Champions League Picks – Quarter-Finals, First Leg

Our coverage of the official UEFA Fantasy Champions League game returns this afternoon. With just eight teams left in this year’s competition, our options are somewhat restricted ahead of this evening’s 7.30 pm deadline – nonetheless, we hand-pick six players for your consideration, with the obvious options again overlooked:

Tuesday

Philipp Lahm – rested to the bench in last weekend’s home draw with Hoffenheim, Lahm was only called upon after Thiago Alcantara was forced off through injury. Classified as a defender (priced at 7.0) in the Champions League game, he’s been mainly utilised in midfield under Pep Guardiola and has chipped in with a goal and six assists over the season thus far – the Bayern skipper could well be amongst the points in tonight’s crunch encounter at Old Trafford.

Koke – with Raul Garcia suspended for the trip to Barcelona and Diego Costa a big doubt, Atletico will rely on their midfield to provide a cutting edge in this evening’s all-Spanish showdown. A tight match is anticipated in the Nou Camp but with a price of 5.5, Koke – who has six goals and 13 assists already to his name this season – is a budget-friendly option for Diego Simeone’s La Liga table-toppers.

Dani Alves – Barcelona are in decent defensive form for Atletico’s visit, though, with three clean sheets in their last four games. The hosts chances of another shut-out have been boosted by Costa’s potential absence and, having chalked up four goals and a pair of assists this term, Alves (priced at 7.0) marginally gets the nod ahead of Jordi Alba as our pick.

Wednesday

Karim Benzema – the Frenchman plays host to a Dortmund side decimated by injuries tomorrow evening and offers an in-form double-up option alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. Benzema – available for 11.5 – has managed four goals in six Champions League games and struck 17 times domestically; with Robert Lewandowski missing out through suspension for the visitors, he looks a handy up-front replacement if you fancy Carlo Ancelotti’s men to bang in the goals.

Christophe Jallet – the right-back has been an ever-present for PSG since Gregory van der Weil was forced onto the sidelines with a knee injury. Priced at just 4.5, Jallet offers a cut-price route into Laurent Blanc’s backline and with Jose Mourinho expected to keep it tight in Paris, the hosts will fancy their chances of delivering a clean sheet, bearing in mind the Blues have failed to score away to Villa and Palace in their last two away league matches. There’s a chance that Marquinos could be shifted over to the right but we’re sticking our neck out and reckon it’s more likely Jallet will get the nod.

Fernando Torres – on the other hand, if you fancy Mourinho to mastermind a cheeky Chelsea victory in the French capital, you don’t have to look much further than Champions League specialist Torres. The Spaniard sets you back 9.0 and has already scored three times in this term’s competition – with Samuel Eto’o sidelined due to a hamstring injury, Torres is set to lead the line for the visitors.