#UCLfantasy: The Scout squad
Tuesday, August 18, 2020
Article summary
With the possibility of picking six players from each of the semi-finalists Paris and Bayern are well represented in the Scout squad.
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With only four teams remaining in the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League, #UCLfantasy managers can pick as many as six from each for their 15-man semi-final squad, and the Scout's selection is heavily weighted towards Paris and Bayern players.
Goalkeepers
With only two games, the strategy for goalkeepers is relatively straightforward – one from each match. For the first semi-final, this presents a straight choice between Leipzig's Péter Gulácsi (€4.5m) and, with Keylor Navas injured, Paris Saint-Germain stand-in Sergio Rico (€4.4m) – the latter gets the nod, given his side's attacking potential. With Lyon facing a Bayern München side who have rattled in 39 goals in their nine games so far, it's tough to make a case for Anthony Lopes (€4.8m) so Manuel Neuer (€6.0m) is the selection for the second semi-final.
Defenders
The same approach prevails in the back line – such is the attacking potential of Bayern, in particular and Paris that their defensive assets look much more appealing as a result. Leipzig's defenders have tended to punch above their weight all season, however, so Konrad Laimer (€4.3m) retains his place, not only for budget reasons but also as he is joint third among points totals for defenders this season with 49. The only two players above him on that list, Paris pair Juan Bernat (€5.8m) and Marquinhos (€6.0m), who have both picked up 54 points to date, ate both included, as is their club-mate Presnel Kimpembe (€5.6m) – with only five goals conceded so far, it is hard to look too far beyond the Paris back line. Fresh from a nine-point haul in the semi-final, including a goal and an assist, Bayern's big-budget full-back Joshua Kimmich (€6.5m) completes the defence.
Midfielders
Leipzig provide two more representatives in midfield, through Marcel Sabitzer (€6.8m) and Dani Olmo (€6.0m) – the latter opened his UEFA Champions League account for the club in the quarter-final and has amassed 37 points this season, 15 of them in his last two appearances, while Sabitzer has picked up 25 points already in the knockout rounds. The only player ahead of Sabitzer in the midfielder scores this season is Bayern's Serge Gnabry (€8.4m), a #UCLfantasy favourite who scored in the last eight; Paris's Ángel Di María (€8.4m) missed his side's quarter-final through suspension, but is likely to play a crucial role in the last four if the French champions are to reach their first final. Another Bayern player completes the midfield five, Ivan Perišić (€8.5m) having scored against both Chelsea and Barcelona to pick up 15 points in his last two appearances.
Forwards
Up front, one of the easiest decisions around is picking Robert Lewandowski (€11.0m) – 14 goals, five assists, and 93 #UCLfantasy points this season says it all. The Pole's fellow Bayern forward Thomas Müller (€9.0m) also makes the squad thanks to two quarter-final goals that pushed his season total to 41 #UCLfantasy points, while the Paris forward line is represented by Neymar (€11.5m) – the French champions channelled most of their attacking play against Atalanta through their inspirational Brazilian, and it is hard to see a different approach when they play Leipzig.
