Does Fantasy Football help Fantasy Betting?
The December legs of the Champions League group stage are upon us, with a handful of transfers left to fantasy football managers before an unlimited transfer spree ensues before the last-16. These final fixtures can produce some dubious results, with some runaway winners deciding to rest veteran stars, which opens the door to players with teams scrapping for success.
To help find these Champions League fantasy football gems, we’re turning to the exchange markets to see where the consensus lies on which teams will still be competing for a last-16 place in the final couple of games.
Who the crowds are leaning towards?
There’s something unique about the UEFA Champions League odds presented by the exchange because, instead of relaying the thoughts of oddsmakers, they present how football fans see the action. From the matchday odds to the group winners and qualifiers odds, we can get a better view of how the football betting public is leaning.
At the time of writing, two teams stand out as needing to be competitive to the last game while also boasting the right squad set-up to continue to see their stars put up fantasy points. In the Group B and Group D To Qualify markets, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Atalanta aren’t down as certainties to qualify, have some tough opposition, but have top-class players to add to your fantasy team.
Top picks from Borussia Mönchengladbach
Despite only winning one of their opening three games of the group stage, Borussia Mönchengladbach led Group B with five points at the halfway mark. Two 2-2 draws against Real Madrid and Inter Milan, as well as a 6-0 thrashing of Shakhtar Donetsk, in the veritable group of death marked the German side as an incredibly dangerous unit.
Headlining the show is, undoubtedly, the French duo of Alassane Pléa and Marcus Thuram. The left-winger and striker have been unstoppable, combining for five goals and six assists – many of which saw one set up the other – in three Champions League games alone. In fact, against Los Blancos, Pléa set up both of Thuram’s goals.
In fantasy football, not only do they stand as two of the highest-scoring Monchengladbach players, but they’re also relatively cheap. Pléa clocks in at just €8 million, with Thuram being €0.6 million more expensive. Either forward, or both, would be worthy additions to your team before they face Inter Milan and Real Madrid in their do-or-die final group matches.
Top picks from Atalanta
Atalanta made waves in the Champions League last season, with the free-flowing, gung-ho attacking side being relentless. They scored by far the most goals in Serie A last season with 98, and nailed-in a thunderous 18 goals through the first seven league games of this campaign.
In the Champions League this season, Atalanta have been potent, but also suffered the consequences of being so forthcoming, primarily in their first game against Liverpool. A 2-2 tie with Ajax and a 4-0 obliteration of Midtjylland, however, kept the Italian side joint-second with four points at the halfway point. Atalanta’s last two games of the group stage are against the Dutch and Danish sides.
Duván Zapata has been the runaway performer for Atalanta in fantasy football, notching three goals and two assists to get 25 points. However, at €9.7 million, he’s not exactly a value buy. Captain ‘Papu’ Gómez, however, is a mere €8.5 million and is always leading the attack. Centre back Cristian Romero presents himself as a decent option as well, being solid at the back and only costing €4.9 million.
If you want to boost your Champions League fantasy football team with some trusty, high-scoring players, check out who you can get from Borussia Mönchengladbach and Atalanta.
