Apologies for the lack of articles over the weekend, I injured my knee playing with our new Puppy!

Just a reminder – possible lineups are exactly that: ‘Possible’. Couple it with your own research, these are done as ‘guides’ to help people learn players.

Anyway, back on track – a small preview of the 3 game UCL fixtures we have for Tuesday. Cue the Champions League music!

BATE Borisov vs PSV Eindhoven

BATE Borisov:

The Belarusian Champions find themselves with possibly the toughest task of the night facing PSV, but don’t think their a poor side….far from it. They overcame HJK Helsinki and Qarabag to get to the third stage of qualifying and possess some useful players:

Mirko Ivanic (10)

Last week we highlighted him as one to watch and he didn’t disappoint scoring the goal against Qarabag that helped send them through. He’s a classic 10, has great feet, calm finisher, good in the air and can pick a pass too. Big admirer.

Ihar Stasevich (22)

Tactically (unless they change it to a 4-5-1 to stifle PSV) they like the two wide front men Ihar Stasevich (22) and Skavysh (15) to cut in and cross/shoot in the 4-3-3 with Signevich (13) being the sole striker. Ihar Stasevich, despite his age is a tricky winger/attacking wide front man.

Alexei Rios (17)

Energetic and expansive right back. Admittedly it’s doubtful just how much he’ll actually get forward tactically, but can take a free kick if called upon and can find himself in the box. Look to his link up down the right with Skavysh.

PSV Eindhoven:

Mark Van Bommel’s men are exciting as ever. Just as Ajax keep on producing talent and playing an attractive brand of football so do PSV. An exciting Eredivisie in store this year.

We’ll skip over Hirving Lozano – you all know him from the World Cup, as that’s too obvious.

Gaston Pereiro (7)

What needs to be said about this kid? He’s unbelievable to watch. Left foot to absolute die for, quick feet, can thread a pass, and cross a ball. In my view, possibly the most important cog in the PSV wheel. Sits centrally, tall and powerful. When he plays well, they play well.

Steven Bergwijn (17)

Young Pacy wide right winger with all the tricks and skills. Sometimes lacks end product but could cause the BATE Borisov left back un-told problems with his raw pace. Small and dimunitive he can drift centrally and whilst his goal scoring record is nothing to write home about, one for the future to monitor of Dutch football.

Denzel Dumfries (22)

Having impressed me HUGELY last season at Heerenveen the marauding right back got his move to a bigger club in PSV. Tall, power and pace and a massive attacking threat with Angelino down the other flank. Expect him to get forward at all opportunities. Wouldn’t surprise me in the least to see him on the scoresheet. One of the up and coming right backs of European football. Expect an even bigger club than PSV to come sniffing in the next few years.

Red Star Belgrade (Crvena Zvezda) vs Red Bull Salzburg:

Red Star Belgrade (Crvena Zvezda):

In 1991 as a young 8 year old, I remember distinctly Red Star winning the European Cup. It was the first European Cup campaign I had followed and the penalty win over Marseille is burnt onto my memory. Ever since then I, and many around Europe have a soft spot for the Serbian club.

Their starting XI tomorrow is somewhat unpredictable. The back four and two central midfielders are pretty safe to guess, but the front four in a 4-2-3-1 could be a whole host of combinations with possibly only Radonijic secure.

Any one of either Srnic, Simic, Ebecilio,Fardou, Pa could start behind the striker. With Pesic departed for Saudi Arabia, it’s the support forward position that Red Star struggle for options at.

Nemanja Radonjić (49)

I remember watching the Europa League tie at Arsenal last year and this guy looked good. Pace, flair and an ability to find space means this is the man to target if you think Red Star can create some chances. Mercurial.

El Fardou Ben Nabouhane

Presuming he starts, he’s an explosive wide forward who can take a decent free kick. As I’ve stated above it really depends on who Milojevic starts. Difficult one to predict. In good form though.

Nenad Krstičić

A player that seems to have been around longer than he actually has. Used to play for Sampdoria and depending on where he lines up (formation wise) should be the backbone/engine room of this team.

Red Bull Salzburg:

We all fell in love with Red Bull Salzburg in the Europa League campaign last season as they reached the semi-final and it would be great to see them in the Champions League this season. Having lost key components of the 17/18 squad in Berisha and Caleta-Car to big money moves away, the squad is still largely intact and has enough quality to see them do well. Anyone who followed the 17/18 Europa League squad will be familiar with the following names:

Fullbacks: Andreas Ulmer (17) and Stefan Lainer (22)

Whilst I profess to not having followed the Stefan Lainer transfer saga to Napoli 100%, it appears he’s still at the Austrian club and played 90 minutes in their game against Shkendija in the previous round so you have to presume given the magnitude of the tie that these two would both start. Absolutely crucial and pivotal to the way RBS play, it’s hard to split the two in terms of importance, although club captain Ulmer would shade it for me.

Munas Dabbur (9)

Out-and-Out goalscorer. Deadly finisher with flair, good in the air and plays on the shoulder of defenders. Penalties too. Fantastic season last season, there was a reason that Crystal Palace tried to sign him. He’s scored 4/4 already this season and I see no signs of him not getting another 20+ goals this season.

Diadie Samassekou (8)

Ok this is probably not a ‘fantasy’ play – but seriously watch this guy. He’s a fantastic young talent that a lot of the big clubs were trying to get this summer. He’s still at RBS (for now) but won’t be for long. Power, pace and oh my word can he tackle. Almost certainly not a play in fantasy due to scoring setup, but in ‘real life’ a player that can go straight to the top. Haidara is the more ‘palatable’ fantasy asset.

Takumi Minamino (18)

I’ll leave this name here too – I can’t be 100% sure he starts, but if he does he’s an exciting talent and unlike Samassekou is just the type that IS fantasy relevant. Small, dribbling type creative type, his pace can cause havoc. I can see him coming off the bench, but if he does start you need to seriously consider the little Japanese wonderkid.

Benfica vs PAOK Salonika

Benfica:

I’ve watched Benfica a lot already this season both in the summer tournament in the States (International Champions Cup) and also both legs of the previous tie with Fenerbahce which was fantastic viewing on a tactical battle between Cocu and Rui Vitoria. Benfica seem settled in their 4-3-3 which can revert back to a 4-4-1-1 whilst defending. Good team, great wide men with enough creativity to do damage in this one at home. Dangerous.

Pizzi (21)

Scorer of a first half hat-trick on the opening day of the Primeira League in Portugal and also 4 from the season, if you want a goalscoring, box-to-box attacking midfielder look no further than Pizzi.

The Argentinian Wingers: Franco Cervi (11) and Eduardo Salvio (18)

Ok so anyone who watched/followed the World Cup knows about Salvio and what he brings: crosses, attacking wingplay…. yada yada yada, he’s firmly in play today and a great pick.

I’d rather pay to watch the little Genius Cervi though. I remember him breaking through at Rosario and the hype surrounding him was real. This video tells you everything you need to know: Dribbling, close control and a fantastic left foot. Heart and passion too – not as volatile as Salvio.

Alejandro Grimaldo (3)

You like your fullbacks to be attacking with goal threat and supreme talent? Look no further than the Spanish number 3 at Benfica. Dribbling, pace and takes a mean direct free kick and corners too, best attacking defender in action tonight. His link up play with Cervi too is highly correlative. Lock him in.

PAOK Salonika:

Outsiders of the six teams playing tonight and you have to say unlikely victors against a strong Benfica team. They were solid against a good Spartak Moscow team last time out and have progressed this far, and you should never, ever underestimate a Greek team. The Greek Super League doesn’t get underway until this weekend, but what assets can we look at from the Greek runners up?

Dmitris Pelkas (10)

OK so without trying to repeat myself, but I did bring this player up on the last ’10 to watch’ and he’s still PAOK’s best player by far. His creativity will be key if PAOL are to manage to score at the Estadio de la Luz (Stadium of Light).

Aleksandar Prijovic (9)

A number 9 in all sense of the true tradition – 6 ft 2″, strong and powerful, he was their main goalscorer playing through the middle grabbing 27 goals in all competitions last season and you have to imagine will be used as an out ball for the PAOK team in this tricky away fixture.

Leo Matos (3)

Tricky Brazilian fullback. His attacking threat might be curbed due to game theory but he has a track record of getting forward and appears more in the box than you’d expect with a decent goalscoring record. Chances.

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