season! Many clubs have made big moves this offseason to help bolster their cup chances. Can Borussia Dortmund make back-to-back appearances in the final? Can Bayern Munich make their long-awaited return to the Champions Lounge? For that and more, make sure to use Rotoballer as your one-stop shop for the Champions League season!
The top favorite this week is Manchester City -1600 vs SK Slovan Bratislava +3800. I will guide you through this six-match slate starting at 3:00 P.M. EST.
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 at [email protected], via X @df_solutions, or in our Discord chat rooms.
UCL DFS Goalies
Mike Maignan - DK $4.2K || FD $8
Opponent - Bayern Leverkusen
When assessing value goalies on the slate, Mike Maignan is the name that jumps off the roster. He also happens to be just above $4K on DraftKings. Over 80 percent of the slate are favored home clubs, making value on the goalie position much more challenging.
In Maignan’s most recent five domestic matches, he has 16 saves, two clean sheets, and five goals against. AC Milan is also the second-best in Shots Against and the fifth-best in Goals Against. Maignan is expected to reach value as long as the ‘Rossoneri’ can hold back Victor Boniface and company.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Ederson (DK $6K || FD $14), Pena (DK $5.9K || FD $13)
UCL DFS Forwards
Savinho - DK $8.6K || FD $15
Opponent - ŠK Slovan Bratislava
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is projected to see north of 60 percent on today’s slate due to his incredible form and very friendly matchup. However, this is not about Erling Haaland. The striker that will be focused on is Savinho. In five domestic fixtures – four starts –, he has two assists, seven shots, eight created chances, 21 crosses, 12 corners, and eight tackles.
Unlike Haaland, Savinho has set piece and open-play value for Manchester City. However, beware of Phil Foden, who can vulture set pieces. Celtic handled ŠK Slovan Bratislava in Matchweek 1, defeating them 5-1. As the biggest favorites on the slate, the Blue Shirts will be expected to dominate this matchup and Savinho will be in the center of the action.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Raphinha (DK $8.7K || FD $21), Martinez (DK $7.2K || FD $21)
UCL DFS Midfielders
Phil Foden - DK $9.1K || FD $22
Opponent - ŠK Slovan Bratislava
Following Savinho is teammate and attacking midfielder Phil Foden. As mentioned, Foden may vulture set pieces from Savinho. However, his primary source of production will come from his creativity and his Shots Assisted. It is not out of the realm of possibility that Foden produces double-digit Shots Assisted in a match that the hosts are expected to dominate out of the gate.
With three shots, two created chances, two crosses, one corner, two interceptions, and one block in three appearances off the bench, Foden is expected to register double-digit fantasy points in his first start of the season.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Kang-In (DK $7.8K || FD $10), Groß (DK $6.2K || FD $15)
UCL DFS Defenders
Federico Dimarco - DK $4.8K || FD $10
Opponent - FK Crvena Zvezda
Similar to Erling Haaland of Manchester City, Federico Dimarco – if he starts –, will be one of the highest-owned players on the slate. At only $4.8K on DraftKings with at least half the set pieces for Inter Milan, he screams optimal. Consider the formation – 3-5-2 – and the opponent, and Dimarco can potentially exceed five times his salary.
The fullback has one goal, one assist, 12 shots, 13 created chances, 41 crosses, 12 corners, three tackles, two interceptions, and two blocks in his last five domestic matches. As a winger in a 3-5-2 formation, Dimarco will see plenty of action on both ends of the pitch, and with his skillset, anything is possible.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Lewis (DK $4.5K || FD $), Couto (DK $3.8K || FD $8)
Corner Takers
- FC Barcelona: Raphinha
- BSC Young Boys: Ugrinic
- Bayern Leverkusen: Grimaldo/Wirtz
- AC Milan: Pulisic
- Borussia Dortmund: Gross
- Celtic: Engels
- Inter Milan: Dimarco/Calhanoglu
- FK Crvena Zvezda: Katai/Ivanić
- PSV Eindhoven: Veerman
- Sporting CP: Goncalves(Pote)/Trincao
- ŠK Slovan Bratislava: Weiss/Tolić
- Arsenal: Saka
- Paris Saint-Germain: Kang-In
Thanks for reading The Kick-Off. Good luck in all of your contests today!
