UEFA Champions League Live Chat: Match Day 7 Team News

Matchday 7 Build-Up

History is about to be written again as the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 reminds all football fans how underrated the UCL is. For fantasy players, UCL matchday 7 will take place over two weeks. The best tip I can give is to pick as many players as you can from the first week’s matches, using only four or five spots on players from next week to reduce risk injury surprises. When we start trading for matchday 8, we will get three free transfers to reorganise for matchdays spanning two days each.

If you missed it, it is worth going back to check on NMA’s UCL Matchday 7 Preview. My fellow author and UCL expert Prakhar has also given us his insights on MD7 players picks, and David shared his plan for tackling the tricky upcoming Matchday 7!. It was also my pleasure to take part in NMA’s podcast hosted by none other that our FPL monster Paul. Follow the link and discover my opinion on the following subjects:

• Reminder on how to play ahead of Matchday 7
• Matchday 7 (Last 16) Preview and Predictions
• Matchday 7 (Last 16) Player Picks (& Captain Pick)

Unsettling Waters

Photo by Laszlo Szirtesi/Getty Images

All English clubs participating in the Round of 16 are playing their first legs away at neutral grounds. While this may favor Chelsea over Atletico Madrid at Bucharest and and Manchester City over Borussia M’Gladbach at Budapest, it sure doesn’t look good for Liverpool against RB Leipzig with an unsettled mentality and a huge injury list.

Chelsea faces a depleted Atletico Madrid missing five key players to positive Covid tests. Pep Guardiola’s counter part Marco Rose has been announced next season’s Dortmund manager with plenty of time to spare. It is unclear why this seems to happen in Germany, but another leak may come as an advantage for Liverpool with RB Leipzig’s best performing defender “Upamecano” announced to have signed for Bayern Munich and will join them in the Summer.

Crazy Monday - Injury/suspension/participation Updates

Photo by Adrian Dennis - Pool/Getty Images

Another round of updates! Keep and eye on @NMA_Blog on Twitter for any updates during the day!

Matchday 7 Suspension List: None are suspended but many are on the verge, within one booking. Keep an eye on this for Matchday 8.

• Liverpool: Jota, Milner, Keita, Gomez, Matip and Virgil Van Djik are out. Ben Davies (not that Ben Davies), Kelleher, Origi and Fabinho are doubtful.
• Barcelona: Ansu Fati, Araujo, Coutinho and Sergi Roberto are missing the match while Pique and Braithwaite are doubtful.
• PSG: The French Champions will be without Neymar, Dagba, Di Maria, Pembele and Bernat.
• Sevilla: Both wing-back Jesus Nava and Acuna in addition to Ocampos will miss the match.
• Dortmund: Key players Piszczek, Meunier and Witsel are out for the Germans. Shot stopper Burki and playmaker Thorgan Hazard are doubtful.
• Atletico Madrid: Herrera, Lemar, Dembele, and Joao Felix are all currently positive for COVID-19 and will be re-tested before the match.
• Chelsea: Thiago Silva was the only missing player, but Abraham was added to the short injury list temporarily as he was subbed out during Chelsea victory over Fulham last night.
• Lazio: Luiz Felipe is the only injury concern for the Italian Capital club.
• Bayern Munich: Flick is without Muller, Martinez and Goretzka due to positive COVID-19 tests. Gnabry and Douglas Costa are reportedly injured.
• Real Madrid: Many players are missing for Zidane, including Marcelo, Sergio Ramos, Edin Hazard, Valverde, Carvajal and Rodrigo
• Atalanta: Right-back Hateboer is the only major concern for Atalanta.
• Juventus: Juan Cuadrado is now reported out for 10 days with a hammy strain.

~

Keep an eye on the comments section for press conference reports and any other status updates before today’s deadline. Good luck to everyone!

How’s your team faring? It is unlimited transfer period now, Do you have any tactical questions? And which matches do you plan / wish to watch as a fan? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!

~