With all still to play for in the group stage, there are plenty of contenders for the captain’s armband on matchday five; UEFA.com picks out six of the leading candidates.
TUESDAY
Cristiano Ronaldo (€11.9m) vs Valencia (H)
After a nightmare UEFA Champions League start for Ronaldo at his new club, the all-time top-scorer in the competition got his account up and running with a stunning volley against former employers Manchester United on matchday four. The Portuguese superstar is now scoring regularly in domestic action and on Tuesday evening will look to make up for his matchday one misdemeanour in the reverse fixture against Valencia.
Edin Džeko (€10.1m) vs Real Madrid (H)
In a crunch match which could decide who tops Group G, Roma will once again look to their talisman Džeko for inspiration. Hardly surprising given the Bosnian’s form in the competition, with all five of his goals in this season’s competition having come in Roma’s two home games in the group. Not only that, but the Stadio Olimpico has become something of a fortress for Roma in the UEFA Champions League in recent years, further raising Džeko’s stock as a captaincy choice.
Anthony Martial (€7.5m) vs Young Boys (H)
Although Martial has not scored in the competition since a matchday one strike in the reverse of Tuesday’s fixture, the Frenchman has been in blistering form domestically having scored six goals in his last six Premier League appearances for the Red Devils. With José Mourinho’s men hosting Young Boys in a hotly contested Group H, Martial will look to translate his form to the European stage and he represents a brave but tempting differential option for the armband.
WEDNESDAY
Lionel Messi (€11.6m) vs PSV (A)
An arm injury kept the Argentinian out of Barcelona’s double-header against Internazionale, but he returned to action before the international break with two goals in the Spanish Liga, so he naturally comes straight back into the captaincy debate ahead of matchday five. Fantasy managers may recall that Messi bagged a hat-trick against PSV in September so, if he wasn’t a tempting option already, that certainly strengthens his case. The Catalan giants’ form was wavering slightly prior to the break, but with their talisman back in the fold that blip may well be over.
Harry Kane (€11.0m) vs Internazionale (H)
Kane’s Fantasy output has grown steadily throughout the group stage and his double against PSV on matchday four – which kept alive Tottenham’s hopes of qualification from the group – highlighted his importance to the team. After scoring another vital goal on England duty recently, Kane is approaching his usual prolific self and he is an excellent candidate to skipper your side in Wednesday’s must-win Group B match.
Antoine Griezmann (€10.5m) vs Monaco (H)
Atlético are currently duking it out with Dortmund for top spot in Group A and will be targeting a victory on Wednesday at home to struggling Monaco. The French side have won just once under the stewardship of Thierry Henry and have not tasted victory in the UEFA Champions League in their last 12 matches. Griezmann has netted three times in his four appearances in this season’s competition and will be trusted to fire his team to victory once more.
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