UEFA.com looks at the first legs of the quarter-finals and evaluates the best defense options for #UCLfantasy managers.
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Only two defenders came out on Matchday 8 with a # UCLfantasy score of ten or more points, with the highest result coming from Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos (€ 6.5m). The Spaniard – supported by his role as the club’s main penalty taker – has proven to be one of the most reliable # UCLfantasy defenders for a number of years. This is reflected in its 16 percent stake hoping for more returns. Matchday 9 a 13-time winner receives Liverpool.
Liverpool center-back Nathaniel Phillips (€ 4.5m) may play ten points in his first UEFA Champions League start against Leipzig. With 12 ball restores completed to match the goal he conceded, Phillips has more than one string on the bow. While his spot on the starting line-up is not certain in such a crucial game, he could well be worth adding to your squad on Matchday 9 at this bargain price.
It would be inappropriate not to mention Trent Alexander-Arnold (€ 6.7m) when it comes to Liverpool defenders. The flying full-back is currently the highest scoring joint defender in #UCLfantasy this season with 50 points on his name. Five goals conceded, two assists and 44 ball restorations in six UEFA Champions League starts underscore the fact that Alexander-Arnold can collect Fantasy points in numerous branches. Portos Zaidu Sanusi (5.3 million euros), who turned out to be one of the stars of the group stage from a fantasy point of view, scored five goals for one goal and 37 completed ball restores, is connected to Alexander-Arnold in 50 points. Sanusi have demonstrated their ability to scoop #UCLfantasy points from defense and with a stake of just 5% could turn out to be a smart difference pick on Matchday 9 when Porto take on Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea.
Since Tuchel became manager of the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League winners, the Blues have improved dramatically on the defensive and are currently seven straight clean sheets in all competitions, including two against Atlético. One of the main pillars of Tuchel’s defensive revolution is club captain César Azpilicueta (EUR 5.0 million). The Spaniard has established himself as an integral part of Tuchel’s defense, scoring the highest number of # UCLfantasy points among Chelsea defenders this season with 36 points. He is 35 points behind central defender Antonio Rüdiger (€ 4.6 million), who, like Azpilicueta, started in both Chelsea’s round of 16 games. With Tuchel prone to flipping his full-back, these two are the best # UCLfantasy options in the London club’s defensive line for Matchday 9 against Porto.
