Fantasy UEFA Champions League Round of 16 continues on February 17th as Gent host Zenit and Real Madrid make the trip to the Stadio Olimipico to take on Roma.
The small slate means less variance amongst daily fantasy teams, which subsequently increases the importance of calling the clean sheets, goalscorers and differentials.
Just as well @NaturalFootyFan is on hand to provide tips ahead of the Mondogoal and FantasyBet contests.
As usual, we've taken a look at what the bookies are predicting to give a rough indication of what's expected from these fixtures. The table below displays the bookies odds converted into an implied chance percentage:
Real Madrid are one of two clubs who are still unbeaten in the Champions League, the other being their arch rivals Barcelona. They have secured 12 clean sheets in their last 16 matches in the tournament, and have scored in every away encounter versus the Italian side. For these reasons and the fact they racked up a goal difference of +16 during the group stages - Real Madrid are the bookies favourites on all fronts.
Tapping into their clean sheet potential is an expensive proposal and the only affordable starter on show seems to be Raphael Varane. Ideally you would select one of Real's attacking full-backs (Danilo/Marcelo), however, if you want to include the likes of Ronaldo and Benzema in your team this just isn't a viable option. Varane is expected to partner Sergio Ramos, who recently recovered from injury, in the heart of defence.
The table highlights that the match-up between Gent and Wolfsburg doesn't have a clear cut favourite, so the opportunity to pick out differentials is rife. Although the German side edge it in terms of a predicted clean sheet, we feel there is a high possibility that Gent will upset the odds. They have won their last three Champions League games, all by a one goal margin, and are a very confident unit on home soil. In contrast Wolfsburg have a terrible away record, in all competitions this season (W2 D3 L8) - conceding nine goals in their last three matches on the road.
Delving into the Gent backline, goalkeeper Matz Sels and centre-half Lasse Nielsen are our recommendations. Sels, despite banking just a single clean sheet in six group stage matches, has an average of 6.47pts on Mondogoal thanks to the three single goal wins we mentioned. The latter is a reliable performer who has averaged 8.7pts in his last two Champions League home matches.
Raphael Varane: Mondogoal (£8.0m), FantasyBet (£6.0m)
Matz Sels: Mondogoal (£7.3m), FantasyBet (£4.5m)
Lasse Nielsen: Mondogoal (£6.7m), FantasyBet (£4.5m)
It was inevitable that Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema would top this chart after smashing in 40 goals between them in all competitions this season. In the Champions League Ronaldo has averaged 1.83 goals per game, with Benzema not far behind with 1.33 goals per game despite only starting just three of Real's six group matches. It would be dangerous to fade either of them, so if you don't intend on hiding behind the sofa for 90 minutes, then you need to find a way to include the pair.
Julian Draxler has been in terrific form lately scoring two of Wolfsburg's last three goals. He has always been a flair player, capable of sparking a game into life at any moment - averaging 4 dribbles per game in the 2015/16 Bundesliga campaign. Although the Germany International has the number 10 on his shirt, he has only recently taken up this position, but seems to be flourishing in the role. Gent will be a difficult side to break down, but nevertheless, Draxler could hold the key to unlocking their defence.
Gent's Danijel Milicevic has been directly involved in 50% of his team's Champions League goals this season, scoring three times and delivering one assist. If Gent are to push Wolfsburg's weaknesses away from home to the max, then the playmaker will be the man pushing the buttons. The Swiss midfielder suits Mondogoal's scoring system perfectly, averaging 1.7 shots and 2.5 key passes per game in the Champions League group stages. For FantasyBet, Millicevic offers unrivalled quality in his price bracket.
Cristiano Ronaldo: Mondogoal (£19.8m), FantasyBet (£16.0m)
Karim Benzema: Mondogoal (£17.9m), FantasyBet (£12.5m)
Julian Draxler: Mondogoal (£7.9m), FantasyBet (£9.5m)
Danijel Millicevic: Mondogoal (£8.5m), FantasyBet (£6.0m)
| Team | To Win | 2+ Goals | Clean Sheet |
| Real Madrid | 55.56% | 61.73% | 34.72% |
| Roma | 22.22% | 34.72% | 16.67% |
| Gent | 35.71% | 40.00% | 28.57% |
| Wolfsburg | 40.00% | 44.44% | 30.30% |
| Player | Mins | Goals | Assists |
| Ronaldo | 540 | 11 | 3 |
| Benzema | 267 | 4 | 0 |
| Dzeko | 365 | 2 | 1 |
| Pjanic | 435 | 2 | 1 |
| Depoitre | 540 | 1 | 0 |
| Millicevic | 514 | 3 | 1 |
| Kruse | 441 | 1 | 1 |
| Draxler | 366 | 1 | 1 |
| Contest | Entry | Prize Pool |
| Mondogoal - Wed 3k GPP | £10 | £3,000 |
| FantasyBet - Tues/Wed GTD | £5.50 | £100 |
