Planning to activate your limitless chip in UCL Fantasy but not sure which teams and players to target? Tipster Mike Rachfal is here to help with this handy guide.
What if you need to use your limitless chip in Matchday 2 of UCL Fantasy?
Matchday 2 in the UEFA Champion’s League presents some unique challenges for fantasy owners. It is not the ideal week to use your ‘limitless’ chip because many of Europe’s top sides are away from home or facing decent opponents. However, if week 1 was painful for you, this may be the route you take to get fired up for the remainder of the group stage. (If this is your first season, the ‘limitless’ chip is a 1-week option to use an unlimited budget. Your roster will reset to its previous state after the chip has been used.)
Fantasy sports is supposed to be fun. If you had a disaster in matchday 1, if your team setup was flawed, or if you were overly aggressive to start, using your ‘limitless’ chip now + your ‘wildcard’ chip in matchday 3 is a reasonable path to getting excited again.
Creating an ideal XI based on the ‘limitless’ chip can be a useful exercise for your decision to use the chip or find value at other positions with your two free subs. As always, from a strategy perspective, we want to try to split the team between Tuesday and Wednesday as much as possible to maximize our output with substitutions. I always prefer to lean heavily on the Tuesday matches within reason, and then replace any bad performances with subs on Wednesday. I believe this is critical as even the greatest players on earth are capable of producing a stinker here and there. You will see that applying this mindset to the forwards in matchday 2 was difficult.
As always, follow the news and updates as late as possible before making your final decision. (We are not allowed more than three players per club. I have tried to reflect that rule here.)
Limitless Chip Tipster Team for Matchday 2
Forwards
Harry Kane
Club: Bayern Munich
Price: €10M
Next match: @CPH (Oct. 3rd)
Easy decision here as Bayern roll into Copenhagen as the biggest favorite of any team this matchday. We’ll be anticipating goals here in open play and maybe a penalty as well. My first choice for captain.
Antoine Griezmann
Club: Atlético de Madrid
Price: €10.5M
Next Match: vs. FEY (Oct. 4th)
Atleti are looking good after defeating Real Madrid. They are one of the few big clubs to be a solid home favorite this week. Griezmann is their main man and gets the nod over Morata due to his set-piece involvement.
Erling Haaland
Club: Manchester City
Price: €11.5M
Next Match: @RBL (Oct. 4th)
Playing away in Leipzig is not enough of a reason to abandon the goal machine. He is the second captain option for me.
Midfielders
Bruno Fernandes
Club: Manchester United
Price: €9.5M
Next Match: vs. GAL (Oct. 3rd)
Fernandes will be hoping to be involved in goals in Manchester as his side hosts Galatasaray in a favorable matchup. The fact that he can take penalties and free kicks also brings optimism here.
Leroy Sane
Club: Bayern Munich
Price: €9M
Next Match: @CPH (Oct. 3rd)
I originally had Jamal Musiala in this position, and he is a totally fair option. However, the midweek injury to Serge Gnabry leaves it even more unlikely that Sane will be subbed off on the wing with Coman likely starting for Gnabry. This news makes Sane more valuable.
Martin Odegaard
Club: Arsenal
Price: €8.5M
Next Match: @LEN (Oct. 3rd)
The Arsenal captain is involved in everything and even took corners again in the last match. It is rare to have an elite captain so involved in free kicks, penalties, and goal creation.
Phil Foden
Club: Manchester City
Price: €8M
Next Match: @RBL (Oct. 4th)
Foden will almost certainly feature in a big way for the Citizens with Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne still out. Anyone can fall victim to a Guardiola rotation, so check the news often.
Luis Alberto
Club: Lazio
Price: €6.5M
Next Match: @CEL (Oct. 4th)
Foden and Alberto are the Wednesday subs. You need to make the call to sub or not based on your best judgment. Luis Alberto is the Martin Odegaard of Lazio. He’ll look to be involved in a number of ways at Celtic Park, including providing service to his forwards for goals and not just his goalkeeper on the last kick of the match.
Defenders
Alfonso Davies
Club: Bayern Munich
Price: €6M
Next Match: @CPH (Oct. 3rd)
This is an ideal XI. We are looking for defenders involved in chance creation with a good chance at a clean sheet. The Copenhagen defenders have likely never seen anyone with the ability on the left side like Davies.
Denzel Dumfries
Club: Inter Milan
Price: €5.5M
Next Match: vs. BEN Oct. 3rd
Our first Inter player comes in defense. They have not lost a match since the Champion’s League final last season. Dumfries is a dangerous threat going forward on the right side at home this week.
Giovanni Di Lorenzo
Club: Napoli
Price: €5.5M
Next Match: vs. RMA Oct. 3rd
This is about more than just his goal versus Braga. He was Rudi Garcia’s captain in the following match versus Bologna and he is always looking to be involved in the attack. He should be reliable even in a tough matchup against Real Madrid at home.
Nahuel Molina
Club: ATM
Price: €6M
Next Match: vs. FEY Oct. 4th
Other Atleti defenders could be argued for in this fixture, but Molina provides the most value going forward in a nice home matchup. A possible injury to Theo Hernandez of AC Milan could leave Molina as a better Wednesday option.
Joao Cancelo
Club: Barcelona
Price: €6M
Next Match: @POR Oct. 4th
His role and skills are simply too much to deny at this point in a less-than-perfect road matchup. Barcelona have nice cleansheet odds and maybe he will reward the faith with an assist also.
Goalkeeper
Andre Onana
Club: Manchester United
Price: €6M
Next Match: vs. GAL (Oct. 3rd)
Injuries and uncertainty in the back four is a reasonable argument to avoid Onana here. A certain error versus Bayern hasn’t helped his cause. Nonetheless, anything other than a win for United at Old Trafford will be a major disappointment for a side already under pressure. Yann Sommer and Sven Ulreich are certainly solid alternatives here depending on how you have used your maximum of three players from each club.
Jan Oblak
Club: Atlético de Madrid
Price: €6M
Next Match: vs. FEY (Oct. 4th)
We have good odds for a clean sheet in this spot at the Wanda Metropolitano. Oblak was 10 seconds from a clean sheet versus Lazio and took down Real Madrid in the build-up to this match. There is always comfort in seeking a clean sheet with Simeone’s Atleti.
UCL Fantasy Fixtures to Target
Tuesday, October 3rd, 2023: Bayern Munich @ Copenhagen, Manchester United vs. Galatasaray, Arsenal @ Lens.
Wednesday, October 4th, 2023: Manchester City @ Red Bull Leipzig, Atletico Madrid vs. Feyenoord, Royal Antwerp vs. Shakhtar Donetsk.
You can find UCL Fantasy resources for the 23/24 season here.
Playing your wildcard in FPL can be tempting when your players don’t have favourable fixtures. But what if you want to navigate tough fixtures without using your wildcard chip? FPL Pitch shares how.
Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers often face the dilemma of how to tackle challenging fixture swings without resorting to playing their precious wildcard. While the wildcard can be a powerful tool, saving it for later in the season or for emergencies is a prudent strategy. Here are some key tips to target fixture swings effectively without hitting that reset button:
1. Plan Transfers Strategically: Before the fixture swing begins, analyze your team’s upcoming opponents. Identify which players have favorable fixtures and which ones don’t. Consider transferring out underperforming or poorly fixture-affected players for those with better matchups.
2. Prioritize Premium Assets: Premium players, like the top-scoring forwards and midfielders, often perform consistently even against tough opponents. Keep faith in your premium assets during difficult fixtures as they can still deliver valuable points.
3. Utilize Bench Players: Your bench players can be valuable differentials during fixture swings. Rotate in budget-friendly players who have favorable matchups. This can free up funds for strengthening your starting lineup.
4. Monitor Player Form: Keep a close eye on player form. A player in great form can outperform their fixtures. Conversely, a player out of form may struggle even against weaker opponents. Be ready to make transfers based on current player form.
5. Consider Formations: Experiment with different formations to adapt to fixture swings. A more defensive setup (e.g., 4-5-1 or 4-4-2) can help you weather tough fixtures, while an aggressive one (e.g., 3-4-3) can maximize points during favorable runs.
6. Don’t Panic: FPL is a long game. Avoid knee-jerk reactions to a few bad gameweeks. Staying patient and sticking to your strategy can yield better results over the course of the season.
7. Use Chips Wisely: Save your chips, such as Bench Boost and Triple Captain, for optimal moments later in the season. These can provide significant point differentials when used strategically.
In conclusion, navigating fixture swings without playing your wildcard in FPL requires careful planning, patience, and a keen eye for player form and matchups. By following these tips, you can make the most of your team even when facing a challenging run of fixtures.
Let us know in the comments below if you plan to use your wildcard to keep up with the coming fixture swings. And let @FPLPitch know on Twitter/X if you think that the above-mentioned tips are useful.
You can find Fantasy Premier League (FPL) resources for the 23/24 season here.
Which are the best players to consider in Bundesliga Fantasy for matchday 5? We take a look in our player rankings for the week.
Forwards
Rank
Name
Team
Opponent
Value
Comments
1
Victor Boniface
B04
vs FCH
13.3M
If he keeps shooting at the same rate, he might outscore the other plays mentioned on this list with just bonus points.
2
Serhou Guirassy
VFB
vs SVD
12.1M
The top goal-scorer in the league for the team that has scored the most goals plays against the team that has conceded the most goals at home. This can only end one way.
3
Harry Kane
FCB
vs BOC
16.1M
Ranking Guirassy over Kane because him and Sane playing 87 minutes against United is worrying and also the fact that they don't seem as lethal as the Bayern under Nagelsmann that beat Bochum 7-0 TWICE.
4
Leroy Sané
FCB
vs BOC
13.7M
Sane looked more dangerous than Kane against United and I just have a hunch that he gets a similar score to Kane at the very least while also netting you a nice 1.5M as he is on sale.
5
Kingsley Coman
FCB
vs BOC
13.1M
Considering that Bayern have scored 19 goals in their four games against Bochum since they were promoted, I think any of their forwards could be good picks.
6
Lois Openda
RBL
@BMG
14.5M
It isn't often that you see a player get Kicker's worse possible rating of six but Borussia had three of them in the last game (Friedrich, Ngoumou, Scally) and might field all of them again while taking Honorat out who was one of their better players against Darmstadt. If so many forwards didn't have a good game at once, Openda could've been ranked a lot higher.
7
Niclas Füllkrug
BVB
vs WOB
14.1M
Fun fact: Dortmund have scored six goals in each of their last two Bundesliga home games against Wolfsburg. I still doubt that I will be getting any of their players.
8
Ermedin Demirović
FCA
vs M05
8.9M
If you haven't considered Demirović before, maybe it is time that you should only if you need a budget forward. He has just nine points less than Kane, is averaging 10 points a game, has a goal and three assists and is also on sale this week.
9
Jonas Wind
WOB
@BVB
11.2M
10
Marvin Ducksch
SVW
vs KOE
10.9M
Midfielders
Rank
Name
Team
Opponent
Value
Comments
1
Jonas Hofmann
B04
vs FCH
16M
Didn't start midweek so he shouldn't be a minutes risk like Wirtz.
2
Xavi Simons
RBL
@BMG
15.2M
3
Florian Wirtz
B04
vs FCH
15.1M
4
Chris Führich
VFB
vs SVD
9.8M
5
Jamal Musiala
FCB
vs BOC
15M
High ceiling but still doesn't seem essential for some reason.
6
Marco Reus
BVB
vs WOB
12.9M
Based on previous trends, Reus seems to almost always do better than Brandt when both of them start.
7
Julian Brandt
BVB
vs WOB
16.2M
Brandt had a hattrick of assists in BVB's 6-0 win against Wolfsburg at home and two assists in the 6-1 win at home before that so those are good signs.
8
Vincenzo Grifo
SCF
@SGE
15.8M
9
Enzo Millot
VFB
vs SVD
8.1M
10
Granit Xhaka
B04
vs FCH
10.9M
Defenders
Rank
Name
Team
Opponent
Value
Comments
1
Jeremie Frimpong
B04
vs FCH
15M
Projected to get 13 points this week, five more than Stenzel in second according to @Bundesliga_BP.
2
Alphonso Davies
FCB
vs BOC
15.8M
Just have a hunch that Davies might be better than Frimpong this week but every stat, odd, expert opinion, etcetera seems to say otherwise so I am ranking him second.
3
Alejandro Grimaldo
B04
vs FCH
10.6M
4
David Raum
RBL
@BMG
12M
Giving him the edge over Henrichs this week as Borussia have conceded the most goals from set-pieces with five goals conceded from just four games.
5
Pascal Stenzel
VFB
vs SVD
4M
WIll either get a big haul of three points. There is no in between.
6
Benjamin Henrichs
RBL
@BMG
12.1M
7
Mitchell Weiser
SVW
vs KOE
10.8M
If you can, I would hold him as he also plays Darmstadt next week.
8
Jérôme Roussillon
FCU
vs TSG
8M
9
Lukas Kübler
SCF
@SGE
5.7M
10
Philipp Mwene
M05
@FCA
5.7M
Yes, Mainz has been bottle of the table worse but Augsburg have been just as bad and although he Mwene has not done anything of note lately, I still prefer him over other budget options (except Stenzel of course)/
Goalkeepers
Rank
Name
Team
Opponent
Value
Comments
1
Sven Ulreich
FCB
vs BOC
4.9M
The focus is all on Leverkusen but I think Bayern are more likely to keep a cleansheet this week.
2
Alexander Nübel
VFB
vs SVD
7.3M
3
Moritz Nicolas
BMG
vs RBL
1.1M
4
Oliver Baumann
TSG
@FCU
8.8M
5
Marcel Schuhen
SVD
@VFB
5.1M
Two points from his first two games and 19 points from the last two.
Value Rankings
Rank
Name
Position
Team
Opponent
Value
Comments
1
Silas Katompa Mvumpa
FWD
VFB
vs SVD
9.4M
Closest thing to Guirassy for those on a budget.
2
Manuel Gulde
DEF
SCF
@SGE
2.5M
3
Karim Onisiwo
FWD
M05
@FCA
10.2M
4
Kevin Müller
GKP
FCH
@B04
5.4M
5
Jan Niklas-Beste
MID
FCH
@B04
7.8M
Beste is the top name on the sale list of Bundesliga Fantasy managers but what if I told you that Leverkusen is the second-worst team when it comes to defending from set-pieces with four goals conceded so far. They have conceded five goals in total so Beste's set-pieces will come in handy.
6
Yannick Gerhardt
MID
WOB
@BVB
7.8M
7
Linton Maina
MID
KOE
@SVW
6.1M
If you are getting a Koln attacker just for them to blank, you might as well get Maina who is on sale.
8
Kevin Mbabu
DEF
FCA
vs M05
5.9M
9
Rocco Reitz
MID
BMG
vs RBL
1.9M
10
Omar Traoré
DEF
FCH
@B04
1M
You can find additional Bundesliga Fantasy resources for the 23/24 season here.
Which are the best players to consider in Bundesliga Fantasy for matchday 4? We take a look in our player rankings for the week.
Forwards
Rank
Name
Team
Opponent
Value
Comments
1
Harry Kane
FCB
vs B04
15.9M
The opinion of the majority and goal-scoring odds indicate that Kane is the best forward this week. I am not entirely sure but I also don't have any counter arguments because Kane is definitely a big game player.
2
Lois Openda
RBL
vs FCA
14.5M
If you want to go differential this week, I think Leipzig forwards could be a good option. Augsburg have the second-worst defence in the league and this could be the game with the most goals even though I expect only the home side to do all the scoring.
3
Victor Boniface
B04
@FCB
13M
The toughest game possible for Boniface but still fully expecting him to spam shots and possibly get a goal. With the form Leverkusen are in, they should be able to get points off Bayern.
4
Serhou Guirassy
VFB
@M05
13M
Reliable and will probably be a must-have next matchday against Darmstadt but I don't think his ceiling is that high away against Mainz.
5
Tomáš Čvančara
BMG
@SVD
12.3M
Won't surprise me a bit if this game ends up being another goal fest like the 4-4 match on MD1 between BMG and FCA.
6
Benjamin Šeško
RBL
vs FCA
10.9M
RB Leipzig might have a Haaland-esque player on their hands with Šeško and I might punt on him if he starts.
7
Leroy Sané
FCB
vs B04
15M
Sané has looked sharp lately so a double up of Bayern forwards is back on the cards again if you have the budget.
8
Marvin Ducksch
SVW
@FCH
10.9M
9
Andrej Kramarić
TSG
@KOE
12.8M
10
Kevin Behrens
FCU
@WOB
9.3M
Bonus
Thomas Müller
FCB
vs B04
13.1M
Not many people will consider Thomas Müller and it makes sense since he is a possible minutes risk if Musiala is fit but I had to mention him because his recent record against Leverkusen is incredible. Three goals and seven assists in his last nine games against them despite mostly playing only around 60 minutes in each match.
Midfielders
Rank
Name
Team
Opponent
Value
Comments
1
Xavi Simons
RBL
vs FCA
14.8M
With Olmo out, he will have even more responsibility in attack and facing the worst team he will play against so far, I think he has another big score in him.
2
Jan-Niklas Beste
FCH
vs SVW
7.4M
There are more managers expecting a Weiser haul than a Beste one but I am not buying it because I can't imagine Heidenheim not fighting for three points in a six-pointer and their first home win in the Bundesliga.
3
Jonas Hofmann
B04
@FCB
16.1M
The "Bayern Killer," how many players can gloat that the best record of their careers is against Bayern Munich? Hofmann almost single-handedly would win games for Borussia against Bayern and the numbers say it all. He has four goals and seven assists against them in just 15 games. With pretty much the best team he has ever played for, I think he can do even better.
4
Julian Brandt
BVB
@SCF
15.9M
5
Chris Führich
VFB
@M05
9.6M
There aren't too many viable options in midfield this week so I am happy to roll with Führich during his purple patch. He has two goals and two assists from four games so far.
6
Kevin Stöger
BOC
vs SGE
8.6M
Bochum is another team that I think has the potential to create an upset at home. The only problem with Stöger is that he plays Bayern and Leipzig in the next four matches.
7
Vincenzo Grifo
SCF
vs BVB
15.4M
8
Florian Wirtz
B04
@FCB
15.1M
9
Franck Honorat
BMG
@SVD
11.2M
Finally predicted to play on the wing instead of wing-back so I prefer him over Ngoumou if you have the budget to spare.
10
Florian Kainz
KOE
vs TSG
11M
Defenders
Rank
Name
Team
Opponent
Value
Comments
1
Benjamin Henrichs
RBL
vs FCA
12M
If you haven't realized yet, Henrichs has been almost as good as Davies and Frimpong despite not being involved in goals as often. With games against Augsburg, Borussia and Bochum before the next set of unlimited transfers, he is a must-have according to me.
2
Alphonso Davies
FCB
vs B04
15.9M
Giving him the slight edge over Frimpong because of the home game.
3
David Raum
RBL
vs FCA
11.6M
Although they are missing Orban, I think Henrichs+Raum could be a good double up at least for this week.
4
Jeremie Frimpong
B04
@FCB
15.1M
5
Mitchell Weiser
SVW
@FCH
9.5M
Not expecting a cleansheet but he could certainly do some damage with bonus points. Also on sale this week.
6
Robin Gosens
FCU
@WOB
11.2M
7
Rasmus Carstensen
KOE
vs TSG
5.1M
According to Bundesliga BP on Twitter, Carstensen surprisingly has the highest predicted points among defenders this week at 9.32. Raum and Henrichs are behind him.
8
Pascal Stenzel
VFB
@M05
4.1M
9
Ramy Bensebaini
BVB
@SCF
13.4M
10
Ko Itakura
BMG
@SVD
7.9M
Goalkeepers
Rank
Name
Team
Opponent
Value
Comments
1
Oliver Baumann
TSG
@KOE
8.7M
Most in-form keeper in the league currently with an average of six shots saved per game.
2
Kevin Müller
FCH
vs SVW
5.2M
3
Janis Blaswich
RBL
vs FCA
5M
4
Moritz Nicolas
BMG
@SVD
1.1M
5
Marcel Schuhen
SVD
vs BMG
4.8M
Will have plenty of shots to save because Borussia are toothless.
Value Rankings
Rank
Name
Position
Team
Opponent
Value
Comments
1
Nathan Ngoumou
MID
BMG
@SVD
6.2M
2
Pavel Kadeřábek
DEF
TSG
@KOE
8.2M
FC Köln have only scored two goals so far.
3
Emil Forsberg
FWD
RBL
vs FCA
9M
4
Enzo Millot
MID
VFB
@M05
8M
5
Omar Marmoush
FWD
SGE
@BOC
10.2M
6
Phillipp Mwene
DEF
M05
@VFB
6M
Could end up with a big score if Mainz pull a surprise when you least expect it as always.
7
Omar Traoré
DEF
FCH
@BVB
1M
Cheapest defender predicted to start this week.
8
Oscar Vilhelmsson
FWD
SVD
vs BMG
1.9M
Cheapest forward predicted to start this week.
9
Niels Nkounkou
DEF
SGE
@BOC
9M
10
Dawid Kownacki
FWD
SVW
@FCH
7.1M
Passed the eye test last matchday but don't even consider him unless you expect Werder Bremen to score at least 2-3 goals.
You can find additional Bundesliga Fantasy resources for the 23/24 season here.
What is the Bundesliga Template team after the first International Break of the season? We take a look in this article.
Forwards
Victor Boniface
🦁 Club: Bayer Leverkusen
💰 Price: €13M
📅 Next four fixtures: FCB (A), FCH (H), M05 (A), KOE (H)
Yes, he plays against Bayern Munich next, but after seeing how Leverkusen have started the season, there is little doubt that they will score away and also possibly get some points off the champions. And if you expect them to score goals then the obvious choice is Boniface. Many managers are already considering him as a fixture-proof asset for the rest of the season with scores of 10, 23 and 25 thanks to four goals and two assists already. You really can’t go wrong with a player averaging seven shots a game so far. Plus, he is also 7th for duels won with 36 despite being a striker.
Harry Kane
🔴 Club: Bayern Munich
💰 Price: €15.9M
📅 Next four fixtures: B04 (H), BOC (H), RBL (A), SCF (H)
After three games, the general consensus is that Harry Kane is as good as we all thought he was. Three goals and an assist to start the season so he has been responsible for 44% of Bayern’s nine goals. That will be a continuing trend and not having him in your team is just asking for a red arrow.
Midfielders
Nathan Ngoumou
🐎 Club: Borussia Mönchengladbach
💰 Price: €6.2M
📅 Next four fixtures: SVD (A), RBL (H), BOC (A), M05 (H)
Ngoumou fills up one of the budget spots in midfield. Besides the first match against Augsburg, he hasn’t been any special and the same can be said for the entire team but it looks like he will be a popular pick again since he plays Darmstadt on MD4 and Bochum on MD6.
Julian Brandt
🐝 Club: Borussia Dortmund
💰 Price: €15.9M
📅 Next four fixtures: SCF (A), WOB (H), TSG (A), FCU (H)
He might only have one goal and one assist so far but after watching Dortmund play, it seems obvious that the attack will revolve a lot around Brandt because he seems to be one of the few BVB players who care and give it their all on the pitch. Team morale is at its lowest in a long time and it looks like Dortmund’s title challenge might already be falling apart. Füllkrug being injured doesn’t help but for now, it seems Brandt will have to do most of the heavy lifting for the team. It isn’t a convincing side but they should still win most of their games with Brandt playing a big part. Still considering him as a placeholder till Musiala is back.
Xavi Simons
🐂 Club: RB Leipzig
💰 Price: €14.8M
📅 Next four fixtures: FCA (H), BMG (A), FCB (H), BOC (H)
Leipzig have one of the best schedules till the next International Break playing Augsburg, Borussia, Bayern and Bochum in their next four. Besides Bayern, they are playing the joint second-worst defences (Augsburg, Borussia) and fourth-worst defence (Bochum). Olmo could’ve been the template pick here but since he is injured, Simons will be the most popular choice since he is nailed in the starting XI now. He isn’t half bad either with two goals and three assists in just his last two games for 22 and 20 points.
Chris Führich
🐊 Club: VfB Stuttgart
💰 Price: €9.6M
📅 Next four fixtures: M05 (A), SVD (H), KOE (A), WOB (H)
Stuttgart is another team that has been highly impressive. Their team is far from the best, and some would say worse than last season, but besides a 5-1 thrashing by Leipzig, they have won both of their games against Freiburg and Bochum 5-0 and sit in third place currently. Guirassy is the obvious option from Stuttgart’s attack as he is the top goal-scorer right now with five goals, but he isn’t necessarily template, and if you have a midfield spot to spare, Führich might be a great bargain at 9.6M. He already has two goals and two assists from three games and 18 points in each of Stuttgart’s wins, so it makes you wonder if this could finally be his breakout season. Führich has the form and the confidence, and games against Mainz and Darmstadt after the break should certainly help if he wants to keep his good streak running.
Defenders
Alphonso Davies
🔴 Club: Bayern Munich
💰 Price: €15.9M
📅 Next four fixtures: B04 (H), BOC (H), RBL (A), SCF (H)
Davies surprisingly only had 39% ownership at the start of the IB despite having almost the same number of assists (3) as he had last season (4) in just three matches. He is the highest-scoring player in the game (55) after Boniface (58) and has been more dominant than Coman on the same wing while attacking. Mazraoui is much cheaper but I am also almost certain that Davies will outscore him by a lot so he is a must-have for me alongside Kane from Bayern.
Benjamin Henrichs
🐂 Club: RB Leipzig
💰 Price: €12M
📅 Next four fixtures: FCA (H), BMG (A), FCB (H), BOC (H)
Henrichs is one of those players that went under the radar at the start but I am sure will be very popular after the first wildcard. He has double-digit scores in each of his first three games and has games against Augsburg, Borussia, Bayern and Bochum next so there is a very good chance that he will keep three cleansheets before the next International Break. Although rotation is possible thanks to the UCL games.
Jeremie Frimpong
🦁 Club: Bayer Leverkusen
💰 Price: €15.1M
📅 Next four fixtures: FCB (A), FCH (H), M05 (A), KOE (H)
Frimpong is another one of those options where it is just better to pay up and stick to the proven player instead of going for budget alternatives. Grimaldo is good and doubling up on both Leverkusen full-backs is even better but alone he can’t compete with Frimpong who has a goal and three assists and is also third for total points after Boniface and Davies with 51. Probably the most fixture-proof defender in the league.
Pascal Stenzel
🐊 Club: VfB Stuttgart
💰 Price: €4.1M
📅 Next four fixtures: M05 (A), SVD (H), KOE (A), WOB (H)
With Omar Traoré not being fully nailed, I expect Stenzel to be a popular budget option in defence. He won’t get 25-pointers very often but for 4.1M he is a fine pick from one of the in-form teams in the league.
Goalkeeper
Moritz Nicolas
🐎 Club: Borussia Mönchengladbach
💰 Price: €1.1M
📅 Next four fixtures: SVD (A), RBL (H), BOC (A), M05 (H)
It is not often that you see a nailed keeper costing 1.1M in Bundesliga Fantasy so Nicolas is without any doubt a must-have in any team. With Omlin being out for a long time, it is his spot to lose and you won’t have to worry about him being replaced immediately unlike Blaswich and Ulreich.
Fantasy Bundesliga Template Team
Bench
Loïs Openda
🐂 Club: RB Leipzig
💰 Price: €14.5M
📅 Next four fixtures: FCA (H), BMG (A), FCB (H), BOC (H)
If you want to take advantage of Leipzig’s fixtures post-IB, Openda is a good third-choice forward to have. Šeško has been shining for NT and even scored two goals in the last match against Union Berlin but is more risky since he still isn’t nailed.
Possible alternatives: Serhou Guirassy, Jonas Wind, Tomáš Čvančara and Andrej Kramarić.
Jan-Niklas Beste
🐻 Club: FC Heidenheim
💰 Price: €7.4M
📅 Next four fixtures: SVW (H), B04 (A), FCU (H), SGE (A)
Originally this spot was for Jeong but it seems like he won’t start this week because of NT commitments so the second-best option is Beste. He showed a small glimpse of what he could do against Hoffenheim with a goal, assist and penalty missed for 18 points and he seems like the best option from Heidenheim going forward, especially in home games.
Possible alternatives: Jonas Hofmann, Vincenzo Grifo, Enzo Millot.
Omar Traoré
🐻 Club: FC Heidenheim
💰 Price: €1M
📅 Next four fixtures: SVW (H), B04 (A), FCU (H), SGE (A)
If you want to fit in all the premium outfield players in your team, you will need budget enablers like Traoré.
Possible alternatives: Alex Grimaldo, Mitchell Weiser, Robin Gosens.
Kevin Müller
🐻 Club: FC Heidenheim
💰 Price: €5.2M
📅 Next four fixtures: SVW (H), B04 (A), FCU (H), SGE (A)
The highest-scoring sub-6M goalkeeper so far.
Possible alternatives: Marcel Schuhen, Alexander Nübel and Frederik Rønnow.
Fantasy Bundesliga Template Team Bench
You can find additional Bundesliga Fantasy resources for the 23/24 season here.
New to Efbet Liga Fantasy? Worry not, Bulgarian Fantasy expert Nikolay shares his tips, tricks and more in his beginner’s guide.
Everything you need to know about the Bulgarian Efbetliga and the fantasy game.
In the article, you will read about the following things:
A brief history of the league
Description of the teams in the league
Тhe rules of the fantasy game
A special league just for our readers
How to create an account
My top eleven for DGW 9
Efbet Liga Introduction
Football Championship of Bulgaria has been played since 1924 with direct eliminations and since 1948 in the form of a league. In the autumn of 1948, the first championship of “A” RFG was launched. 10 clubs take part in it: the capital Levski, Septemvri at CDV, Lokomotiv, Slavia and Spartak, Botev (Varna), Slavia (Plovdiv), Marek (Stanke Dimitrov), Benkovski (Vidin) and Lubislav (Burgas). The first champion of “A” RFG was Levski in the 1948/49 season.
The championship goes through many different variants of the number of teams and the format of holding to get to 2016. On 7 June 2016, the name of the championship was changed to the First Professional Football League, or the First League for short, following the approval of new club licensing criteria.
At the moment, the championship continues to be held in the same format of the top six, the middle four who play a play-off for European tournaments and the last six who fight for survival in the league.
Efbet Liga Teams
FC Arda (Kardjali)
Stadium capacity: 15250
Successes: Finalist for the national cup 2019/2020
Founded on August 10, 1924. The colors of the club are sky blue and white. In the 2019/20 season, the club played for the first time in their history in the First Professional Football League.
At the moment, Arda is in tenth place in the ranking and they are showing a very good game. They are a financially stable team and rely a lot on home matches. Some of the key players for the team are: Oumar Sako (DEF, 5.6M), Anatoli Gospodinov (GK, 5.5M), Stanislav Ivanov (MID, 8.1M), and Preslav Borukov (FWD, 8.5M.
Beroe (Stara Zagora)
Stadium capacity: 12128
Successes: Champions 1986, winners National Cup 2010, 2013, Super Cup Bulgaria 2013 and Balkan Cup 1968, 1969, 1983, 1984
Founded on May 6, 1916, the team is a regular participant in the championship of Bulgaria and one of the traditional teams. The team’s color is green.
In the current season, Beroe started the championship very strongly and is in fourth place in the standings. The new owners from Argentina have the ambition to develop young players and succeed in qualifying the team for the European tournaments. Key players for the team are: Rodrìgo Accinelli (GK 4,7M), Luciano Squadrone (DEF, 4.6M), Vinni Triboulet (FWD, 7.2M), and Mike Cevallos (FWD, 6.0M).
PFC Botev (Vratsa)
Stadium capacity: 25000
Successes: 3rd place in the 1971 Championship
PFK Botev is a Bulgarian football team from Vratsa that competes in the First Professional Football League. It plays its home matches at the “Hristo Botev” stadium, which has a capacity of 25,000 seats.
From 1964 to 1990, “Botev” recorded 26 consecutive seasons in the “A” group. The club achieved its greatest success in the 1970/71 season when it finished in 3rd place and won the bronze medals.
The team was founded in 1921 and plays in the colors green and the visiting team in red. The team has recorded two wins so far in the championship but is experiencing great difficulties in scoring goals. They will probably be involved in the struggle for survival.
Key players for the team are: Momchil Cvetanov (MID, 6.5M), Federico Barios (GK, 4.5M), and Stefan Velev (MID, 5.5M).
PFC BOTEV (Plovdiv)
Stadium capacity: 18777
Successes: Champions 1929, 1967, winners National Cup 1962, 1981, 2017, Super Cup Bulgaria 2017, Balkan Cup 1972
“Botev” is a professional football club from Bulgaria. It was founded in 1912 and participates in the First Professional Bulgarian League, which makes it the oldest existing football institution in Bulgaria. The club is a two-time champion of Bulgaria in the seasons 1929 and 1966/67, a three-time winner of the Bulgarian Cup in 1961/62, 1980/81 and 2016/17, as well as a winner of the Bulgarian Super Cup in 2017.
The patron of the club is the great revolutionary and poet Hristo Botev.
The team’s colors are yellow and black and they play their home games in the most modern and new stadium in the country. They started the season very badly, but in the last two games they recorded victories and it seems that they are starting to stabilize under the new coach Dusan Kerkez.
Key players for the team are: Ivelin Popov (MID, 8.4M), Martin Seculic (FWD, 6.6M), and Samuel Akare (MID, 6.5M).
FC Eter (Veliko Tarnovo)
Stadium capacity: 18000
Successes: Champions 1991, winners national cup 1991, PFL Cup 1996
Founded on April 24, 1924. Participant in the First Professional Football (Efbet) League. It plays its matches at the “Ivaylo” stadium in Veliko Tarnovo. The club colors are violet and white.
In the current season, the team is playing quite poorly and they have one win. They will definitely participate in the battle for survival in the league.
Key players for the team are: Kolio Stanev (DEF, 4.5M).
FC “Krumovgrad”
Stadium capacity: 3500
FC Krumovgrad is a football club from the city of Krumovgrad, Bulgaria. It was founded in 1925. It plays its matches at the Komatevo Stadium with a capacity of 3,500 seats. The club colors are blue and yellow. On May 26, 2023, Krumovgrad for the first time in its history secured a ranking in the First League.
In this season, the team is playing very well and it is a pleasant surprise with a very good game. They recorded four wins from the first eight games and even in their debut they beat the current champion Ludogorrets.
Key players for the team are: Ianko Georgiev (GK, 4.1M), Bojidar Kacarov (MID, 5.0M), Alex Kolev (FWD, 6.6M), and Serkan Usein (MID, 5.5M).
PFC “Levski” (Sofia)
Stadium capacity: 18600
Successes: Champions 26 times (last 2009), winners of national cup 26 times (last 2022), Super Cup 2005, 2007, 2009
“Levski” Sofia is a Bulgarian professional football team from Sofia, founded on May 24, 1914. “Levski” is the champion of Bulgaria 26 times, with 26 National Cups won (a national record) and with a total of 74 trophies won, the team is the record holder for this country indicator. In European club tournaments, “Levski” reached the quarter-finals of the Cup of National Cups three times in the seasons 1969/1970, 1976/1977, 1986/1987 and twice in the tournament of the UEFA Cup – 1975/1976, 2005/2006. “Levski” is the first Bulgarian team to participate in the groups of the European Champions League – in the 2006/2007 season.
At the moment, Levski is in 8th place in the table, but with a few games less, which he postponed due to commitments in European tournaments. The team plays with a lot of spirit and has quite good Brazilians in attack. Their players are key for fantasy teams.
Key players for the team are: Ronaldo (MID, 8.9M), Ricardinho (FWD, 11.6M), and Cordoba (DEF, 6.0M).
PFC Lokomotiv (Plovdiv)
Stadium capacity: 14500
Successes: Champions 2004, winners national cup 2019, 2020, Super Cup 2004, 2020
Lokomotiv Plovdiv is a Bulgarian professional football team from Plovdiv. The club’s colors are black, white and red. Since September 6, 1982,
PFC Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) has played its home matches at the Lokomotiv Stadium with a capacity of 14,500 seats.
In recent years, Lokomotiv has been one of the most consistent teams. In the current championship, they occupy first place after 8 rounds with only one draw and seven wins.
Key players for the team are: Giovanny (MID, 8.2M), and Babakar Dione (MID, 7.1M).
FC Lokomotiv (Sofia)
Stadium capacity: 22000
Successes: Champions four times (last 1978), winners of national cup four times (last 1995), Balkan Cup 1973
FC Lokomotiv is a football club from Sofia, Bulgaria. It was founded in 1929. It participates in the First Professional Football League.
It plays its home matches at the Lokomotiv Stadium in the capital’s Svoboda district, which has a capacity of 22,000 seats. The club colors are red and black.
In its history, Lokomotiv (Sofia) has four championship titles of Bulgaria in 1940, 1945, 1963/64 and 1977/78. He was also the winner of the national cup four times – 1948, 1953, 1981/82 and 1994/95. In 1973, Lokomotiv won the Balkan Club Cup, and in 1961 and 1963, it was the European railway champion.
They started the current season with high expectations for a good performance, but they are not justified so far and recorded some crushing losses and in their last two matches they lost to the two teams that come from the second division. They will probably be involved in the struggle for survival.
Key players for the team are: Krasimir Stanoev (MID, 6.6M), Carlos Franca (MID, 7.6M), and Dimitar Mitkow (FWD, 6.9M).
PFC Ludogorets 1945
Stadium capacity: 22000
Successes: Champions 12 times (last 2023), winners of national cup three times (last 2023), Super Cup six times (last 2022)
PFC “Ludogorets” 1945 is a Bulgarian professional football club from Razgrad, current champion of the First Professional Football League. Over the years since its establishment in 1945, it has gone under different names: Ludogorets 2003, Antibiotic – Ludogorets, Ludogorie, Razgrad 2000, before regaining its old traditional name in 2010 as the successor and legal successor of the club founded in 1945 – Ludogorets 1945 (Razgrad). The team has played in different kits over the years, today its team colors are green and white.
The club subsequently achieved considerable European success in the 2013/14 Europa League season, reaching the round of 16 in only their second European appearance. To date, they have reached the knockout stages of the Europa League four times. Ludogorets are also the second Bulgarian team after Levski to enter the group stage of the Champions League, a feat they achieved in the following season 2014/15. During the same campaign, they became the first Bulgarian team to earn points in the Champions League group stage after a 1-0 win over Basel in Sofia.
After entering Group A in 2011, Ludogorets established itself as a dominant force in Bulgarian football, winning 12 titles in a row, and becoming the only Bulgarian team to do so. They are a three-time winner of the Bulgarian Cup, as well as a six-time winner of the Bulgarian Super Cup, which is a record.
At the moment, Ludogorets has been an absolute hegemon in the championship for over a decade. The current season for them started off a bit rough and they recorded two losses which is unexpected but not unheard of in their previous starts to seasons. They occupy the 5th place in the standings but with two fewer games played than the leaders Loko Plovdiv.
Key players for the team are: Aslak Fonn Witry (DEF, 6.2M), and Bernard Tekpetey (MID, 10.5M).
OFK “Pirin” (Blagoevgrad)
Stadium capacity: 7000
Successes: 5th place finish in the Championship, winners national cup and four times finalist (last 2009)
“Pirin” is a football club from Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria. He plays his matches at the “Hristo Botev” stadium in Blagoevgrad.
It has been a long-term participant in Bulgarian professional football, a “cradle” for football talents, and many famous football players have graduated from the school. The team competes in the First Professional League.
The executive director of the club is the former elite referee Tasko Taskov.
The current season for Pirin has not been good at all and they sit bottom of the table with no wins and only one goal scored (ironically it was the goal in the opening round of the season opener)
Key players for the team are: Maxim Kovalov (GK, 4.5M).
PFC Slavia (Sofia)
Stadium capacity: 25556
Successes: Champions seven times (last 1996), winners of national cup eight times (last 2018), Super Cup Bulgaria Final 2018, Balkan Cup 1986, 1988, Intertoto Cup 1977
Slavia is a Bulgarian football team from Sofia that competes in the First Professional Football League. It plays its home matches at the Alexander Shalamanov Stadium, which has 25,556 seats. The club colors are white and black.
Slavia is a 7-time champion of Bulgaria and an 8-time winner of the Bulgarian Cup. His best achievement in European club competition was a semi-final in the Cup Winners’ Cup in the 1966/67 season. In the ranking of the best European teams for the 20th century by the International Federation for Football History and Statistics, Slavia occupies 150th place.
Slavia’s season is not very good and with only one win since the start, they are in the bottom half of the standings and probably in the fight for survival.
Key players for the team are: Galin Ivanov (MID, 7.6M).
FC “Heber” (Pazardzhik)
Stadium capacity:13128
FC “Hebar” is a Bulgarian football club from the city of Pazardzhik, a participant in the First Professional Football League.
It was established on May 31, 1959, after the merger of “Benkovski” and “Levski”. It is considered a continuation of the “Botev” team created on May 31, 1918. It plays its matches at the Georgi Benkovski Stadium (13,128 seats).
“Heber” has five appearances in the “A” group (1989/90 – 14th place, 1991/92 – 16th place, 2000/01 – 9th place and 2022/23 – 13th place). The team was a quarter-finalist for the Bulgarian Cup in 1974, 1989 and 2005. Two-time semi-finalist in the state championship in 1926 – 3rd place and 1935 – 4th place (as “Botev”). The club has 34 seasons in the “B” group.
Their season started very well and before the last home game, they had not conceded a goal at home. They rely a lot on defense and in their matches few goals are conceded.
FC CSCA 1948 (Sofia)
Stadium capacity: 2500
FC Central Sports Club of the Army 1948 (Sofia) is a football club from Sofia, Bulgaria. It plays its matches at the “Bistrica” stadium, participating in the First Professional Football League from the 2020/21 season. The team colors are red and white. FC CSKA 1948 was founded on July 19, 2016, at a founding meeting held at the Central Military Club in Sofia.
CSKA 1948 has managed to play at a very good level since they qualified for the Efbet League. Each following season, they upgrade their performance with quite a few players. Financially, they are stable and in terms of play, they are not inferior to the leading teams.
Key players for the team are: Pedrinho (MID 8.1M), Heliton (DEF, 6.0M), and Ivaylo Chochev (MID, 10.3M).
PFC CSKA (Sofia)
Stadium capacity: 22995
Successes: Champions 31 times (last 2008), winners of national cup 21 times (last 2021), Super Cup Bulgaria four times (last 2011)
Since its establishment on May 5, 1948, CSKA has participated in all of Bulgaria’s elite championships, with the exception of the 2015/16 season, when it competed in the “B” group.
With two semi-finals in the European Champions Cup tournament and 1 in the National Cup Winners’ Cup, CSKA is also the most successful Bulgarian team in European club tournaments, occupying 60th place, ahead of all Bulgarian representatives, in the ranking of the most – the best European teams for the 20th century of the International Federation of Football History and Statistics. He also earned the nickname “killer of European champions” because of the relegation of three European champions – AFC Ajax in 1974, Nottingham Forest FC in 1981 and Liverpool FC in 1982.
The biggest competitor of Ludogorets in the last few years. Last season they lost a shot at the title at the very end with a missed penalty deep in extra time, but this year they are back with new aspirations.
Key players for the team are: Tobias Heinz (MID, 10.6M), Gustavo Bussato (GK, 7.0M), and Dukens Nazon (FWD, 11.8M).
PFC “Cherno More” (Varna)
Stadium capacity: 8250
Successes: 3rd place finish in the Championship, winners of national cup 2015, Super Cup Bulgaria 2015
Cherno More FC is a Bulgarian football team from Varna, participating in the First Professional Football League. Winner of the Bulgarian Cup in 2015, as well as a two-time finalist in the same tournament in 2006 and 2008. Bronze medalist in “A” group in 1953 and 2009. In 2015, he also won the Bulgarian Super Cup.
It plays its home matches at Ticha Stadium, which has a capacity of 8,250 seats.
In the current season, they are in second place without a loss from eight matches in which they met CSKA Sofia and Ludogorets, who are the leading teams in recent years.
Key players for the team are: Atanas Iliev (FWD, 8.1M) and Jivko Atanasov (DEF, 5.6M).
Efbet Liga Fantasy Rules
Team size
Your 15-man team must consist of:
2 goalkeepers
5 defenders
5 midfielders
3 forwards
Efbet Liga Fantasy Budget
You start the game with 100M in virtual funds.
Team Structure
You can choose up to three players from each team from the First Professional League. If after the transfer window, you happen to end up with four players from the same team, you will be forced to pass one of them out while making transfers.
Fixtures
B FFStars Bulgaria includes the regular 30 rounds from the championship in the 2023/2024 season plus the matches from the first six, the second four and six for relegation when the teams are split after round 30. The relegation play-offs and the playoffs to enter the tournaments of UEFA are not included.
Starting 11
From your squad of 15 players, you have to choose 11 starters to start the round. All your points for the round will be saved scored/accumulated by these 11 players, but if one or more do not play, they can be automatically substituted. Your team can play in any formation, provided that at any given time it includes: 1 goalkeeper, at least 3 defenders, 2 midfielders and 1 forward.
Possible formations:
4-4-2
5-3-2
3-5-2
4-3-3
3-4-3
4-5-1
5-4-1
5-2-3
Captain and Vice-Captain
You have to choose from the starting 11 a captain and a vice-captain. The points of your captain will be doubled. If your Captain does not play in the round, he will be replaced by the Vice-Captain. And if the Vice-Captain did not play in the ongoing round, then none of your players will get double points.
Automatic Sub Rules
Your subs give you security in the event of unforeseen events such as injuries. Your replacements automatically replace starting players who are not playing in the round. Depending on the reserve order you set before the round, automatic substitutions are processed at the end of the round as follows:
If your Goalkeeper does not play in the round, he will be replaced by the backup goalkeeper.
If both Goalkeepers do not play in the circle, you will not get points.
If any of the outfield players do not play in the XI, he will be replaced by the first possible substitute in any position/outfield player as long as the rule of having a minimum of three defenders, two midfielders and one forward is respected.
Transfers
After choosing your team, you can buy and sell players on the transfer market. Atthe end of each round, you will get one free transfer for the upcoming round. Any additional transfer that will be done within the same Round will deduct four points from your overall score.
If you don’t use the free transfer, you can make an additional free transfer in the next round. If you don’t use this saved free transfer, it will be carried over until you do. You can never have more than one reserved transfer (maximum of two free transfers per round).
Efbet Liga Fantasy Scoring System
During the season, your players will receive points based on their performance in their teams’ real matches in the First Professional League as follows:
Event
Points
Played 60 minutes or more
2
Goal scored by goalkeeper
10
Goal scored by defender
6
Goal scored by midfielder
5
Goal scored by forward
4
Every assist
3
Goalkeeper cleansheet (min 60 minutes)
4
Defender cleansheet (min 60 minutes)
4
Midfielder cleansheet (min 60 minutes)
1
Every three saves by goalkeeper
1
Penalty save
5
Penalty conceded
-2
Every two goals conceded by goalkeeper and defender
-1
Yellow card
-1
Red card
-3
Own goal
-2
Bonus System
Players get some extra points depending on their performance. The three players with the best total score based on the bonus system receive three points, two points or one point respectively to their total points scored in the match.
Efbet Liga Fantasy Chips
Bonuses can be used to improve your team’s performance during the season. Only one bonus can be played in one round. Available bonuses are as follows:
Wildcard
Wildcard gives you the opportunity to make an unlimited number of transfers to your squad. Once you activate the Wildcard, you are entitled to use it in the transfer window period before the round begins and after the round begins the Wildcard will be exhausted. Unlimited free transfers (Wildcards) can be used twice during the season:
1) Before winter break in the championship, including the final round of the autumn half-season (Wildcard 1 can be used in the winter break of the championship).
2) Afterthe winter break of the championship, Wildcard 1 can be played during the pause. Wildcard 2 activates for all participants after the start of the first round of the spring half-season. If Wildcard 1 is not played before the first round of the spring half-season begins, it is automatically forfeited.
Triple Captain
The captain’s points are tripled (instead of doubled) for the gameweek.
Bench Boost
All players’ points are taken from your team, including reserves, in the round for which the bonus was selected.
Double Vice-Captain
The points of the vice-captain are doubled as same as that of the captain in the round for which the bonus was selected.
Note: The deadline is one hour before the start of the first match of the round and player prices change every five rounds.
Efbet Liga Fantasy League
You can join a League created especially for our readers and play together. The code for the league is: N8WUUFE7GK
How to Create an Account
Efbet Liga Fantasy Tipster XI
My starting lineup for the upcoming round, maybe I’ll make a transfer but I’ll wait for the latest news before taking action.
I bet on Captain of Levski who has a double round. Also three players from the leaders Lokomotiv Plovdiv as well as a double defense from Heber in a good home game.
Welcome to our new league to play together and expect more information soon. Follow me on Twitter to always get up-to-date and the latest information
You can find additional Efbet Liga Fantasy resources for the 23/24 season here.
