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The second round of matches from the UEFA Champions League are upon us. It would serve the Fantasy managers well if these ones turn out to be high scoring much like the opening round. There was little room for any shock result apart from Man City's loss against Lyon. Certain players have come up as the front-runners for grabbing those attacking returns.
Paul Pogba turned out to be the highest scorer from midfield after the first matchday after scoring two goals and grabbing an assist. Though he hasn't made it to our list this week due to Man United's current form which makes him a big hit or a miss option. At €9, you probably don't want to take that risk.
Champions League Fantasy, unlike the FPL counterpart, provides 2 transfers per match day. This gives managers a good opportunity to bank upon players who have a favorable fixture in the coming week.
Here are the top 5 midfield options for Matchday 2
#5 Isco - Real Madrid
Real Madrid had the near-perfect start to their Champions League campaign, soundly beating AS Roma 3-0. Their best player in the match was probably the Spanish Midfielder Isco. He started over Asensio on the left wing and grabbed the first goal for his team.
Having started the season a bit underwhelmingly, Isco has grown into the Real Madrid side. He is now a key player in Lopetegui's new possession-based system. While grabbing only 1 assist and 1 goal in the league so far, Isco's contribution to the side is yet to pick up speed but the signs are there.
Real Madrid play CSKA Moscow away, which never is an easy destination for teams to go. The holders though are heavily favoured to come out of this match on top and if Isco continues to play at the left wing position, his attacking potential will continue to be high.
#4 Miralem Pjanic - Juventus
Juventus won their first game despite Cristiano Ronaldo's red card. Their second is against lowly fancied BSC Young Boys. Pjanic scored two penalties in the first game and is perhaps the best option from the Italian outfit's midfield going into the second match day.
Pjanic has so far scored a goal and an assist in the Serie A this season where Juventus sit on the top of the table. He is a creative force from midfield and usually a deadly option from free kicks. The other two midfielders in the side Khedira and Matuidi are usually deep-sitting enforcers, making Pjanic the one furthest forward in the central midfield at times.
Pjanic comes at €8.5 and is currently the second highest points getter behind Pogba with 13. A solid option coming at a mid-range price.
#3 Marco Reus - Dortmund
Though he did not score on the first day, you cannot keep Marco Reus out of the net for too long. Playing his second against Monaco at home gives him just the opportunity to open his Champions League account for this season.
Reus is currently top scorer for his club in the Bundesliga with 4 goals and has also notched two assists. Pretty much a 'will score when fit' kind of player, Reus will set you back by €9. He comes into the game with a rich vein of form and will most probably punish a Monaco side who have been sub-par at the start of this season.
Pulisic is an alternative from Dortmund coming in at €8.5. He scored once in the opening game but is yet to show the same form in the league.
#2 Garry Rodrigues - Galatasaray
A lesser known name in the Fantasy game and perhaps throughout Europe. Garry Rodrigues showed his quality in Galatasaray's opening game by scoring against Lokomotiv. He has continued that goalscoring run in the Turkish League as well scoring twice so far.
Rodrigues has been for the past season a key player for the Turkish side regularly grabbing goals and assist from the Left-wing position. After their flying start to the campaign, Galatasaray would be expected to do well in a group where every team has a chance to qualify.
Rodrigues comes in at €7.5 and plays away to Porto next. Another alternative from Galatasaray is attacking midfielder Akbaba who comes at only €6 and is a good bargain option.
#1 Raheem Sterling - Manchester City
Though Manchester City are perennial strugglers in the Champions League, you would more than expect the team to turn around their shock defeat at the hands of Lyon. Raheem Sterling is currently one of their most in-form players and the best option perhaps from their ever-rotating midfield.
Sterling did not manage an attacking return in the first Matchday but has been performing consistently in the EPL. He currently has 4 goals and 2 assists in the Premier League. He has also been praised by the manager for his recent contributions in the team.
City play away to a gritty German side Hoffenheim. But with all their quality, you'd expect the team to get out of this fixture with flying colours. Go for the English forward cum midfielder if you have €9.5 to spare.
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