RADIO
Welcome to “The Kick-Off”! If you do not know me, my name is Brandon and I also write “The First Serve” for Tennis if you have not checked it out yet!
Today we will welcome the first UCL slate back with a 6-game slate for the main games that kick-off at 3:00 PM EST. Our two biggest favorites today are Chelsea -475 and Juventus -210.
Remember that during the Champions League and Europa League play, things are much messier and goals come from everywhere or nowhere. When betting, it is not as easy to predict as the domestic play, but the heavy favorites typically never disappoint. On that note, let’s jump right into the matchups and their projected players for the day.
DraftKings DFS Soccer Picks
[A] Bayern Munich (-105) at [H] Barcelona (+220): Total: 3 1/2u
The last time these two met in a UCL matchup, Bayern beat Barcelona 8-2. However, that same score is unlikely to be replicated. Although, Bayern should come to an easy win with multiple players out for Barcelona. The Spanish side has faired well to start the season, even after all of the drama that surrounded them in the transfer window and Memphis Depay is a big reason for that. He will also be their talisman here if they are to see any success. For the German giants, Lewandowski will remain the biggest star for the team with the offense funneling right through him. It also looks like Alphonso Davies would be able to start and he is a massive value price for defense with a big upside.
Expected Outcome: 3-1 Bayern
BAR:
M/F: Depay ($9.9K), Coutinho ($6.4K), Pedri ($5.1K)
BAY:
G: Neuer ($5.2K)
D: Pavard ($4.8K), Davies ($4.4K)
M/F: Lewandowski ($10.2K), Kimmich ($7.5K)
GPP: Muller ($6.9K), Sane ($6.3K), Musiala ($6.3K)
[A] Benfica (+127) at [H] Dynamo Kyiv (+235): Total: 2 1/2u
Both clubs are firing on all cylinders in domestic play to start the season. Benfica just won their last away match 5-0 and Kyiv won their last three matches outscoring their opponents 13-0. Those types of scorelines are not to be expected here though. The last two times these clubs have met, they have been under the projected 2 ½ goals. Both clubs also tend to play slower and safer in the Champions League. It is also concerning that Dynamo Kyiv has a handful of attackers absent for this match, which will only provide a boost to Benfica. Although they are playing their second consecutive away match, Benfica should have what it takes to be able to sneak away with a win to start the new campaign.
Expected Outcome: 2-0 Benfica
BEN:
D: Grimaldo ($5.9K)
M/F: Pizzi ($8.1K), Yaremchuk ($6.8K)
GPP: Nunez ($6.3K), Everton ($5.8K), Vlachodimos ($5.3K)
DYK:
D: Mykolenko ($3.7K), Kedziora ($3.6K)
M/F: Tsygankov ($6.1K), Shaparenko ($4.1K)
GPP: de Pena ($5.4K), Bushchan ($4.3K), Shkurin ($3.9K)
[A] Atalanta (+168) at Villarreal [H] (+156): Total: 2 1/2u
Neither club has started off their respective campaigns with a splash. If anything it has been quite different with the only thing separating the two sides is a win for Atalanta. Otherwise, they are both struggling for offense and they both might be missing crucial attackers in this fixture (G. Moreno and Luis Muriel). Atalanta has better quality in their side but as many have come to know when Unai Emery plays in the Champions League or the Europa League all bets are off. This should be one of the lowest scoring matches with both clubs splitting the spoils.
Expected Outcome: 1-1
ATA:
D: Gosens ($5.1K), Maehle ($4.3K)
M/F: Ilicic ($8.2K), Zapata ($7.7K)
GPP: Malinovskyi ($6.8K), Psalic ($4.7K), Musso ($4.8K)
VIL:
D: Estupinan ($3.6K)
M/F: G. Moreno ($7.9K), Parejo ($5.6K)
GPP: Dia ($4.5K), Trigueros ($4.5K)
[A] Wolfsburg (+153) at [H] Lille (+160): Total: 2 1/2u
Both clubs are going in two separate directions to start their respective seasons in domestic play. Lille is struggling to find any success after winning Ligue One last season and Wolfsburg is off to a cracking start with all four wins to top the Bundesliga, albeit barely scoring during that time. Lille should have their starting attack, but will it be enough to break through Wolfsburg’s strong defense?
Expected Outcome: 2-1 Wolfsburg
WOB:
D: Mbabu ($4.9K), Roussillon ($4.6K)
M/F: Weghorst ($7.2K), Arnold ($7.1K),
GPP: Philipp ($6.9K), Baku ($5.9K), Steffen ($4.9K), Casteels ($4.6K)
LIL:
D: Celik ($4K)
M/F: Yazici ($6K)
GPP: Yilmaz ($8.5K), David ($7.4K), Grbic ($4.9K), Reinildo ($3.7K)
[A] Zenit Petersburg (+1275) at [H] Chelsea (-475): Total: 3u
Each side has started strong in domestic play, although Zenit has struggled while playing away. They also have struggled in the Champions League as of late with a single point to their name in the Group Stage last season. Having to travel to Stamford Bridge and play the Champions of last season is a tall task in itself and a tough break for the Russian outfit. Chelsea looks to cap off their strong title last season with another win here. If Chelsea was able to win the Champions League last year, what can they do with a more formidable striker in their grasp?
Expected Outcome: 3-0 Chelsea
ZEN:
D: Krugovoy ($3.2K)
M/F: Malcom ($5.9K), Wendel ($3.1K)
GPP: Dzyuba ($5.4K), Azmoun ($5.2K), Barrios ($3.4K)
CHE:
D: James ($6.1K), Alonso ($5.7K)
M/F: Lukaku ($10.5K), Mount ($8.8K)
GPP: Havertz (7.6K), Jorginho ($4.6K)
[A] Juventus (-210) at Malmoe FF [H] (+580): Total: 2 1/2o
Once again we have a matchup where neither side are off to a strong start and unsurprisingly, Juventus are struggling now that Ronaldo has departed back to Manchester United. However, they are getting a major boost with a few players returning from International Break. Malmoe on the other hand has been better at home, but will it be enough to hold back the talented Old Lady?
Expected Outcome: 3-0 Juventus
G: Szczesny ($5.7K)
D: Cuadrado ($8.7K)
M/F: Dybala ($9.3K), Morata ($8.7K), Rabiot ($5.5K), Locatelli ($5.2K),
GPP: Sandro ($5.3K)
MAL:
D: Olsson ($2.9K), Larsson ($2.6K)
M/F: Birmancevic ($5.9K), Christiansen ($4.3K)
GPP: Colak ($4.9K), Rieks ($3.1K)
Top 5 Pace:
Bottom 5 Pace:
Top 5 Crosses:
Top 5 Crosses Conceded:
Expected Corner Takers:
Bayern Munich: Kimmich
Barcelona: Depay
Benfica: Pizzi
Dynamo Kyiv: Tsygankov/Sharapenko
Atalanta: Ilicic
Villarreal: Parejo/Trigueros/G. Moreno
Wolfsburg: Arnold/Philipp
Lille: Yazici
Zenit: Douglas/Krugovoy/Malcom
Chelsea: Mount
Juventus: Cuadrado
Malmoe FF: Christiansen
Thanks for reading The Kick-Off! Good luck in all of your contests today!
If you have any questions on today's slate, bankroll management, GPP strategy, Cash game strategy, or anything else don’t hesitate to email me [email protected] or via Twitter @df_solutions or on “SLACK”
