Soccer
Fantasy Focus: Joao Pedro throws out 13
A week ago, Joao Pedro ($6.5m) was back at home in Brazil watching the FIFA Club World Cup™ unfold on television. Seven days later, he’s left the beaches of Rio de Janeiro to play a crucial role in downing a pair of Brazilian teams for his new side Chelsea FC on their way to reaching the final of the new global showpiece.
An eye-catching cameo off the bench against Palmeiras in the quarter-finals gave way to a start against Fluminense FC – his boyhood club – in the last four in New York New Jersey.
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Even with fellow new arrival Liam Delap ($6.0m) suspended there was a question over whether Joao Pedro would start ahead of Nicolas Jackson ($7.4m) who was himself just back from a ban.
Blues head coach Enzo Maresca answered that and his faith was repaid in spades as the 23-year-old scored goals in either half to send Chelsea through to Sunday’s decider.
It was also a fine evening for the English club’s defensive assets with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez ($5.3m) as well as defenders Trevoh Chalobah ($5.3m), Malo Gusto ($4.8m), Marc Cucurella ($5.8m) and Tosin Adarabioyo ($4.9m) all registering positive returns.
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Fluminense FC 0-2 Chelsea FC
Star players
FWD Joao Pedro (Chelsea, $6.5m) – 13 points
DEF Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea, $5.3m) – 9 points
DEF Malo Gusto (Chelsea, $4.8m) – 9 points
Low returns
DEF Reece James (Chelsea, $5.8m) – 1 point
MID Jhon Arias (Fluminense, $6.2m) – 2 points
MID Cole Palmer (Chelsea, $9.6m) - 3 points
Next up (Wednesday 9 July) - Semi-final
Paris Saint-Germain v Real Madrid C.F.
Highest owned players in action
DEF Achraf Hakimi (PSG, $6.5m) – 68.6%
FWD Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid, $11.0m) – 45.7%
DEF Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid, $6.4m) – 44.9%
DEF Nuno Mendes (PSG, $6.2m) – 44.5%
MID Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (PSG, $9.2m) – 42.0%
Captaincy twists
With just two matches remaining, the choice for owners looking to make a late ranking surge is what to do with the captaincy. Those who had opted to deploy the armband on new Chelsea forward Joao Pedro are likely more than content to sit and hold although there are decisions to be made for any who invested in the Blues defence.
Given that the highly-owned pair of Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto failed to garner big returns, the choice to switch the captaincy there is a more clear-cut one. With that in mind there are several leading contenders from the Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid C.F. ranks, although some with question marks.
At the start of the tournament both PSG midfielder Ousmane Dembele ($10.0m) and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe ($11.0m) were among the game’s highest-owned options but with both returning from injury and uncertain starters they loom now as something of captaincy differentials.
Another player who has been quietly ultra-impressive is PSG midfield holder Joao Neves ($6.5m) and at just over ten per cent ownership he’s another fine differential, as is the Spanish side’s breakout forward Gonzalo Garcia ($5.1m), should he hold a starting role either ahead of, or perhaps alongside Mbappe.
