Bundesliga Fantasy Manager scout: 5 gems for Matchday 18
Not too sure what to do next with your Fantasy team? bundesliga.com is here with some top tips for the coming weekend...
Pick your Matchday 18 Fantasy squad here!
Favourites at a glance
Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart are all at home this weekend, while RB Leipzig and Werder Bremen are facing struggling sides in Bochum and Augsburg respectively.
It's highly advisable, then, to focus on players from these teams - bearing in mind that you're only allowed three per club.
Bayern have never lost at home to the Wolves, winning 25 of the 27 Bundesliga fixtures against them in Munich, as well as winning nine of the 10 most recent meetings overall (one draw).
As such, Harry Kane (20M), Leroy Sané (16M), Michael Olise (16M), Jamal Musiala (20M) and Joshua Kimmich (15M) should all be considered, while Alphonso Davies (17M) and Dayot Upamecano (12M) are excellent choices in defence.
However, given the midweek fixtures - known as an 'Englische Woche' in Germany - head coach Vincent Kompany may choose to rotate his side. Keep an eye on our line-ups overview to stay up-to-date with injuries and absentees.
Watch: Highlights of the Matchday 1 meeting between these teams in August 2024
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach
There are plenty of attacking options to choose from Leverkusen too. Florian Wirtz (20M) and Granit Xhaka (15M) are among the highest-scoring midfielders in Fantasy this season, while Patrik Schick (14M) has been banking serious points up front of late. Not to mention Alejandro Grimaldo (20M), who earns points for his defensive duties as well as for his attacking forays. Pick as many of them as you can and you won't go too far wrong!
Watch: Wirtz named December's Bundesliga Player of the Month
Want more Bundesliga Action?
Leipzig are the clear favourites, on paper at least, going into this one. Xavi (17M) has been in sparkling form since returning from injury, while Willi Orbán (11M) is one of the highest-scoring defenders in Fantasy terms in 2024/25. Do bear in mind, however, that star strikers Loïs Openda (15M) and Benjamin Šeško are suspended on Matchday 18.
Watch: All of Xavi's Bundesliga goals and assists
Stuttgart have a number of point guarantees in their ranks, chief among them Deniz Undav (13M), Nick Woltemade (9M) and Maxmilian Mittelstädt (17M). With respective ownership standing at just one, eight and three percent, this trio are outstanding differential picks to give you the edge this weekend.
Watch: The best of Maximilian Mittelstädt
Bremen have a number of bargain players to choose from. Mitchell Weiser (13M) should be a cornerstone of every Fantasy team, while Jens Stage (9M), Romano Schmid (10M), Marvin Ducksch (10M) and Marco Grüll (9M) are all cost-effective options.
Like the aforementioned Stuttgart trio, these Werder stars have so far been under utilised by Fantasy managers - giving you the chance to beat your league opponents.
Watch: The best of Mitchell Weiser
Handling tricky fixtures
The game between Frankfurt and Dortmund promises to be an entertaining spectacle that poses risks for Fantasy managers - will goalkeepers and defenders concede goals that will affect their score?
Nevertheless, both teams also have reliable attackers you can pick - primarily Omar Marmoush. An absolute bargain at just 11M, the Frankfurt forward is in fine form and regularly earns big Fantasy hauls.
The remaining matches all look to be evenly balanced affairs: Heidenheim vs. St. Pauli, Holstein Kiel vs. Hoffeheim and Union Berlin vs. Mainz. However, there is plenty of opportunity here too for shrewd managers. With budget players galore you can still earn plenty of points while also saving your cash for your big-name stars. Consider these picks:
- Defenders: Diogo Leite (9M), Anthony Caci (10M), David Zec (5M)
- Midfielders: Tom Bischof (5M), Paul Nebel (6M), Jae-sung Lee (10M)
- Forwards: Jonathan Burkardt (10M), Phil Harres (3M), Budu Zivzivadze (8M)
Watch: The best of Tom Bischof
Who should be your star players to earn 1.5x points?
Choosing the right star player can make a huge difference on any given matchday. Bayern and Leverkusen players are usually safe bets, while Xavi, Orbán and Weiser all post consistently high scores too.
Our advice for Matchday 18
Go big on Bayern and Leverkusen, and create extra budget for expensive stars with some cut-price alternatives. Have fun and all the best!
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