Teams: Lyon, Slavia Prague, St. Pölten, Brann
Group B features some familiar names to UWCL followers, but It’s a top-heavy group on paper. Lyon are this group’s ‘big team’, with an immensely impressive history in this competition. The reigning French league and cup winners may have only reached the quarter-finals last season, but they will not expect to face any major problems in this group. With Lyon expected to top the group with ease, the second place is really up for grab. Therefore, we could see some very close matches in the other fixtures.
Slavia Prague and St. Pölten have drawn each other in the group stage for the second year running. Both sides came through the Champions Path with comfortable results over two-legs. In last year’s match-ups, St. Pölten came out the better with a win and a draw in the head-to-head. While both teams were completely out-matched by Wolfsburg and Roma in last year’s tournament, this year, they will fancy their chances of progressing to the knock-out rounds. Norwegian side Brann also came through the Champions Path, albeit playing an extra game than St. Pölten, in the first round of qualifying. Slavia Prague’s UEFA club coefficient saw them directly into the second round of qualifying. Brann scored a total of 14 goals to nil in qualifying. Interestingly, none of the three teams conceded a goal in qualifying.
As with Barcelona, eight-time UWCL champions Lyon have five players priced at £900,000 or higher. Kadidiatou Diani was the French league’s top goal scorer last season, and is one of only seven £1,000,000 priced players in the UWCL Fantasy League. Her teammate Ada Hegerberg from Norway, leading UWCL all-time scorer, is also priced at the top spot. The gap in quality in Group B can be illustrated by comparing Lyon’s highest priced picks with the remaining teams. Slavia Prague’s top player is Kenyan forward Marjolen Nekesa at £400,000. Forwards Rita Schumacher and Valentina Mädl are St. Pölten’s best at the same price. Brann have 3 players at £400,000, including Andrine Hegerberg.
Players to watch:
Lyon have several other marquee players up-front, including French national-team players Selma Bacha and Eugénie Le Sommer (both at £900,000). But it’s a pretty good idea not to neglect your back line. One can imagine that Lyon will also pick up a lot of points in defence. Experienced France and Lyon captain Wendie Renard is one of only 4 defenders in the UWCL Fantasy League priced at £900,000. In a relatively easy group, she could be a very reliable long-term pick.
Other defensive options in Group B are Czech players Michaela Khyrová at £300,000 and Diana Bartovičová at £350,000. For the same price, St. Pölten’s Swiss defender Ella Touon seems like a safe pick of late. She has done well since her move from Essen in the German Bundesliga this summer. While defenders for Brann could struggle, a nice tip might be Rachel Engesvik in midfield, who has been hammering in the goals lately.
In summary, Group B is probably the most curious group to explore, with a mixture of high-profile popular picks from the World Cup and Euros (featuring for Lyon) and some little-known players who could be diamonds in the rough. For example, St. Pölten’s 17-year old forward Valentina Mädl could be a surprise package in this year’s UWCL. But there are many other players who could also take advantage of this wide open group as well.