After the long break devoted to international football, Europe’s biggest leagues are back. This weekend we’re getting a new episode in the legendary Milan derby, Jose Mourinho will be taking on his former employers and Barcelona will be looking to undermine the current La Liga leaders. All the games are hosted through free fantasy football contests in FootballCoin.
Chelsea – Manchester United
It’s being billed up as something of a reckoning day for Mourinho and his underachieving Manchester United side. While this is likely an exaggeration, defeat to Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea could see the Red Devils sink all the way to 11th place.
There is, however, still time for the season to be rescued. Mourinho’s most difficult mission will be deciding on the starting 11, with his players sliding in and out of form throughout the current year.
Elsewhere, Chelsea is a side rejuvenated following their summer managerial change. They sit in second place, having lost none of their eight league games. Their strikers are still not the deadly force they were expected to be. But otherwise the London side is set up as favorite to win this derby.
FootballCoin players to watch out for:
- Marcos Alonso, Luke Shaw – Free player cards
- Eden Hazard, Paul Pogba
Inter – AC Milan
Serie A week 9 closes with arguably the biggest game in Italian football, the Milan derby. Despite it’s fame, it’s a derby shadowed in recent years by poor league performances on either side. The teams are desperate to improve though, a fact reflected by the growing number of high profile players signed for both MIlan clubs.
Inter sit in third place, which is impressive, if it were not for the fact that they are already eight points behind leaders Juventus. Only eight games have been played.
AC Milan are in tenth, but boast a number of youngsters with good potential, like Gigi Donnarumma, and seasoned vets such as Gonzalo Higuain, a man who has made a career out of choosing clubs based on his chances of becoming a starting player for them.
Overall, Inter are favorites spurred on by the good form of players like Icardi and Nainggolan.
FootballCoin players to watch out for:
- Hakan Calhanoglu, Milan Skriniar – Free player cards
- Lucas Biglia, Mauro Icardi, Gonzalo Higuain
Barcelona – Sevilla
Sevilla once again lead La Liga after its first weeks of competition. To be fair, there isn’t much separating the first six sides and Pablo Machín’s side are likely to crumble by Christmas. But Sevilla have been impressive securing comfortable wins over Celta Vigo and, most notably, against Real Madrid. Andre Silva and Wissam Ben Yedder are in great form and should be a handful for the Barcelona defenders.
No surprises, Barcelona are again being suffocated by the sheer amount of expectation placed on them. The team has played well, with Lionel Messi, being unsurprisingly the team’s and league’s best player. With him in top form, Barcelona are a force to be reckoned with. But there are things that need sorting out. New arrivals like Lenglet and Arthur have yet to adapt to Barca’s playing style, while Arturo Vidal’s antics potentially condemning him to the reserve bench.
FootballCoin players to watch out for:
- Ousmane Dembele, Silva Andre – Free player cards
- Lionel Messi, Jesus Navas
Don’t forget to register and create your perfect football drafts for your fantasy FootballCoin team. We’ll be looking to reward the best managers. Prizes are up for grabs and also the bragging rights of being one of the world’s leading fantasy football managers.
Eduard Bănulescu
