Stick with Kane, buy Neuer? 5 Fantasy questions ahead of Der Klassiker
The biggest game of the season is upon us with Borussia Dortmund hosting Bayern Munich in Saturday's Klassiker - but it throws up some questions for Fantasy players…
Dortmund and Bayern are two of just three undefeated teams in the Bundesliga this term, with league leaders Bayer Leverkusen sharing that honour, and many of their players have been starring in the real and Fantasy worlds.
No midfielder has averaged more points than BVB star Julian Brandt's 12, with his four goals and four assists making him Die Schwarzgelben's most potent attacking asset.
But Harry Kane is way out in front, with his 12 goals and five assists since joining Bayern from Tottenham Hotspur helping him to 143 points in total - second only to VfB Stuttgart's Serhou Guirassy game-wide.
Not sure who to back in the big game? bundesliga.com looks to answer the big questions…
Should I sell Harry Kane?
In a word: no. At least some of the 76 per cent Kane ownership must have been considering this question with Dortmund posing one of Bayern's toughest challenges of the season so far - even if Bayern are favourites they are unlikely to win 8-0 as they did against Darmstadt last Saturday.
Kane scored a hat-trick in that game, including one from his own half, racking up 33 points - and 50 with a star. Won't Dortmund keep him quiet in a way that Darmstadt couldn't?
They could; but unlike in FPL, Kane's points haul won't be so adversely affected if his team don't win, and if they do, he is sure to have a big hand in it. It is also worth noting he is a big-game player who boasts 14 goals in 19 career meetings with Spurs' North London rivals Arsenal.
Is Manuel Neuer worth buying?
Watch: Neuer, back for Der Klassiker
Want more Bundesliga Action?
Every matchday in Fantasy a player from each club in the game is made available for sale. This week's Bayern candidate is Manuel Neuer, with managers able to pick up the world's best goalkeeper for 10.4m instead of his usual 11.5m.
Spending big on a goalkeeper isn't often advised given the inability to multiply their points with a star, but if you have spare budget swirling around this week you could do worse than spend it on Neuer.
Bayern have something of a defensive injury crisis with Matthijs de Ligt definitely out and Dayot Upamecano doubtful. That could lead to a makeshift defence and Neuer facing more shots - but that is no bad thing in Fantasy terms. Being on sale means Neuer will make his managers circa 1m with a transfer in then out either way.
Hummels is also on sale, what about him?
Dortmund's player on the sale list is former Bayern centre-back Mats Hummels - available for 8.6m when he would normally cost 9.6m. He might be a bigger risk than Neuer if the bookies are right in backing a Bayern win, but there is currency (quite literally) in taking a punt.
Hummels is in the top 10 game-wide for average points among defenders, and despite his brace against Freiburg last month, most of his points (26) have come from duels, of which he should see plenty at the Signal Iduna Park this weekend.
As well as being an extra 1m in the bank for managers a week from now, Hummels is also tempting due to his position. With three at the back popular in the game, there are two players who will auto-sub on for him if it doesn't work out.
I fancy Dortmund, who's better out of Reus and Brandt?
Naturally, there are Dortmund attacking assets to consider too. While Brandt has enjoyed the aforementioned eight goal-involvements, Marco Reus has been back on form of late, adding to his three goals last month with the winner against Hoffenheim in the DFB Cup on Wednesday.
Both are good picks - even if their ownership will dip heading into this weekend - and Brandt's AP is 12 to Reus' 8. But Reus costs 3.2m less than his colleague and has also been something of a Bayern hunter in the past, with 12 goals - nine of them scored past Neuer - and eight assists in 34 meeting with them.
Win, lose, or draw, an attacker can score big in Bundesliga Fantasy. Reus has lost to Bayern 21 times, but returned in 20…
Is Musiala back to being a premium pick?
Watch: All of Musiala's goals and assists last season
Jamal Musiala was a points machine last season, scoring a total of 293 despite being listed as a forward and playing, largely, in attacking midfield, making him OOP in the wrong direction.
Listed as a midfielder this season, there was an understandable clamour to add the former Chelsea youngster to Fantasy squads at the start of the campaign, and last Saturday's 20-point haul against Darmstadt suggested he was back to his best.
But it was one of only three double-digit hauls this season (the other two being 10 on the opening day and 11 against Mainz two games ago), and Musiala could find himself anchoring the midfield with Leon Goretzka needed at centre-back.
With a 15.7m price tag, perhaps that money could be used to strengthen squads elsewhere this week.
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