RADIO
Welcome back to “The Kick-Off” and welcome to the 24-25 Champions League season! The Champions League is back, and with domestic play at the weekend and the International Break prior to that, squad rotation is inevitable! 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!
Let’s kick off Matchweek Six! Today's top favorite is Bayern Munich -800 at Shakhtar Donetsk +1800. I will guide you through this seven-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
Yann Sommer - DK $4.3K || FD $9
Opponent - Bayern Leverkusen
There are a few value options for the goalkeeper position to start the Champions League matchweek. The most optimal value option is Yann Sommer of Inter Milan. ‘L Nerazzurri’ is a bottom-ten club in Shots Against Per 90 in the UCL this season, but they are a top-ten club in Goals Against Per 90. Bayern Leverkusen is a top-tier club in the Bundesliga and in the Champions League, they are a top-ten club in both Goals Per 90 and Shots Per 90.
The German giants will be without their star striker Victor Boniface. Milan will put full effort into mitigating danger as a defensive-first club, forcing Leverkusen to shoot from outside the box or close to it. This sets up Sommer for a save-volume floor and a potential ceiling if he records a clean sheet.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Martinez (DK $4.6K || FD $10), Mignolet (DK $4.4K || FD $8)
UCL DFS Forwards
Noa Lang - DK $10.2K || FD $17
Opponent - Stade Brestois
This is another slate where forward-eligible players with a floor are scarce, if not completely non-existent. Enter Noa Lang of PSV Eindhoven. Lang has recently started to take over set-pieces for the visitors, although he is still sharing with teammates Johan Bakayoko (DK $7.6K || FD $21) and Malik Tillman (DK $7.2K || FD $22).
Stade Brestois remains a bottom-ten club in Ligue One in all meaningful metrics against Per 90 and bottom-five in Goals Against Per 90. However, in Champions League play thus far, they sit in the middle of the pack. This matchup is projected to be a close meeting with little goal-scoring, highlighting the importance of Lang’s peripheral production. Proceed cautiously, though, as he is one of three possible set-piece takers for the Dutch side. In Lang’s five Champions League matches–three starts–he has one goal, one assist, eight shots, four created chances, 25 crosses, 12 corners, four tackles, and two interceptions.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Barcola (DK $8.2K || FD $18), Müller (DK $6.9K || FD $14)
UCL DFS Midfielders
Vitinha - DK $6.1K || FD $12
Opponent - Red Bull Salzburg
Vitinha does not possess the same ceiling as his teammates, Ousmane Dembélé and Kang-In Lee. However, with both out, he is projected to be the focal point of set-pieces for the French giants. In five appearances–four starts–in all competitions, he has one goal, eight shots, 12 created chances, 11 crosses, three corners, six tackles, four interceptions, and three clearances.
Red Bull Salzburg are on a poor stretch of form, losing three of their last six fixtures in all competitions, notably a 2-1 loss to LASK at home in the Austrian Bundesliga. They also lost 5-0 at Bayern Leverkusen in their last Champions League fixture. Considering how much this win is needed for the visitors, it is expected that Vitinha and company will have their foot on the gas the entire match. Expect the midfielder to produce double-digit fantasy points.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Kimmich (DK $6.8K || FD $20), Tielemans (DK $6.4K || FD $19)
UCL DFS Defenders
Maxim De Cuyper - DK $5.4K || FD $13
Opponent - Sporting CP
Another slate with Maxim De Cuyper means another ‘lock’ to start lineup construction building. The fullback is in charge of all set-pieces for Club Brugge, and in his first five Champions League matches, he has five shots, ten created chances, 26 crosses, 12 corners, eight tackles, seven interceptions, three clearances, and three blocks.
Sporting CP still plays in a 3-4-2-1 formation despite ex-bench boss Ruben Amorim. This setup allows De Cuyper to be involved on both ends of the ball the entire match.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Grimaldo (DK $6K || FD $16), Guerreiro (DK $5.4K || FD $13)
Corner Takers
- Atalanta: Lookman
- Real Madrid: Modric/Mbappe
- Stade Brestois: Del Castillo
- PSV Eindhoven: Lang/Tillman/Bakayoko
- Club Brugge: De Cuyper
- Sporting CP: Trincão/Araújo
- Red Bull Salzburg: Gloukh
- Paris Saint-Germain: Vitinha
- Red Bull Leipzig: Kampl/Seiwald
- Aston Villa: Tielemans
- Shakhtar Donetsk: Sudakov
- Bayern Munich: Kimmich
- Bayern Leverkusen: Grimaldo
- Inter Milan: Dimarco/Çalhanoğlu
Thanks for reading The Kick-Off. Good luck in all of your contests today!
