Real Madrid returns home to the Bernabeu facing a 2-1 deficit to Juventus but needing only a 1-0 win to advance after scoring a crucial away goal in the opening leg of their Champions League semifinal. However, don’t expect them to sit back and try to play a defensive game. The strength of the Real Madrid side is in its attack and they will push forward in waves as they try to put away Juventus at home. Here is a look at the best lineup for Wednesday’s Champions League DraftKings action.
GK: Iker Casillas, Real Madrid
Salary: $5,800
Casillas is more than $2,000 more expensive than Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon despite a nearly identical fantasy points per game average. That should be a major indication for which way to lean in terms of selecting a starting goalkeeper. The Real Madrid attack is much more dangerous at home and Casillas should be able to hold down the fort at home against a much more tame Juventus offense.
D: Dani Carvajal, Real Madrid
Salary: $3,700
It’s important to find the best value among defenders in order to save more money for the positions where it can be better spent. Fortunately there is an excellent fit here in Carvajal. He is the type of defender that contributes at both ends of the pitch and it’s his ability to jump in to the attack and cross balls in to the box for an occasional assist that makes him such a valuable bargain play on the back end.
D: Patrice Evra, Juventus
Salary: $3,700
The Juventus fullbacks are the only wide players that push forward and that makes Evra the best value play on the defensive end for the Italian side. The fact that we can plug him in at the same price it cost us to slot in Carvajal is important here as Evra should be all over the field.
M: Gareth Bale, Real Madrid
Salary: $8,800
Cristiano Ronaldo is regarded as the most dangerous offensive threat for Real Madrid but he is also the most expensive player on the board. We feel much more comfortable banking on their top midfielders instead. Bale is incredibly dangerous from his spot on the wing, pushing up front in the attack, and the fact that we can get him for exactly $3,000 less than Ronaldo makes him a strong play here.
M: James Rodriguez, Real Madrid
Salary: $8,100
We also get to lock in a player that has the potential to do the most damage for Real Madrid in this game in the young star James, who has been brilliant since his return from injury. James is a key player in the middle that will be feeding Ronaldo and Bale up front. His incredible potential makes him an even stronger value play in this spot.
F: Carlos Tevez, Juventus
Salary: $7,900
Tevez was the difference for Juventus in the opening leg when he scored both of their two goals and he may very well be the best forward option here after we lock in both Bale and James at the midfield spots. If anybody is going to do damage for Juventus up front, it will be Tevez.
F: Alvaro Morata, Juventus
Salary: $5,800
With three of the four most dangerous attacking players on the pitch locked in, we can’t afford Ronaldo, so we will take the best available option here and that is the other Juventus striker Morata. The combination of Bale and James for Real Madrid with Tevez and Morata for Juventus should serve us well and negate any effects from not taking Ronaldo up front.
FLEX: Marcelo, Real Madrid
Salary: $6,100
With $6,300 left over to spend on the FLEX position, we can take the best available player left on the board and that means plugging in the defender Marcelo. The Real Madrid man also happens to be the most expensive defender remaining on the board and we feel very comfortable with him here as we maximize our remaining salary.
