With the elite European football competition’s group stage almost coming to an end, clubs will pin their hopes on the wingers and full-backs to get the job done amidst a busy week of football.
With some of the big UEFA Champions League teams pitted against each other in the mid-week, fantasy managers would be looking at the speeders and tricksters to get the job done for them.
While they could be spoilt for choice, we bring forward five options who are expected to run the show in the UCL this midweek.
Angelino (RB Leipzig) vs Istanbul Basaksehir
Placed into Group H alongside European giants Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain, Bundesliga's RB Leipzig would have always banked upon individual brilliance to cause some major upsets in the group stages of the tournament. And they have found such exceptional talent in left-back Angelino. The 23-year-old Spaniard has been a breath of fresh air for his side, with his two goals and an assist in four matches still keeping RB Leipzig in the qualification race. With PSG and United clashing against each other, Angelino will be fancying his chances of grabbing the headline in a crucial encounter against Istanbul Basaksehir on Wednesday.
Juan Cuadrado (Juventus) vs Dynamo Kyiv
With Juventus struggling to keep up with the Serie A pace for the first time in almost a decade, the Old Lady has to ensure they maintain their European status in the UCL. Clubbed alongside La Liga giants FC Barcelona and a gritty Dynamo Kyiv, Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. have made sure that they at least qualify for the knockout stage of the competition. Meanwhile, new manager Andrea Pirlo has found an unlikely hero in Juan Cuadrado on European nights so far, with the Colombian full-back assisting four times in four UCL matches. With Dynamos Kyiv travelling to the Allianz Stadium on Wednesday, fans will expect an in-form Cuadrado to deliver again.
Diogo Jota (Liverpool) vs Ajax
It seems like Liverpool cannot get it wrong with their transfers. After an intense season, where Jurgen Klopp had a same starting eleven for almost the entire gruelling Premier League season, fans wanted the backups to be equally efficient. And Klopp has managed to get exactly that in Diogo Jota. The Portuguese international has scored nine goals for the Reds so far, with four of them coming in four UCL matches. Whether it be Roberto Firmino's form or Sadio Mane's injury, Jota can be an alternative for almost anything. And fantasy managers would definitely want such an option in their team.
Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund) vs Lazio
With Serie A side Lazio their biggest competitor in Group F, Borussia Dortmund are one of the few Champions League teams who are not in danger of missing a round of 16 spot in the tournament. The Bundesliga side has won three of their four group stage matches so far, and are riding high on their sensational protege Jadon Sancho. The English winger has scored twice and assisted once in UCL with his teammate Erling Haaland taking most of the load. Sancho's speed and tricks have been a treat to watch for the football fanatics and with a home game scheduled on Wednesday, he is expected to be the MVP.
Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) vs FC Porto
With a tough away trip to FC Porto on the cards, Pep Guardiola had rightly kept Raheem Sterling on the bench for their Premier League clash last weekend. One of Manchester City's most prolific goalscorers, Raheem Sterling has one goal and three assists in UEFA Champions League so far and he will be key to Guardiola's tactics in Portugal in the midweek. With City's flanks likely to see most of the ball on Tuesday, Sterling is highly expected to get on the scoresheet.
Feature Image courtesy: Franck Fife / AFP
