With the return of the UEFA Champions League comes an overhaul of the 16 squads to have made it this far. The Scout looks over the new faces to see who might be worth including in your squad.
Álvaro Morata (FW, €9.0m)
Had his difficulties in England with Chelsea but boasts a respectable UEFA Champions League strike-rate, scoring 12 goals in 42 appearances. Crucially, however, seven of those have come in the competition’s knockout rounds, including five as Juventus reached the 2015 final – the Spaniard will be looking to turn tables on the Bianconeri with new club Atlético.
Leandro Paredes (MF, €5.5m)
A high-profile capture from Zenit, the Argentinian had a respectable scoring record in Russia, managing three league goals in the first half of this season – one short of his total for the whole of 2017/18. Also scored in the UEFA Europa League, and managed an assist in the group stage. Word of warning, though – something of a yellow-card magnet, he’s already been sent off twice this season.
Francisco Soares (FW, €8.0m)
With Vincent Aboubakar a long-term injury absentee and Moussa Marega struggling for fitness, Soares – who was left out of Porto’s group stage after suffering an injury in early August – is set to play a central role in the tie against Roma. The Brazilian has five goals in eight matches so far in 2019.
Juan Foyth (DF, €4.5m)
The Argentinian centre-back made his solitary outing in the competition on matchday six in 2017/18 but made six Premier League appearances at the end of last year and may be ready to step up again. Spurs have kept four clean sheets in Foyth’s nine appearances in all competitions this season, including a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace when the 21-year-old scored the only goal.
Brahim Díaz (MF, €4.5m)
A wild-card choice, but a cheap way into the Real Madrid midfield. Díaz, who swapped Manchester City for Madrid in January, has made only three career UEFA Champions League appearances but has already played three times for Madrid and could be given his chance to impress against Ajax.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (MF, €7.0m)
If you are looking long-term, Liverpool’s England international might be worth consideration. Oxlade-Chamberlain has not played since suffering a serious knee injury in last season’s semi-final against Roma and is unlikely to return in the last 16. But, if you reckon Liverpool will get past Bayern, he might be back in business in time for the quarter-finals. Scored twice in last season’s run to the final.
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