Tabitha Chawinga (Paris Saint-Germain)
Girls on the Ball, All rights reserved
As the semifinals kick off, ShePlays once again offers fantasy soccer managers additional transfers and funds. This time, they’re providing 4 free transfers along with an extra 500k in funds, totaling £9,000,000. However, with only 4 teams remaining in the tournament to choose from, selecting unique players will be crucial for structuring your team.
For this reason, it is important to make strategic choices, particularly in the French showdown. Here are my top picks from each Ligue 1 side:
Olympique Lyon
With the second highest likelihood of clinching victory this week (behind Barcelona), Lyon stands at the forefront of the UWCL conversation as one of the most dominant teams this season. At the helm of their attack are Kadidiatou Diani, known for her goal-scoring prowess, and Selma Bacha, the mastermind playmaker.
In my view, the most important gauge of future potential and consistency rests in a player’s “attack” points—their capacity to generate scoring chances, regardless of conversion. In this aspect, Bacha reigns supreme among non-Barcelona players, boasting a significant lead in “attack” points. It’s this consistent ability to influence the game that makes Bacha my preferred choice, her creativity serving as a cornerstone in Lyon’s offensive strategy.
Girls on the Ball, All rights reserved
My standout choice from Lyon is Vanessa Gilles, who ranks second among available defenders in total points, trailing only Barcelona’s Lucy Bronze. Gilles showcased her prowess with an explosive performance of 32 points in GW1 followed by another impressive outing of 23 points in GW5. This consistent display of potential firmly secures her spot as a cornerstone in my fantasy team lineup.
Paris Saint-Germain
While Lyon boasts formidable forward options, PSG offers an excellent value player in Tabitha Chawinga. Priced at a modest 450k, Chawinga manages to keep pace with premium options priced at 800k and above. Remarkably, she was the highest scoring player from Gameweeks 4-8 among both French squads. Opting for Chawinga in one of your forward positions not only provides exceptional value but also liberates funds for investing in additional star players.
One of these star players could be Sakina Karchaoui. I wrote about her in my previous article, and in the two Gameweeks following that article she was tied for most fantasy points among defenders at 31. She has also led all defenders by a wide margin in fantasy “attack” points this season with 38 total, and again that is my favorite stat.
In the last two weeks, Karchaoui has shared the honors of most fantasy points among defenders with teammate Eva Gaetino. While not playing any minutes in the first 6 rounds of the UWCL, the 21 year old American seems to have found a spot in the 11. She has played the full 90 in 5 of the last 8 matches for PSG, with 5 Shot Creating Actions in the 2 matches against Hacken.
Final Thoughts
With few options available, most fantasy players will most likely have a popular template team consisting of several Barcelona players. This makes it key to nail your differential picks in the matchup of Ligue I sides, and below are my favorite options.
| Player | Side | Position | Price |
| Kadidiatou Diani | Lyon | FW | 900,000 |
| Selma Bacha | Lyon | FW | 900,000 |
| Vanessa Gilles | Lyon | DF | 700,000 |
| Tabitha Chawinga | Paris Saint-Germain | FW | 450,000 |
| Sakina Karchaoui | Paris Saint-Germain | DF | 800,000 |
| Eva Gaetino | Paris Saint-Germain | DF | 350,000 |
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To create or edit your team follow this link: ShePlays | Fantasy Football Competition