SOCCER

Champions League Daily Fantasy Helper: Tuesday 11/5/19

Memphis Depay is in top form for Lyon and will play a Benfica team that has allowed the most goals in the Champions League Group G. Who else can light up matchweek 4 of group play?

The Champions League, Europe's biggest soccer competition, returns on Tuesday for matchweek 4 of the Group Stage. FanDuel will be offering plenty of contests featuring the six Tuesday matches, which begin at 3:00 p.m. EST.

Group Stage
Tuesday, November 5
Benfica at Lyon
Inter at Borussia Dortmund
Lille at Valencia
Genk at Liverpool
Red Bull Salzburg at Napoli
Ajax at Chelsea


The format will be what has now become the norm on FanDuel soccer contests and what is used in this season's Premier League competitions. Lineups will consist of four forwards or midfielders, two defenders, and one keeper. Player pricing ranges from Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane at $23, to a multitude of players, including Valencia defender Mouctar Diakhaby, who scored 19 points last matchweek, at $8.

The first round of 16 berths can be claimed during this matchweek. There are more permutations for advancing on Wednesday, but Napoli has a chance to advance from this slate. They are favorites over Salzburg with every other match on the slate having a clear favorite as well.

Let's look at some players at various price points who will have an impact on Tuesday's slate.

Forward/Midfielder

Memphis Depay, Lyon ($20)

Depay has scored in all three Champions League games and is averaging 36.3 points per match. He has scored in three straight across all competitions and is coming off a brace this weekend against Toulouse. Depay is clearly in top form. He has 10 goals on 21 shots on target over 13 appearances across all competitions this season. Depay is credited for 10 chances created in his three Champions League matches. He has great odds to be an anytime goal scorer in the match against Benfica. Benfica allow nearly double the amount of shots per game in the Champions League than they do in domestic play and have allowed six goals through three games. That is the most in Group G.

Lautaro Martinez, Inter ($18)

Martinez had a stretch earlier this season in which he scored in four straight games across all competitions including a goal against Dortmund in the teams' first meeting of group play.

He has scored seven goals in 14 appearances with 23 shots on target. He is coming off a frustrating game against Bologna in which he drew six fouls. Martinez has scored in back-to-back group stage games and has scored at least 33 FanDuel points in each. Inter are unbeaten in six matches across all competitions with Martinez having great odds to score in front of the Yellow Wall.

Benjamin Andre, Lille ($14)

Andre is not a permanent threat near the opposition 18-yard box despite a goal and assist over his last three games. He is a defensive machine though. In 14 matches this season he has recorded 36 tackles and 32 interceptions. He will always commit to the defensive side of the ball, but Andre has to be thinking this will be another good chance to get involved offensively. He had his biggest output of group play in the first match against Valencia when he had an assist to go along with his five defensive actions. Surprisingly, he created five chances and drew two fouls. His performance raises his ceiling in the return match with Valencia. Andre has also managed a shot on target in three straight games, so it is a good time to play the stout defender as he has found more time on the ball of late.

Defenders

Maximilian Wober, Red Bull Salzburg ($15)

Wober has been consistent with games of 24.2, 16.9, and 18.6 FanDuel points thus far in the Champions League. He has recorded at least seven clearances and three interceptions in every match. Wober has also created three chances in group play, including two against Napoli last time out. Salzburg have to travel to play a Napoli team that is averaging 8% more possession per match, but Salzburg have recorded back-to-back shut outs on the road. Wober has a sneaky offensive upside as well recording 20 crosses in 11 matches across all competitions.

Mats Hummels, Borussia Dortmund ($13)

Three of Hummels' last four matches have been clean sheets for Dortmund. Unfortunately, the one that was not was the first game against Inter. Hummels will look to rebound at home after recording three interceptions in this weekend's shut out win over Wolfsburg. Hummels also had four clearances to lead the team in that category. Despite the rough game last time out versus Inter he is still averaging nearly 20 FanDuel points per match in the Champions League. Inter are a talented, efficient attacking squad. Even though they average less possession than Dortmud, Inter averages more shots per match. Hummels and the back line should have plenty to do on Tuesday, so the center back can rebound from his previous Champions League showing.

Fikayo Tomori, Chelsea ($9)

The youth movement continues at Chelsea with the 21-year-old defender appearing in seven straight victories, including three shut outs. He has played all three group stage matches with a bigger return in each. He scored 21.9 points at Ajax in matchweek 3 with eight clearances. Tomori had five other defensive actions as Chelsea shut out last year's semifinalist. In 12 matches across all competitions Tomori has just seven fouls. Tomori was recently called up by England and forms a very good, yet youthful spine for this new-look Chelsea side.

Keepers

Alisson, Liverpool ($15)

This one is pretty simple. Liverpool are the heaviest favorite of the day with the top two odds for final score being clean sheets. Genk have scored just three goals in three games. The goal Alisson allowed in the first match with Genk was more on defender Dejan Lovren ($8), whose mistake put Alisson and the team in a vulnerable spot. Liverpool had 74% possession and that was on the road. Alisson made three saves and scored over 13 FanDuel points. Barring a mistake from his defenders, Alisson has a great chance for a clean sheet and a great return.

Mike Maignan, Lille ($8)

Maignon is the contrarian play at keeper as his performances in the Champions League thus far leaves much to be desired. He saved two of three shots against Valencia on October 23, but still failed to match his salary in points. Valencia and Lille have both scored just two goals in the Champions League this season, but Lille have been the much more aggressive team. Lille average 17 shots per game, which is sixth-best in the competition. Valencia average just nine shots per game with three being on target. Valencia are methodical and will build up play, but Maignan should not be under uncontrollable pressure. This could also fit into the narrative of a bounce back game as Maignan and Lille had a rough time with Marseille this past weekend. There is more risk with Maignan, but his lower price should help roster the high-priced forwards.


Doug Smith is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Doug Smith also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username aquemini03. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his/her personal views, he/she may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his/her personal account. The views expressed in his/her articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.