UEFA Champions League Matchday 4 Fantasy Player Picks

Match-day 3 of the UEFA Champions League saw a whooping 62 goals scored, making it the highest scoring match-day in this season’s competition. It wasn’t a great week defensively, as only 6 clean sheets were kept across the 16 fixtures.

Champions League returns for match-day 4 with the same pairings match-day 3 but with a reversal of venues. As the last one was a high scoring one, similar fixtures could yield the same output, which means more points potential for our fantasy teams.

Let’s dig deep to find out which players you should bring in for this match-day in order to get maximum rewards.

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Goalkeepers

Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Wojciech Szczęsny (Juventus, €5.5m) - vs Ferencvaros (H)

He was a part of our player picks article for match-day 3 and finds a spot again this week as he faces a comfortable home fixture vs Ferencvaros. Although Juventus haven’t been at their defensive best so far this season, it’s hard to see the visiting side finding the back of the net at the Juventus stadium. Expect the Italian champions to keep the back door shut and win this one comfortably.

Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid, €5.9m) - vs Lokomotiv Moscow (H)

Lokomotiv Moscow visit the astonishing Wanda Metropolitano on match-day 4 to face Atletico Madrid in a fixture the Spanish side are expected to win with relative ease. The Madrid side was unlucky to not keep a clean sheet against the same opposition on match-day 3 as they conceded a penalty while dominating the game otherwise. The side from Russia registered only one shot on target against Atletico, which was the penalty converted by Miranchuk, so this game only looks like it’s gonna go one way. I am expecting an easy victory for Simeone’s men with a strong chance of a clean sheet for the Slovenian shot-stopper.

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Defenders

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Ben Chilwell (Chelsea, €5.5m) - vs Rennes (A)

He’s been impressive since arriving at Stamford Bridge and is safe from rotation in my opinion. Chelsea look strong in this season’s competition, having scored seven goals while conceding none in three matches. Chilwell’s average playing position is pretty high up the pitch, which suggests he could return decent points at both ends. The Blues travel to Rennes on match-day 4 after winning convincingly at Stamford Bridge on the third matchday. I can see good points in this fixture for the English full-back.

Sergino Dest (Barcelona, €5m) - vs Dynamo Kyiv (A)

Barcelona lost two defenders in Gerard Pique and Sergio Roberto through injury in their 1-0 loss against Atletico at the weekend. They face two comfortable fixtures on match-day 4 and 5 against Dynamo Kyiv and Ferencvaros respectively. Dest will certainly start both of those games with high chances of clean sheets and attacking returns. At €5m, he is a great option to consider for the remainder of the group stage.

Ramy Bensebaini (Monchengladbach, €5.5m) - Shakhtar Donetsk (H)

The Algerian left back has been delivering at both ends of the pitch for the German side. He has scored two goals, kept two clean sheets, and made an impressive 22 ball recoveries in just three matches. Monchengladbach absolutely demolished Shakhtar on match-day 3 by putting six goals past them without reply. It’s hard to see a different outcome now that they have home advantage. Bensebaini has already scored 25 fantasy points and I am backing him to build on that tally in the coming fixtures.

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Midfielders

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Diogo Jota (Liverpool, €7.5m) - vs Atalanta (H)

He’s performing like he’s been at Liverpool for a long time, and he’s only getting better. He has already scored four goals in just 176 minutes in the Champions League across the three matches. Liverpool thrashed Atalanta in Italy on match-day 3, and now the Italian side visit fortress Anfield to face Jurgen Klopp’s men again. Atalanta’s attacking approach will provide Jota with plenty of opportunities to score decent points in this fixture; at €7.5m with 8% ownership, he’s a very attractive option in my opinion.

Marcus Rashford (Manchester United, €9.1m) - vs Istanbul Basaksehir (H)

United suffered a shocking 2-1 loss to the side in Turkey on match-day 3 with Martial on the scoresheet for them. Now, Basaksehir visit the historic Old Trafford to face Solskjaer’s men on match-day 4. It’s hard to see a repeat of the result of the previous fixture as United come into this game having beaten West Bromwich Albion 1-0 at the weekend. Rashford has already scored four goals in this season’s competition and has looked sharp compared to some of his teammates. I expect United to win this one comfortably with Rashford rewarding his owners with attacking returns to add to his tally of 25 points in three matches.

Lucas Ocampos (Sevilla, €8.5m) - vs Krasnodar (A)

Sevilla have registered 24 shots on target in three fixtures this guy is certainly overdue a goal. He’s owned by just 2% of players and although, he hasn’t scored a goal until now, I doubt it’s gonna stay that way with the Spanish side having two really good fixtures of the remaining three. He has penalty duties and a good ball recovery record, which make him a decent shout for the remaining fixtures in the group stage. Sevilla should get past Krasnodar away from home, and I am backing Ocampos to break his duck in this fixture.

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Forwards

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Erling Braut Haaland ( Dortmund, €11m) - vs Club Brugge (H)

He doesn’t need much justification in my opinion. He is in great form, having scored four goals at the weekend against Hertha Berlin. In the Champions League, he has found the back of the net on four occasions, earning 22 fantasy points in three matches. Dortmund convincingly beat Club Brugge 0-3 away from home, and it’s expected to go in a similar way in match-day 4 as well. They are just too good for their opposition, and when Dortmund score, this guy is always involved somehow.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus, €12m) - vs Ferencvaros (H)

He returned to action against this opposition away from home on match-day 3 but didn’t get on the scoresheet. He is yet to score in this season’s Champions League and we all know how much that will be motivating him to get off the mark. It’s an easy fixture for the Italian champions in the comforts of their home, so expect the best player of this competition to score you some good fantasy points against Ferencvaros.

Alassane Plea (Monchengladbach, €8m)

...has tested positive for coronavirus, so he is in quarantine until further notice.

He’s not a great option beyond this week, but he’s a very good one-week punt if you are willing to take it. He has scored a whooping 28 points in three matches having scored 3 goals and provided 3 assists. His points potential in this particular fixture is pretty high as the team from Ukraine visit the Borussia park on match-day 4 on the back of getting demolished 6-0 by the German side.

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Captaincy Picks

I will be listing the best captaincy options for each game-day in decreasing order of their reliability and expected points. It will be a mix of strong picks expected to be backed by a lot of fantasy managers as well as some cheeky differentials if you’re a thrill seeker. Here’s my picks for match-day 4:

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Tuesday

• Timo Werner (Chelsea)
• Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
• Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund)
• Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
• Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)

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Wednesday

• Alassane Plea (Monchengladbach)
• Diogo Jota (Liverpool)
• Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
• Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid)

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Good luck everyone and may your arrows be green!

Cheers,

Prakhar

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Have you made your transfers yet? Whom above are you watching? Is there anyone who was left out of this article whom you would recommend? Which match do you most want to watch as a fan? Are you hearing any late news? Please let us know in the comments!

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