The Champions League returns with the second leg of quarterfinal action on Tuesday and that means plenty of opportunities for soccer fans to make some serious cash in DraftKings fantasy tournaments. That includes the UCL $8K Striker that will feature a guaranteed $8,000 in prize money with the entry fee set at only $3. Here is a look at the optimal lineup for Tuesday’s DraftKings Champions League tournaments.
GK: Manuel Neuer, Bayern Munich
Salary: $4,500
Neuer and Bayern Munich blanked Benfica in the opening leg of their quarterfinal and while they should face a stiff challenge on the road in the second leg the reality is that they are a much more complete team and should be able to punch their ticket to the semi-final with another strong performance. Neuer is the second-most expensive goalkeeper option on the board but he is worth his price tag with the potential to record the best fantasy score at his position this week.
D: Juan Bernat, Bayern Munich
Salary: $3,700
Bayern’s back line is a little beaten up but Bernat is a capable defender that can step right in and play big minutes in a key matchup. Bernat isn’t the most reliable fantasy defender but the upside is there as long as he plays the full 90 minutes versus Benfica.
D: Nicolas Otamendi, Manchester City
Salary: $3,600
Manchester City nearly shocked PSG on the road in their first leg but a couple of critical errors resulted in them being limited to a 2-2 draw. Now they return home looking to slam the door shut and claw their way in to the final four. City has a very good chance to advance if they can stop making the mistakes they committed in the opening leg and after scoring two road goals at PSG there is a good chance they take a more defensive-minded approach to this contest.
D: Gerard Pique, Barcelona
Salary: $3,400
Barcelona escaped with a 2-1 result over 10-men Atletico after Luis Suarez scored goals in the 63rd and 74th minute but they will be in tough on the road in this second leg. The key could be tightening things up on the back end in order to limit the chances against. Pique is available at a very reasonable price tag to plug in to our final defender spot.
M: Toni Kroos, Real Madrid
Salary: $4,700
Real Madrid was absolutely stunned at Wolfsburg in their first leg but should be a lock to bounce back with a much better performance. Real Madrid will be tasked with climbing back from an 0-2 deficit so offense will be at a premium with Kroos operating at a high level in their midfield.
M: Luka Modric, Real Madrid
Salary: $4,000
Modric wasn’t nearly efficient enough in his 64 minutes of play in the first leg but like Kroos he is a strong option to bounce back at home with Real Madrid focused on cutting in to its 0-2 deficit. Modric is available at a very reasonable price and that makes us very comfortable plugging him in as a second Real Madrid midfielder.
M: Augusto Fernandez, Atletico Madrid
Salary: $2,700
Fernandez isn’t the most explosive offensive player in the midfield but his price tag makes him almost impossible to ignore for this week’s DraftKings competitions. There isn’t another starting midfielder on the board available for under $3K and that makes Fernandez a strong sleeper option as a value play for this week.
F: Neymar, Barcelona
Salary: $8,800
Suarez was the star of Barcelona’s comeback in the opening leg but Neymar might have been their most complete striker as he was all over the pitch including helping to set up both of their goals. If he shows the same fire he showed in the first leg then there is a good chance Neymar will add to his Champions League points total in this game.
F: Sergio Aguero, Manchester City
Salary: $7,500
Kevin De Bruyne and Fernandinho scored for Manchester City in its opening leg but with the advantage of two road goals we expect that it will be Aguero pacing along the PSG back line looking to book their spot in the semi-final round. Aguero is one of the most lethal strikers in the world and the fact that he is available at under $8K makes him a smart play for this week’s tournaments.
FLEX: Gael Clichy, Manchester City
Salary: $3,400
We are already committed to Otamendi at the D position and Aguero at the F position so it only makes sense to plug in Clichy as another reasonably priced option from Manchester City. Clichy has been a steady force on City’s back line and could benefit from a clean sheet bonus if they can shut down PSG’s attack.
FLEX: Diego Godin, Atletico Madrid
Salary: $3,700
With $3.7K left to spend on our final FLEX position it only makes sense to plug in Godin as the best player available with the remaining money available. Godin has been a rock on Atletico’s back end and his upside is high enough to convince us he is worth taking a chance on at that price.
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