Fantasy Football: Draft 11 - This Week's Champions League Tips

With another round of midweek Champions League action ahead WhoScored.com are teaming up with Draft 11 once more to help you decide who to choose as the round of 16 first legs come to a close.

Draft 11 allows you to choose a new XI every week, with a $100k wage budget with which to do so. These wages change week-by-week according to form, with statistics having a stronger part to play in the scoring system than traditional fantasy football offerings. Amongst other avenues, players are able to score points for saves, passes, tackles and shots in addition to the standard goals and assists, meaning it requires real football knowhow to pick a winning team.
 
For more information on how best to play and the incentives available click here, but for those ready to make their selections, here are a few tips ahead of this week's matches.

Danijel Subasic

It's fair to say that Arsenal fans would have been delighted with their draw having finished their group in second for the third season running but Monaco have been gaining momentum going into this encounter. The French outfit may not have been the most entertaining side thus far - far from it - but have been ruthlessly efficient, conceding just one goal in the group stages. That record owed much to the exploits of Subasic, who produced 16 saves en route to the knockout phase and will likely be called upon at the Emirates.

Diego Godin

Arguably one of the finest centre-backs in world football over the past year, you know just what you're getting with Diego Godin. The Uruguayan will put his body on the line for Atletico but also offers an exceptional threat in the opposing penalty box, netting crucial goals en route to unbelievable glory for the Spanish champions last year. It comes as no surprise that no defender had more headed attempts in the group stages than Godin (5) and he will hope to add to the goal he scored in the group stages when coming up against Leverkusen.

Wallace

With Arsenal set to be very much on the front foot on Wednesday night Monaco are likely to get through plenty of defensive work. 20-year-old centre-back Wallace has been drafted into the side in the absence of the injured Raggi and Carvalho and excelled in Ligue 1, with Monaco conceding just 2 goals during his 9 appearances across the league and Champions League. He is an absolute bargain having started just once in the group stages and is particularly effective at 'ball interception' according to WhoScored.com’s statistical characteristics.

Emir Spahic

Bayer Leverkusen host last season's surprise finalists Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their round of 16 encounter and given their playing style the Bundesliga outfit are liable to leave spaces for the Spaniards to exploit. It should be an entertaining game in turn, with plenty of action at both ends, so Schmidt will have to rely on the likes of veteran defender Emir Spahic to be on their guard, with only one player managing more interceptions than the Bosnian (27) in the group stages.

 
Andrea Pirlo

Fresh from netting a trademark pearler in Serie A at the weekend Andrea Pirlo will hope to add to his goal against Olympiakos in the group stages when Juve host Dortmund. The Italians should see plenty of the ball given Klopp's counter-attacking approach and only Bayern and Barca held more possession than the Serie A champions in the group stages (64.4%). Their play should go through Pirlo in turn so expect plenty of points for touches, passes and set pieces from the veteran.

Geoffrey Kondogbia

With the likes of Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil to keep quiet on Wednesday night you can expect Monaco's midfield anchor Geoffrey Kondogbia to be busy at the Emirates in the absence of the suspended Jeremy Toulalan. The Frenchman will likely usurp his group stage average of 2.5 tackles per game in the English capital and has an impressive WhoScored.com rating of 7.30 in matches started in defensive midfield this season.

Francis Coquelin

Having not featured in the group stages at all for the Gunners, only returning from a loan spell at Charlton due to an injury to Aaron Ramsey, Francis Coquelin is an absolute steal. Certain to play on Wednesday with the Welshman now sidelined once more, the reborn midfielder will be crucial to breaking up play alongside Santi Cazorla having averaged an impressive 3.2 tackles and 3.3 interceptions per game in the Premier League thus far.

Koke

As mentioned before, there should be chances aplenty in the game between Leverkusen and Altetico, with few players left in the competition more capable at creating said opportunities than Koke. The Spaniard registered the most assists in the group stages (4) and, taking set pieces for a side so prolific from said scenarios, with the likes of Mandzukic and Godin to aim for, you wouldn't bet against the midfielder adding to that tally.

Lionel Messi (c)

There's little doubt who will be the most popular captain in this gameweek but with double points on the cards there's simply no avoiding Lionel Messi. With no player having directly contributed to more goals in the group stages (10), scoring 8 for himself, the Argentine was the runaway leader in WhoScored.com's ratings (9.15). After scoring against them in both fixtures of their double header last season, Manchester City will do well to stop Messi making it 3 from 3.

Olivier Giroud

Another bargain-buy from the Gunners having failed to register a single minute in the group stages due to injury, Olivier Giroud comes into Wednesday's encounter in fine form. The French forward has had a direct hand in 8 goals (5 goals, 3 assists) in Arsenal's last 7 matches in all competitions and while it will be hard to break down a resolute Monaco defence the Londoners will surely create the chances for their target man, with points available for shots at goal.

Marco Reus

Much of Borussia Dortmund's woes this season can be attributed to the absence of star man Marco Reus for prolonged periods but now back fit the German is well and truly firing. Having netted in each of his last 3 league appearances, as well as each of his Champions League outings prior to injury, Reus is surely the man that will provide the biggest threat on the break to a Juventus side that will look to dominate possession.

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Who will be in your fantasy football team for this week's Champions League fixtures? Let us know in the comments below