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The third gameweek of the Champions League fantasy is upon us and offers a set of alluring fixtures and opportunities to grab more points. While it also has the potential to turn out a bit of a tricky proposition as a few of the European powerhouses like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich haven't been performing as per expectations.
One of the biggest news for fantasy managers is perhaps that Messi is out of action for this gameweek while Cristiano Ronaldo makes his comeback.
Other than that, the highest scoring defender in the game, mostly because of his first game exploits, Nicolas Tagliafico is out with an injury as well.
Unlike the FPL counterpart, one gets to make 2 free transfers per Matchday in the Champions League Fantasy. Have a look at the upcoming fixtures and do not be afraid to make big decisions such as getting a big player out whose fixture is far less likely to yield points.
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Here are the top 5 matchday 3 options that should get you good points:
#5 Cristiano Ronaldo
The former Manchester United fan-favourite is returning to Old Trafford and it promises to be a cracker. The last time he played here, the Portuguese tapped in at the back post after being set up brilliantly by Gonzalo Higuain.
This time he would have even more the reasons to be motivated to grab a goal or two since his harsh sending off in the first game kept him out of action in the second game.
His main rival Messi has taken the lead in goals this season; something that will irk Cristiano and may propel him to close the gap on the Argentinian while he is out. His return to Old Trafford might be the perfect stage for it all.
United have been very leaky in defence this season and Juventus might end up exploiting that. Ronaldo himself has been in a rich vein of form having just scored at the weekend.
Only a grand defensive performance by Jose Mourinho's side might be able to stop the Portuguese on Tuesday night.
#4 Gareth Bale
After Ronaldo, it is time to head over to his former team. Real Madrid's upcoming fixture would have been a goldmine for Fantasy players had been not for their miserable current form.
Still, a meeting at home with Czech top-flight side Victoria Plzen, who shipped in 5 goals to Roma in the last game, seems a fixture too good to ignore. Madrid are in a bit of goalscoring scrape at the moment but this game would be the perfect opportunity to kickstart their revival.
A good showing is necessary at the Bernabeu on Tuesday and nothing less than a win would do for manager Lopetegui. As to the question of who would be the one to grab the goals? It really is anybody's guess. Benzema, Mariano, Isco or even Marcelo- as he did in the last game.
We are however going with the Welshman Gareth Bale who after a good start to the season has hit a bit of a snag lately. Madrid would be heavily reliant on his goalscoring ability in this game and it would be imperative for him to get a good performance.
Bale is a forward in the game and comes at a reasonable price of €10.5. It would seem a bargain if he ends up getting a brace or something.
#3 Edin Dzeko
AS Roma are devastating at home as was proven in their last game where they beat Plzen 5-0. Their Bosnian centre-forward ended up scoring 4 goals in that game and there wouldn't be much to suggest that he will not do the same in their next against CSKA.
Even though the Russian side had a stellar game against Real Madrid in their last fixture, the away form of Russian teams has been under the cloud in Europe historically. Dzeko is a man currently in form and the main striking threat for his team. While it might be wise to suggest he won't get the same return in this game that he did in the last, still, a brace wouldn't be beyond him.
Dzeko comes at a price of €10 and is currently the joint third highest points scoring forward in the game. His lowly ownership of only 2% means that nearly all of the Fantasy crowd missed his 14 point haul in the last matchday. Time to not repeat that mistake?
#2 Philippe Coutinho
Someone needs to step up for Barca in Messi's absence and we wager it to be Philippe Coutinho. Playing Internazionale at home this week, Barcelona are top of the group and full of goals after scoring 4 of each in their opening games.
Coutinho scored for the team in their weekend game in LaLiga and currently has 3 goals in the league while grabbing a goal and an assist in their previous game against Spurs. Inter, on the other hand, are running high on confidence after winning a gruelling Milan derby but it would still be something else to expect them to get one over the Blaugrana at the Camp Nou.
Coutinho is available in midfield and comes in at a price of €8.5. He is also the highest selected midfielder in the game with 35% ownership. So if he scores and you don't have him in your team, it would set you back against a good majority of the Fantasy population.
#1 Mohammed Salah
He has been living with the talks of being a one season wonder. Perhaps unjustifiably as Salah has had a reasonable start to the league campaign by anybody's standards.
His Champions League performance so far, however, has been very underwhelming. The game's top scorer in midfield on points last season needs to turn his European form around in the next game.
Liverpool play Red Star Belgrade at home. The Serbian club conceded 6 goals to PSG in their last game after impressing against group leaders Napoli. At Anfield, you would highly expect a repeat of something akin to their last scoreline. If that really is the case, Salah might end up reaping the rewards.
The Egyptian scored the winning goal in Liverpool's last game. The Reds haven't been as threatening in attack this season as they were in the last but would be expected to go all out into this game as they currently sit third on the table in a very tough group.
Consider banking upon Salah for the next one, he would set you back by €11.
