Dec 14

Semi Final Tips � Fantasy Champions League Tips

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The 'Champions' League not just by name but also by nature as the Champions of Italy and Germany face the last seasons Champions League winners and one of the soon-to-be Champions of Spain. Bayern Munich and Juventus have already secured the Bundesliga and Serie A titles respectively this year, whilst Barcelona sit two points clear of Real Madrid with three games left to play in La Liga. Real Madrid meet Juventus in the semi-finals again for the first time since 2003 where goals from Trezeguet (2), Del Piero and Nedvěd were enough to take the Bianconeri through 4-3 on aggregate. Iker Casillas and Gigi Buffon are the only players from both clubs who took part in the 2003 semi-final and still remain in the squads to this date. Bayern Munich make their forth straight semi-final appearance against Spanish giants Barcelona. The two sides meet for the third time at this stage, the previous two saw the German side progress and go on to lift the title. This will be the first time that Pep Guardiola has faced Barcelona as an opposition manager after successful four years with the Spanish club. Due to lack of teams to choose from, this week we've taken a pick of one goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and striker from each fixture. We hope our Fantasy Champions League tips prove clinical to your teams at this stage in the competition. [mks_separator style="dashed" height="2"]

JUVENTUS VS REAL MADRID

[mks_separator style="dashed" height="2"] [mks_col] [mks_one_half] Goalkeeper - Gianluigi Buffon Having already lifted the Serie A title, Gianluigi Buffon and the Old Lady enter this fixture full of confidence and with their attention focused solely on the Champions League. Juventus have kept five clean sheets in their last six Champions League fixtures and will no doubt look to enforce their infamous anti-football approach this home tie, depriving their visitors of free flowing football. Carlo Ancelotti has only managed to outwit the Italians in five of his 23 previous meetings and with just one loss in their last 54 competitive home games, they'll look to make the home tie count. [/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half] Defender - Daniel Carvajal Taking the Champions League form of Juventus and raising it are a Real Madrid side that have kept the ball out of the net in seven of their last eight fixtures in the competition. Carvajal provides a cheap way in the Madrid back four and also packs a punch bombing up that right flank, picking up four assists in all competitions this season. Although the away trip looks like a stern test of the current Champions, we think the full back has a good chance of a clean sheet and an assist across both legs. [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] [mks_col] [mks_one_half] Midfielder - Gareth Bale Back in the frame after his calf injury that kept him side lined for just under a month, Gareth Bale is one to watch, as the Welsh Wizard will look to shatter Buffon's clean sheet record. The former Spurs winger has the tendency to show up in the biggest of matches and picked up the ‘winning goal' in last season's final against rivals Atletico Madrid. Bale has tallied up three goals and three assists in his last six for Madrid and will try use his trickery and speed to unlock the Italians defence and grab Madrid another important goal. [/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half] Striker - Carlos Tevez If Juventus are to make any inroads and get to their first Champions League final in 12 years, then Carlos Tevez will more than likely play a decisive part in getting them there. The striker has scored seven goals in his last eight starts for the Old Lady and is primed to be on the score sheet against the current Champions League holders Real Madrid. As Spanish football goes, it's often about how many you score rather than how many you concede and although Madrid have outscored their last opponents, they've conceded four in their last two on the road. [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] [mks_separator style="dashed" height="2"]

BARCELONA VS BAYERN

[mks_separator style="dashed" height="2"] [mks_col] [mks_one_half] Goalkeeper - Manuel Neuer Despite Barcelona's excellent run of form that has seen them net 14 goals in just two games, we have reason to believe that backing Manuel Neuer could still prove a good decision. Bayern have won their last three matches in all competitions against Barcelona and on all occasions the German number one managed to keep a clean sheet. However, proceed with caution as the keeper will be coming up against one of the worlds most feared front three in two fixtures that will either make Neuer the hero or something far from it. [/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half] Defender - Dani Alves Barcelona have not conceded in their past five matches and their defence is looking on top form, whether it's solid enough to hold out the German's though we're not convinced. If like us you don't think this fixture will remain goalless, then the next best thing you can do defensively is choose a ‘premium' defender who poses strong attacking potential. Dani Alves picked up two assists in Barcelona's league win over Córdoba during the weekend making it three in his last four and his runs down the right and link up play with Messi are making him hard to ignore. [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] [mks_col] [mks_one_half] Midfielder - Thomas Müller Rested against Bayer Leverkusen over the weekend with the Bundesliga in the bag, Müller should be refreshed and ready for their tough fixtures against Barcelona. Bayern have great history against Barcelona including their last knockout affair where they overwhelmed them and Müller was a star performer scoring three in two matches. After his goal against Porto, Müller became the highest all time German goal scorer in the Champions League. With a goal and two assists in his last match his form in this competition makes him a very viable option. [/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half] Striker - Luis Suárez Tipped in the last Champions League article because of his form and two goals against PSG in the previous leg, Luis Suárez is on our radar again as his form has not curtailed. After finding impeccable form over the last month, the Uruguayan has been tipped as the closest contender to the elite two of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. A superb hat-trick in Barcelona's win over Córdoba keeps him in our thoughts. With 10 goals and four assists in his last eight games it makes him a genuine prospect ahead of Barcelona's clash with the Bavarians. [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col]