Fantasy Focus: Champions League takes center-stage

After a week-long break from the domestic football, the UEFA Champions League is now set to take the center-stage, with third game-week promising a revitalizing action.

A jam-packed week will see Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea and Bayer Leverkusen making their trip across the continent for relatively harder fixtures, while the likes of Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Barcelona share an easier task on hand.

What’s next for these clubs is another round of domestic football over the weekend, which is set to send the sense of skepticism amongst the fantasy managers of Nostragamus users.

Having said that, here we give you five safest bets for those who like to enjoy a light week.

ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI

Club: Bayern Munich

Match: Olympiacos vs Bayern Munich

A goal in Bayern Munich’s recent league game (a 2-2 draw against Augsburg) saw Robert Lewandowski equaling Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s record of scoring in eighth successive Bundesliga games.

In addition to it, the 31-year-old Poland striker will have the opportunity of becoming the first player in the league’s history to score in each of the first nine matches of a season when Bayern host Union Berlin over the weekend.

Ahead of that though, the 2013 Champions League winners will make a trip to Greece to face Olympiacos and Lewandowski will be in line to add more goals to his already illustrious tally.

CRISTIANO RONALDO

Club: Juventus

Match: Juventus vs Lokomotiv Moscow

Having scored a goal in all of his last seven appearances but one (across club and country), Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo remains the most treasured pick for the fantasy gamer. And this week brings double joy as the club from Turin has a liberty of enjoying a rather trouble-free tenure. First up, they welcome Russia’s Lokomotiv Moscow at home and then face Lecce at Stadio Via del Mare in Serie A.

Expect Ronaldo to wreck-havoc.

MARC-ANDRE TER STEGEN

Club: Barcelona

Match: Slavia Praha vs Barcelona

If you’re thinking about a keeper, Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen is your man. Barcelona, coming on the back of a 3-0 thrashing of Eibar in La Liga, are scheduled for a trip to Czech Republic to face Slavia Praha. Judging by the Spanish champion’s recent performances, the German stopper is expected to have a quiet time in front of the goal; thus, expect more points coming in from clean sheet.

RIYAD MAHREZ

Club: Manchester City

Match: Manchester City vs Atalanta

Despite the limited opportunities, Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez has been in an impeccable form. A return of one goal and two assists in just two Champions League appearances embeds the trust Pep Guardiola has in the Algerian. And with City playing their last Premier League fixtures on Saturday, expect Mahrez to get a nod in Guardiola’s rotation against Atalanta, who sit third on the Serie A table.

TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD

Club: Liverpool

Match: Genk vs Liverpool

Liverpool’s ever-present right-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold has established himself as one of the finest full-backs of Europe. His defensive contribution of 3.5 tackles per game in the Champions League is amongst the very best in the league.

Thus, if you are looking for a full-back who can score and as well as assist, Liverpool’s 21-year-old is your go-to man.

Now, it's time to start creating your Fantasy team. Head to Nostragamus for more details.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Daniel Leal-Olivas