You can certainly can’t argue that the one game elimination style Champions League that the pandemic has forced has given us some exciting soccer and some incredible upsets. RB Leipzig scoring late with US star Tyler Adams scoring the winning goal (1st of his career for Leipzig) in the 88th minute was amazing. See here – American Tyler Adams scores winning goal in the 88th minute for RB Leipzig to beat Atletico Madrid.
PSG scored 2 goals in the last 10 minutes to beat Atalanta and Man City was then handled by Lyon on Saturday 3-1 in another stunner. Of course Bayern Munich’s dismantling of Barcelona 7-2 has lead to the firing of the Barca head coach and Sporting Director with more turmoil to come I am sure. Will Messi stay or win he go?? Either way it leaves us with a battle of huge money fed teams in PSG and RB Leipzig facing off today at 3 pm on FUBO TV, TUDN and (streamed on CBS all-access). Tomorrow we get Bayern Munich vs upstart Lyon same time, same channels. Again I got the Free month trial so I could watch these games on CBS All Access in English. I will admit the 1 hour pregame and 1 hour + post game shows are fantastic with Kate Abdo leading the panel of former stars. It’s the best pre and post game I have ever seen – much like we handle the NFL normally. Great to see – I just wish it was on CBS Sports Network so everyone could see it on TV. By the way the games are being re-played each night on CBSSN if you would like to wait and watch at 9 pm each night. Great Preview Stories below on the Ole Ballcoach ! I like Bayern 3-1 and PSG in a tight one 3-2 over RB Leipzig – though wouldn’t it be fun to see an American Tyler Adams in the Champions League Finals.
UCL round of 16 hits U.S. viewer high
Saturday’s FC Barcelona-Napoli UEFA Champions League round of 16 match averaged 1.1 million viewers on Univision and TUDN, the largest audience on record for the round of 16 on U.S. television. Meanwhile, Manchester City-Real Madrid averaged 571,000 on UniMas and TUDN Friday, ranking sixth all-time for the round.English-language coverage aired on CBS Sports Network, which is not Nielsen-rated.
GAMES ON TV
Tues, Aug 18
3 pm FuboTV, RB Leipzig vs PSG Champs League Semis
Weds, Aug 19
3 pm FuboTV, Bayern Munich vs Lyon Champs League Semis
Fri, Aug 21
3 pm FuboTV, TUDN, CBSSN Inter vs Sevilla Europa League Finals
Sun, Aug 23
3 pm FuboTV, CBSSN Champions League Finals
10 pm ESPN? Portland Timbers vs Seattle Sounders MLS
Fans are biggest losers in ugly CL matchup
The Champions League semifinal matchup between Paris-Saint Germain and RB Leipzig is tough given how both teams represent the dark side of the sport.Who do you root for? »
Champions League semifinal preview: PSG, Neymar too good for Leipzig? Can Lyon stop mighty Bayern?
Champions League stage set for Neymar to prove he’s one of the best
UEFA Champions League semifinals: Paris Saint-Germain vs. RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich vs. Lyon offer intrigue
Yahoo DFS Soccer: Tuesday/Wednesday UCL Picks
Key battles for UEFA Champions League semifinals
American Tyler Adams scores winning goal in the 88th minute for RB Leipzig to beat Atletico Madrid
USMNT’s Adams helps Leipzig upset Atletico late
Leizpig’s Nagelsmann faces Tuchel reunion after besting Mourinho, Simeone
Qatar versus Red Bull — a Champions League semi-final for the 21st century
‘Greedy’ Bayern wary of Man City-slayers Lyon
Is Guardiola’s UCL drought a sign he’s no longer a genius?
Mbappe mocks Ligue 1’s ‘farmers league’ label after Lyon reach UCL semis
Europa League
Solskjaer on Europa exit: Manchester United “will have to learn”
Inter’s ‘LuLa’ partnership fired up to end wait for trophy
Lukaku, Lautaro lead Inter back among the European elite
‘Records there to be broken’ as Lukaku extends run
De Gea shrugs off criticism, says he is still safe pair of hands
Barcelona sack Setien, Koeman favourite to take charge
Champions League semifinal preview: PSG, Neymar too good for Leipzig? Can Lyon stop mighty Bayern?
4:40 PM ETESPN
fter a dizzying, dramatic slate of quarterfinals in Lisbon, Portugal, that saw last-second drama (PSG vs. Atalanta), historic scores (Bayern Munich 8, Barcelona 2) and a pair of serious updates (RB Leipzig over Atletico Madrid, Lyon knocking Man City out), we’re down to the final four in the UEFA Champions League. Two games pitting Ligue 1 sides against Bundesliga opposition are up next, as Lyon face Bayern and RB Leipzig look to end PSG’s date with destiny.Which teams are likely to move on to the final? Which players could be decisive in either contest?
Here’s your preview for the semifinals.
RB LEIPZIG vs. PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (Tues., 3 p.m. ET)
RB Leipzig
Master vs. Apprentice
When Julian Nagelsmann was forced into premature retirement as a young central defender at Augsburg in 2008, it was his then-coach, Thomas Tuchel, who nudged him down the coaching path. Under Tuchel, Nagelsmann (still on the Augsburg payroll) started scouting and then took his first steps into coaching as an assistant with 1860 Munich U-
Key players
Naglesmann’s approach is all about transitions and the speed of turning defence into attack. Dayot Upamecano, their towering centre-back, was magnificent against Atletico Madrid and neutralized the threat of Diego Costa with ease. Upamecano will have his hands full trying to stop Neymar and Mauro Icardi.
– Hamilton: Adams the hero as Leipzig beat Atletico
With Werner at Chelsea, the pressure is on Leipzig’s forwards to deliver. Yussuf Poulsen will be their go-to striker, but Marcel Sabitzer is integral. The Austrian attacking midfielder has 16 goals and 11 assists to his name, and Leipzig will need him to be at his most creative vs. PSG.
Why they will win
Leipzig have a fearless mentality. In short, the bigger the opponent, the greater the opportunity. They are defensively solid, and through the brilliance of Naglesmann’s tactical approach, they can switch from a 3-4-3, to a 3-4-1-2 or a 4-2-3-1 in the blink of an eye. The players have an inherent understanding of their roles and are equally confident in moving out of position to plug gaps. They are so hard to break down, with Kevin Kampl integral to their system as he hovers in front of the back three snaffling out any potential attacking threats.
Why they will not win
They have one thing going against them, and it’s a big one: the absence of Werner. He scored 34 goals for them this season and was the heartbeat of their rapid attack. While they’ve already moved to sort that for next season with the signing of Hwang Hee-Chan from Salzburg, on Tuesday night they will need players to once again step out of the Werner shadows and embrace the spotlight. — Tom Hamilton
Paris Saint-Germain
Mbappe & Neymar will have to be ‘special’ to make UCL final
Frank Leboeuf says PSG have “many question marks” heading into their Champions League semifinal vs. RB Leipzig.
This is Neymar’s time to shine
When you think of the PSG version of Neymar in the Champions League, you think of inconsistency and an inability to deliver, having missed their last two exits from the competition because of injury. In the round of 16 against Dortmund, Neymar was equal parts brash and brilliant. Against Atalanta, he was wasteful in front of goal but never stopped trying to crack the Serie A side’s defenses. Apart from Lionel Messi, no one else can dribble past people like him and can own a game like he did against the Italians. He was the only creative touch against them. He was PSG’s attacking system alone.
– Laurens: PSG end their Champions League curse
– Marcotti: Atalanta’s story is far from over
The French champions relied on him against Dortmund in the past 16 and he delivered with two goals. They relied on him against Atalanta and he carried them, assisting the first goal and with a second assist on the second. They will rely on him again on Tuesday against RB Leipzig. Will he take them to the final? That’s why they signed him. That’s why he left Barcelona. He has two more games to get to the top of Europe, like in 2015 with Barca, but this time, he would be the main man doing it like he wanted it.Key players
Neymar will of course be the leader, but Kylian Mbappé will be his faithful lieutenant, the duo resembling a footballing version of Batman and Robin. The French prodigy is back in the semifinal of the Champions League three years after reaching it with Monaco in 2017. At the time, he was 18 and had taken Europe both by storm and by surprise. This is a different, better KMB, and he is where we expect him to be. Like against Atalanta, his pace and his partnership with Neymar will cause havoc in the Leipzig defence.
Then there is Marquinhos, the best hybrid centre-back/holding midfielder in the world. No other player can do both jobs as well as him. He will be key for PSG once more, as he will have to protect his back four from the waves of Leipzig attacks as well as providing the right balance in transition for his team. At 26, he is also a real leader even if he doesn’t wear the armband; he told his teammates not to panic against Atalanta when they were 1-0 down and to not give up when the clock was ticking down.
Why PSG will win
The Parisians are giants both in terms of their star power and their financial might. They’re the haves against Leipzig’s have-nots, and they’re on a mission. Before the coronavirus pandemic lockdown and before they faced Dortmund in the last 16 second leg, with a 2-1 deficit to overturn, they made a pact as a group to go all the way. They believed this was their season, and they’re proving it so far.
Better yet, their individuals are in top form, unlike in previous seasons. Neymar, Mbappé, Marquinhos and Thiago Silva form a winning spine capable of carrying this team to the final. They have too much brilliance for Leipzig to combat, especially given Neymar’s form. That brilliance extends to the coaching battle: Tuchel knows Nagelsmann better than anyone else and he will be ready to win the tactical battle against him, especially to beat Leipzig’s press.
Why PSG will not win
The expectations are massive. Having waited 25 years for this opportunity, not reaching the final four of the Champions League/European Cup since 1995, the pressure could be crippling. PSG don’t usually cope well with this kind of stress, having crashed out of this competition in the quarterfinals or earlier in each of the past seven attempts. Despite boasting the likes of Mbappe, Neymar, Edinson Cavani and even Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the Champions League has been truly beyond their grasp.
The French champions are not used to facing a team like Leipzig that plays with so much energy, intensity and movement. It will be tough for them to keep up with all the runs from the wing-backs, the forwards and the midfielders.
Based on the latest training sessions, it looks like Tuchel will revert to his favourite 4-4-2 formation for this game, which would be a mistake, as it would play into Leipzig’s hands, especially in midfield where PSG risk to be totally outplayed. The other risk is that if things start going wrong and if Leipzig take the lead, Neymar or Mbappe will try to do their thing on their own and it will be counterproductive for the team. — Julien Laurens
Predictions
If Leipzig can keep PSG’s attacking riches at bay, they will book their place in the Champions League final with a 2-1 victory. — Tom Hamilton
PSG is stronger individually but Leipzig is better collectively. However, in a game like this, I think individual talent will prevail. PSG will win 2-1. — Julien Laurens
https://thepodium.espncreativeworks.com/poll/5f382527022c320028975676/5f38255b022c320028975681 size=1 width=”100%” noshade style=’color:#A5A6A7′ align=center>
OLYMPIQUE LYON vs. BAYERN MUNICH (Wed., 3 p.m. ET)
The secret to Lyon’s success: This was never on the cards. Never, at any point this season, did something about Lyon’s game make you think they would be on the verge of something so special in the Champions League. Yet, here they are. They managed to defy adversity and negativity all season, even weathering the premature end to the Ligue 1 season caused by the coronavirus outbreak across the globe.
Coach Rudi Garcia and his players created a fantastic team spirit, a sense of togetherness and a mental strength that has taken them 90 minutes from the Champions League final. They also found the perfect tactical system for them — a 3-5-2 that suits most of their top players. In this formation, they’re hard to break down and hard to beat. They are solid in midfield, crowding out opponents, they’re disciplined in the tackle and they can play on the counterattack.
The FC crew debate if the better team won the Champions League tie between Man City and Lyon.
The other secret is the emergence of a remarkable midfield three. In Houssem Aouar, Lyon already had a gem on their hands. This could be his last game for the club if a bigger team comes for him this summer, but Aouar has been a wonderful technical leader. He is the total package: can create scoring chances, retain possession under pressure and advance with the ball through tackles even in his own half.
– Olley: Guardiola outthinks himself vs. Lyon
Next to him, Lyon have unearthed a real star in the making in Bruno Guimaraes. The Brazilian was already praised in his country but quite unknown in Europe. Not anymore, as the holding midfielder was superb against Juventus and Manchester City. The third and last musketeer in the Lyon midfield is the youngest and the new kid on the block, Maxence Caqueret, 20, who plays with the maturity of a 30-year-old. Everything is clean with him, and he puts so much pressure on the opposition too.
Key players
In addition to the aforementioned Houssem Aouar, Bayern must heed the threat created by Memphis Depay, who arguably shouldn’t even be playing. When he injured a knee before Christmas, he and club officials thought that his season was over. On Wednesday, he will lead his team as the captain into one of the biggest games in Lyon’s history. He wants to make his second chance count.
Equally, this is a great opportunity for Depay to show how far he’s come since his disappointing spell at Manchester United. He was young then, and probably not ready after leaving PSV. At Lyon, he’s found himself again. Whether he plays at a false nine or a second striker, his influence on the team’s game is huge. He is the boss of this team — its guide and its soul. For Lyon to beat Bayern, they will need a great night from him and a great partnership with Karl Toko Ekambi, who complements him well up front with his runs.Why Lyon will win
No one expected them to get this far, and they will keep doing what has worked so far against Juventus and City: defend deep with a back five and play on the counter. It should be effective if Bayern stick with their high line, giving Lyon opportunities and room to run in behind. There will be lots of space there for Depay, Toko Ekambi and the wing-backs to exploit. In midfield, the three young Lyonnais should cope with the pressure from Bayern’s midfield.
Why Lyon won’t win
Did you see what Bayern did to Barcelona? Make no mistake, Lyon are facing the favorites to win it all. There will be no shame in losing against a better side, one that has the experience in midfield to block Lyon’s trio. Stopping Alfonso Davies and Robert Lewandowski could also be very difficult and could cost them the game with an early goal. — Julien Laurens
Bayern Munich
Is this Bayern’s trophy to lose?
Where do you go after you’ve already scored eight against Lionel Messi & Co.? That’s the challenge facing Bayern Munich: how to keep it going. Having secured a spot in Champions League immortality with that once-in-a-lifetime result, they know it’ll count for nothing unless they back it up with two more wins and the trophy.
Oliver Kahn, the great Bayern Munich goalkeeper, is now on their board and said recently that the club needs to win the Champions League “more often.” (Their last title: 2012-13, when they beat Jurgen Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund 2-1.)
– Marcotti: Bayern’s brilliance, not Barca’s woe, the story
– Hunter: Barca’s humiliation is their own fault
“I look at the future and it is not enough to win the Champions League title one time every 10 years,” he continued. Well, there’s the challenge to Hansi Flick’s side and a sign of their ambition. The Bundesliga title — as others like Maurizio Sarri at Juventus found after clinching Serie A — is no longer enough to satisfy the hunger of ambitious boardrooms. But this is now Bayern Munich’s Champions League to lose.
They have been magnificent all season, dominated the Bundesliga and far away lead the Champions League standings for expected goals, or xG (31.38), have averaged 4.3 goals per game and are second behind Manchester City for expected assists, or xA (19.67). They have incredible depth — just look at their bench against Barcelona, as they were able to bring on Kingsley Coman and Philippe Coutinho to strengthen their grip on the match — and the world’s best striker in Robert Lewandowski. Then they have unsung heroes such as Joshua Kimmich, the box-office talent of Davies and the ever-calm Manuel Neuer between the posts.
Key players
You can pick anyone from Bayern’s remarkable squad, but it’s hard to look past their brilliant raumdeuter (or, literally, “space interpreter”) Thomas Muller. The attacking midfielder was out of the picture under previous manager Nico Kovac, but Flick’s introduction saw Muller return to centre stage and he has been outstanding for Bayern this season. He is their glue: always the link man in attack (he has registered 21 assists this term) and also chips in with his fair share of goals. He has a wonderfully unique style and the deftest touch on the ball; with freedom in attack, he’s so difficult to mark.
Alongside Müller, Bayern will also need David Alaba to be on form in the heart of their defence. The 28-year-old has formed an impressive partnership with Jerome Boateng, but he will need to be on song to halt the likes of Depay and Moussa Dembele. He was vulnerable against Barcelona, and though it didn’t cost Bayern in the end, he’ll need to rebound quickly for the challenge of Lyon.Why Bayern will win
When you have Lewandowski in the team, you fancy your chances, but Bayern are far bigger than just one man. Their motto “Mia san Mia” roughly translates to “we are who we are” and is the lifeblood of their identity — everything flows through this, and they put so much emphasis on team harmony and a collective will. Flick manages the club through encouragement, rather than an authoritarian approach, and the players have responded.
Boateng, their impressive veteran centre-back, has previously spoken of how Flick has brought the fun back to Bayern and the players are clearly thriving. They dominated the Bundesliga, winning their eighth straight title by 13 points, and have Champions League winners in the squad in Müller, Neuer, Alaba and Boateng. In short, they know how to win.
Why Bayern won’t win
Lyon won’t be overawed by Bayern, after the French side polished off Man City, and will target the German champions’ centre-backs, looking to push and pull Boateng and Alaba out of position. Both defenders are vulnerable to pace given Bayern’s propensity to play a high line; if the likes of Davies and Kimmich are isolated upfield, there could be room for Depay & Co. to exploit. — Tom Hamilton
Predictions
I think that Bayern will be too good for Lyon. I can see the Germans winning 3-1. — Julien Laurens
Bayern Munich will come through with a 4-2 victory, Lewandowski will score and Müller will have an outstanding game. — Tom Hamilton
PSG vs. RB Leipzig: Which team do you want to lose in the Champions League semifinal more?
Ryan BaileyYahoo SportsAug 17, 2020, 6:08 PM https://platform.twitter.com/widgets/follow_button.html?screen_name=RyanJayBailey&show_screen_name=false&show_count=false
It probably hasn’t escaped your attention that this season has been very strange. It is, therefore, appropriate that we have ended up with a curious Champions League final four.
In a European campaign defined by the coronavirus pandemic pause and a single-elimination denouement in Lisbon, we have arrived at the most diverse range of semifinalists in decades. None of the finalists in the last six years of the competition are still in the competition, and it’s the first time since the 1992 Champions League rebrand that the semifinals have not featured a team from England, Spain or Italy.Tournament favorites Bayern Munich — who didn’t even appear to be playing at their best during their 8-2 humiliation of Barcelona — are the only “heritage” team who may be expected to attend the final stages of Europe’s premier domestic competition. Lyon, who finished seventh in Ligue 1 this season, were able to get the better of moneyed powerhouse Manchester City to secure their second-ever semifinal berth. Paris Saint-Germain, meanwhile, are in the semifinals for the first time since 1995, when star striker George Weah led them deep in the competition. The current President of Liberia earned the Ballon d’Or for his efforts in that campaign. At the time, Neymar was 3 years old.And the final four is rounded out by RB Leipzig, who are making their debut at this stage in the competition, having being established as a club with taurine-fueled propulsion in 2009.With such a broad and unexpected range of teams, competing in an urgent format, this season’s Champions League group stage is a treat for neutral fans. But those without a dog in the fight have a difficult decision to make when it comes to Tuesday’s semifinal between Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig.The reason? It’s hard to know who to hate more.Has there ever been a Champions League knockout game between two teams who are so thoroughly maligned by the soccer community?Let’s start with the case against RB Leipzig. On the surface, the East German side may hold appeal for the American fan: They are funded by Red Bull, which is familiar to MLS supporters for rebranding the New York/New Jersey MetroStars team in 2006. They play an exciting brand of soccer that isn’t built around megastars, and are guided by 33-year-old coach Julian Nagelsmann. They’re also a touchstone club for USMNT fans thanks to midfielder Tyler Adams, who scored the winning goal in the quarterfinal.
RB Leipzig are, however, by far the most hated team in Germany. For many, they represent the antithesis of what a club should be, and a damning encapsulation of corporate “modern soccer.”
Not only were they started by a multinational company — which is looked down upon in the European game, as teams are traditionally built by local communities — but they purchased the rights from fifth-tier side SSV Markranstadt to obtain their league license. Yes, they bought a place in the German league while putting another club out of existence.
RB Leipzig’s name technically stands for “RassenBallsport Leipzig,” but it is clear that they exist, at least in part, to market an energy drink.
A Borussia Dortmund fan who participated in a mass boycott of an RB Leipzig match in 2016 explained why many are irked by Leipzig’s origin story. “Dortmund makes money, but we do it in order to play football,” the fan said. “Leipzig plays football in order to sell a product and a lifestyle. That’s the difference.”
This is such a sticking point in the German soccer community that “11Freunde,” the biggest soccer magazine in Germany, is refusing to cover Leipzig’s Champions League run.
The East Germans are also heavily criticized for the manner in which they have flouted German soccer rules that are intended to keep clubs democratically controlled by their members. The “50+1 rule” ensures that fans own a majority of the stakes in teams, with very few exceptions. RB Leipzig have bent the rules to restrict their membership to less than 20 people, most of whom are Red Bull executives.
German fans make no secret of their hatred for the side that’s ascended from the fifth tier to the semifinals of the Champions League in a little over a decade. In addition to boycotts, Leipzig are regularly treated to unwelcoming banners on away trips, and their fans are referred to as “customers.” Union Berlin held a silent 15-minute protest in their first-ever Bundesliga match in August 2019, as Leipzig were their visitors. In 2016, Dynamo Dresden fans threw a severed bull’s head onto the field to greet their energy drink-funded guests.
The open disdain for Leipzig is clear on a domestic level, but it is probably eclipsed by PSG on an international level. Like Leipzig, the Parisians are a young club, having only started in 1970. The Ligue 1 side enjoyed success in the 1990s, but were elevated to the very top tier of the game when they were purchased by Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund in 2011.PSG have spent over a billion Euros since their takeover, and have become virtually unassailable in their domestic league, winning seven of the last eight Ligue 1 titles. The malice directed at them, however, isn’t due to the amount of money they spend. It’s the source of the money, and what it represents.
The club is fully backed by a Gulf state that is frequently criticized for denouncing basic human rights. PSG stands accused of being a tool of political “soft power,” whereby Qatar aims to increase its appeal and standing in the western world via its megastar-laden soccer team.
Of course, the Parisians are not the only team to benefit from state backing: Manchester City enjoy a similar arrangement with Abu Dhabi. And they are far from the only team in the world to have risen to power thanks to finances obtained from potentially dubious and allegedly unethical sources. Isn’t that right, Chelsea fans?
For many, however, PSG’s combination of problematic funding, a lack of history and a healthy dose of hubris form a particularly unedifying combination.
Thus, Tuesday’s Champions League semifinal is the Battle of the Maligned Monoliths.
It is not Paris against Leipzig; it is Political Influence against Rampant Commercialism.
It may be possible for the neutral fan to appreciate the quality of the product on the field, but it will be more challenging to pick a side to back.
But whether we like it or not, the game and its machinations are changing before our eyes. And one of these teams is heading to the Champions League final.
Yahoo DFS Soccer: Tuesday/Wednesday UCL Picks
RotoWire.comAug 18, 2020, 3:39 AM
MATCHES (ET)
- Tuesday, 3:00 pm: RB Leipzig vs. Paris Saint-Germain
- Wednesday, 3:00 pm: Lyon vs. Bayern Munich
FORWARDS
Robert Lewandowski, FCB at LYN (€30): Lewandowski continues to put up video-game like numbers, bagging a goal and an assist in Bayern’s 8-2 thrashing of Barcelona and registering 25 points. He’s three goals away from equaling Cristiano Ronaldo‘s single-season record, and with Bayern heavily favored to advance, it would not be surprising to see him make a run at the record in the semifinal versus Lyon.
Neymar, PSG at RBL (€28): Neymar had his way, for the most part, in PSG’s 2-1 win over Atalanta in the quarterfinals, yet he only came away with an assist despite firing off seven shots. He drew a ridiculous nine fouls and created four chances, highlighting his ability to rack up fantasy points regardless of whether he gets on the score-sheet. Expect the Brazilian superstar to play an integral role in seeing PSG through to the final.
Thomas Muller, FCB at LYN (€21): Muller was in fine form in Bayern’s quarterfinal win over Barcelona, scoring two goals and adding an assist for 27 points. It feels a bit like chasing points here, but on a short slate and with Bayern overwhelming favorites to advance, Muller’s salary is within reason to plug him in as part of a Bayern Munich stack.
MIDFIELDERS
Angel Di Maria, PSG at RBL (€25): Di Maria is set to return from suspension for Tuesday’s UCL semifinal against RB Leipzig. The versatile attacker will be a welcome spark after the French side were shut out for 90 minutes before scoring two goals in the dying minutes to advance. He stands over a share of set pieces and his 10 goals and 18 assists on the season show just how involved he is in the PSG attack.
Joshua Kimmich, FCB at LYN (€22): Kimmich got in on the fun with a goal and an assist in Bayern’s 8-2 shellacking of Barcelona. He topped 22 points in that one, and as Bayern’s primary set-piece taker, he comes with a reliable floor and big attacking upside.
Christopher Nkunku, RBL vs. PSG (€10): Nkunku has scored more than three fantasy points just once in this season’s UCL, but we’re going back to the well with him here thanks to his bare minimum price. He typically splits set pieces with defender Angelino (€18), and he turned in 13 assists during the Bundesliga campaign, so it’s not a complete dart throw. More than anything, he opens up funds to fit in the big names.
DEFENDERS
Alphonso Davies, FCB at LYN (€18): Davies showed why he’s considered one of the best young prospects in the world with a dazzling display in the quarterfinal win over Barcelona. He tallied an assist and seven points, and frankly, that point haul just doesn’t do his performance justice. The Canadian sensation is constantly getting forward and making things happen on the left wing, and there’s no reason to think we don’t see more of the same in the semifinal versus Lyon.
Jerome Boateng, FCB at LYN (€12): Boateng doesn’t offer much from an attacking perspective, but I’m okay with using him here as a cheap inlet to the Bayern Munich defense, one that has by far the best clean sheet odds on the slate.
Thilo Kehrer, PSG at RBL (€12): Kehrer is another value defender play to help make way for the big dogs. He doesn’t get involved on the attacking end very often, but with PSG favored to get the job done, there’s a chance he collects enough points on the defensive end to make value.
GOALKEEPER
Anthony Lopes, LYN vs. FCB (€10) : We took a shot with Lopes on the last slate, and he paid big dividends with six saves and 11 points in staving off Premier League powerhouse Manchester City. There’s no doubt this is a risky play after watching Bayern Munich score eight goals on Barcelona, but the opportunity for bulk save points will surely be there. If he can parry enough opportunities away to offset any goals allowed, Lopes could come up with another serviceable score at minimum price.
The Ole BallCoach 