RADIO
Welcome back 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 second half of the first match week for the UCL season with a 6-game slate for the main games that kick off at 3:00 PM EST. Our two biggest favorites today are Paris Saint-Germain -435 and Manchester City -320.
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] RB Leipzig (+850) at [H] Manchester City (-320): Total: 3o
Leipzig and City are on two different paths after the start of the season. Manchester City has won three out of their four matches to start the season without Kevin De Bruyne and in that time they have outscored their opponents 11-0. Meanwhile, Leipzig has struggled to find any sort of success and they are coming off of two straight defeats to Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich. Even without KDB, City should come to a comfortable win.
Expected Outcome: 3-1 Manchester City
RBL:
D: Angelino ($4.9K)
M/F: Nkunku($6.8K), Szoboszlai($6.2K)
MCL:
G: Ederson($5.7K)
D: Zinchenko($4.6K)
M/F: De Bruyne($9.2K), Mahrez($8.6K), Torres($7.7K), Sterling($6.5K)
[A] Paris Saint-Germain (-435) at [H] Club Bruges (+1075): Total: 3o
Bruges has started their new campaign well outside of their big defeat to Gent prior to the International Break. However, PSG has dominated every matchup so far this season and that is without the front three of Neymar-Mbappe-Messi. This match should see the debut of the anticipated front three and there may not be a team that has the chance of a safer skip to victory on the slate.
Expected Outcome: 4-0 PSG
PSG:
G: Navs($5.8K)
D: Diallo($3.6K)
M/F: Messi($11K), Mbappe($10.2K), Neymar($10K),
GPP: Herrera($4.6K)
BRU:
M/F: Vormer($5.2K), Vanaken($4.5K)
GPP: Lang($3.5K)
[A] FC Porto (+600) at Atletico Madrid [H] (-170): Total: 3o
Although Griezmann has returned back to Atletico Madrid, it does not guarantee a safe win by any means with Porto. The Portuguese outfit has shown time and time before that they can compete with anyone. However, Atletico certainly has the depth and talent needed to secure a home win in the first match of the Group Stage. This will be a much closer match than many will expect.
Expected Outcome: 2-1 Atletico Madrid
POR:
D: Marcano($2.5K)
M/F: Oliveira($5.8K), Oavio($4.7K),
GPP: Taremi($4.6K), Costa($4.3K), Martinez($4.1K)
ATL:
G: Oblak($5.6K)
M/F: Griezmann($7.9K), Carrasco($7.6K), Suarez($6.8K), Lemar($4.9K)
GPP: Koke($4.4K)
[A] AC Milan (+515) at [H] Liverpool (-215): Total: 3u
Both clubs are off to cracking starts with the only exception of Liverpool’s draw with Chelsea. The Reds did lose Harvey Elliott in their win over Leeds at the weekend, but they will be quick to replace him with their pool of depth at the position. Milan on the other hand will be missing Ibrahimovic and will look to Giroud in his first trip back to England since his departure from Chelsea. Liverpool should dominate the majority of possession and it will come down to how long Maignan and company can hold back the Reds’ fierce attack.
Expected Outcome: 2-0 Liverpool
ACM:
M/F: Tonali($4.3K), Saelemaekers($4.2K)
GPP: Leao($5.2K), Giroud($4.9K), Diaz($4.7K), Maignan($4.1K)
LIV:
Cash/GPP:
G: Alisson($5.4K)
D: Alexander-Arnold($8K), Robertson($5.8K)
M/F: Salah($9.5K), Mane($8.2K), Jota($7.4K)
[A] Ajax (+140) at [H] Sporting CP (+185): Total: 2 1/2o
Both clubs have started off well in their respective domestic campaigns. However, Sporting has faltered with back-to-back draws heading into this match. The Portuguese outfit has made some strong additions this season to their starting XI, but it will be hard to topple the giants of the Eredivise. Look for a rare away win on the slate with Ajax taking home the cake.
Expected Outcome: 3-1 Ajax
AJA:
G: Stekelenburg($5K)
D: Mazraoui($4.8K)
M/F: Haller($9K), Tadic($8.9K), Berghuis($8.5K),
GPP: Antony($6.4K)
SCP:
D: Vinagre($3.1K)
M/F: Paulinho($6K), Santos($3.3K)
GPP: Cabral($4.5K) Palhinha($3.1K)
[A] Real Madrid (+170) at Inter Milan [H] (+135): Total: 2 1/2o
Inter is coming into the match still trying to figure out life after Lukaku and Madrid will be traveling without Kroos. Inter will be relying on Martinez and new addition Calhanoglu to take the three points, while Madrid will be relying on Modric to fill in for Kroos. This match should be the most entertaining on the slate with fireworks expected and plenty of goals to go around.
Expected Outcome: 2-2
RM:
G: Courtois($4.7K)
D: Gutierez($3.1K)
M/F: Benzema($8.8K), Hazard($6K), Modric($5.3K),
GPP: Junior($5.7K), Carvajal($4.5K), Valverde($3.4K)
INT:
G: Handanovic($5.1K)
M/F: Calhanoglu($8.1K), Dzeko($7.5K), Martinez($6.7K), Perisic($6.5K), Dimarco($5K)
Top 5 Pace:
Bottom 5 Pace:
Top 5 Crosses:
Top 5 Crosses Conceded:
Expected Corner Takers:
RB Leipzig: Nkunku/Szoboszlai
Manchester City: KDB/Gundogan
Paris Saint-Germain: Messi/Neymar
Club Bruges: Vormer
FC Porto: Oliveira/Otavio
Atletico Madrid: Carrasco/Griezmann/Koke
AC Milan: Tonali
Liverpool: Alexander-Arnold
Ajax: Tadic
Sporting CP: Unknown
Real Madrid: Modric
Inter Milan: Calhanoglu
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”
