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MD-1 Build-Up
Defending champion Chelsea kicks off the UCL campaign at home against ever-present Zenit. This season is different for Zenit since the final is planned to be played at their own Krestovsky Stadium, aka Gasprom Arena. In other cities all around Europe, Barcelona hosts Bayern Munich in Tuesday’s most-anticipated match, while on Wednesday Real Madrid visits Inter Milan for a repeat clash from last season.
If you missed it, it is worth going back to check out NMA’s UCL MD-1 Preview. My fellow author and UCL expert Dhivakhar has also given us his insights on MD-1 players picks, and Olakunle shared his plan for MD-1 and would love for you to rate his team!
Team News (Injury / Suspension)
Considering that 32 teams play 16 matches just a couple days after their domestic leagues returned from an international break, we should expect random players to be rested for this first matchday. This is more likely to happen to those playing against weaker teams.
UCL MD-1 Injury and Suspension List
| Club | Player | Injury | Expected Return | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Player | Injury | Expected Return | Status |
| PSG | Mauro Icardi | Returned from injury | ||
| Layvin Kurzawa | Calf | September | Out | |
| Angel Di Maria | Suspended | |||
| Gueye | Suspended | |||
| Colin Dagba | Ankle | September | Doubtful | |
| Marco Verratti | Knee | Unknown | Out | |
| Sergio Ramos | Calf | Unknown | Out | |
| Juan Bernat | Ligament | September | Doubtful | |
| Man City | Kevin De Bruyne | Returned from injury | ||
| Benjamin Mendy | Suspended by club | |||
| Zack Steffen | COVID | September | Out | |
| Phil Foden | Returned from injury | |||
| RB Leipzig | Angelino | Returned from injury | ||
| Marcelo Sarachi | Knee | Unknown | Out | |
| Marcel Halstenberg | Ankle | September | Out | |
| Club Brugge | Eder Balanta | Hip | Unknown | Out |
| Liverpool | Neco Williams | Ankle | September | Out |
| Eliott | Ankle | Unknown | Out | |
| Roberto Firmino | Muscle | September | Out | |
| AC Milan | Franck Kessie | Hamstring | September | Out |
| Tiemoue Bakayoko | Muscle | September | Doubtful | |
| Atletico Mad. | Stefan Savic | Suspended | ||
| Dortmund | Throgan Hazard | Ankle | September | Out |
| Emre Can | Muscle | September | Out | |
| Giovanni Reyna | Muscle | September | Doubtful | |
| Mateu Morey | Ligament | December | Out | |
| Besiktas | Domagoj Vida | Heel | Unknown | Out |
| Sporting | Sebastian Coates | Suspended | ||
| Goncalo Inacio | Muscle | Unknown | Doubtful | |
| Ajax | Mohammed Kudus | Ankle | September | Out |
| Maarten Stekelenberg | Groin | September | Doubtful | |
| Davy Klaassen | Groin | September | Doubtful | |
| Sheriff | Alexandr Belousov | Knee | Unknown | Out |
| Shakhter | Anatolii Trubin | Knee | Unknown | Out |
| Inter Milan | Cristian Eriksen | Head | Unknown | Out |
| Real Madrid | Toni Kroos | Groin | September | Out |
| Marcelo | Left out of squad to rest | |||
| Gareth Bale | Muscle | Unknown | Out | |
| Luka Modric | Returned from injury | |||
| Ferland Mendy | Discomfort | September | Out | |
| Barcelona | Sergio Aguero | Calf | October | Out |
| Gerard Pique | Calf | September | Doubtful | |
| Martin Braithwaite | Knee | September | Out | |
| Masour Dembele | Hamstring | September | Out | |
| Ansu Fati | Discomfort | September | Out | |
| Bayern Munich | Corentin Tolisso | Calf | September | Out |
| Serge Gnabry | Back | September | Doubtful | |
| Kingsley Coman | Calf | September | Doubtful | |
| Dynamo Kyiv | Vitalii Buialskyi | Abductor | September | Doubtful |
| Georgiy Bushchan | Back | September | Doubtful | |
| Benfica | Lucas Verissimo | Suspended | ||
| Man Utd | Alex Telles | Ankle | September | Out |
| Marcus Rashford | Shoulder | October | Out | |
| Edinson Cavani | Knock | October | Out | |
| Scott Mctominay | Groin | October | Out | |
| Villarreal | Daniel Parejo | Muscle | September | Doubtful |
| Atalanta | Luis Muriel | Muscle | September | Doubtful |
| Duvan Zapata | Returned from injury | |||
| Hans Hatebour | Muscle | October | Out | |
| Lille | Renato Sanches | Knee | October | Out |
| Jonathan Bamba | Muscle | October | Out | |
| Timothy Weah | Muscle | October | Out | |
| Wolfsburg | Paulo Otavio | Ankle | September | Out |
| Xaver Schlager | Knee | Unknown | Out | |
| Timothy Weah | Muscle | October | Out | |
| Chelsea | Christian Pulisic | Ankle | Unknown | Out |
| N'golo Kante | Ankle | September | Doubtful | |
| Zenit | Magomed Ozedeov | Ligament | October | Out |
| UEFA.com preview shows Barrios and Lovren as "Unavailable" | ||||
| Juventus | Arthur | Leg | Unknown | Out |
| Federico Chiesa | Muscle | Unknown | Out | |
| Bernardeschi | Knee | Unknown | Out |
Note: If a team is not listed then it does not have any notable injuries / suspensions.
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Keep an eye on the comments section for any late updates and be aware that lineups for the Sevilla vs RB Salzburg and Young Boys vs Manchester United lineups will be released before today’s fantasy transfer deadline at 17:30 BST. Make sure you’re here for that!
Good luck everyone!
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How’s your team shaping up? Have you been hit by any of the missing players? 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!
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