Error code: %{errorCode}
Fantasy Focus: Ruiz runs riot
There’s something about Fabian Ruiz ($6.5m), the FIFA Club World Cup™ and teams from the Spanish capital. Having started Paris Saint Germain’s scoring explosion with their opener in a first-up 4-0 win against Atlético de Madrid in California, he then repeated that feat in the semi-finals.
This time the opponent was Real Madrid C.F. and he scored not just the first, but also the third in another 4-0 rout.
While there are no more teams from Madrid left to feast upon, there is one more from the English capital that stands in the way of Ruiz & Co being crowned the inaugural winners of the new global club showpiece.
Play the official FIFA Club World Cup Fantasy game
The 29-year-old midfielder will be looking to continue his fine form against Chelsea FC at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, and he enters not just as one of the central anchors of a superb PSG side but also one of the stars of the tournament’s fantasy game.
Ruiz’s two-goal outing against Real Madrid saw him grab an impressive 17-point return on an evening when eight Paris stars scored seven or more points.
Perhaps the only frustration with Luis Enrique’s swashbucklers is just how impressively they share things, both in real life and fantasy. Across their six Club World Cup outings, they’ve had ten different scorers. They’ve had the same number of players return 30 or more total points across a superb stateside showing.
That leaves owners with plenty of decisions to make, with six free transfers now available ahead of the decider in New York New Jersey, as well as a final chance to deploy any remaining Boosters.
FIFA Rewards: Earn. Play. Celebrate.
Paris Saint-Germain 4-0 Real Madrid C.F.
Star players
MID Fabian Ruiz (PSG, $6.5m) – 17 points
DEF Achraf Hakimi (PSG, $6.5m) – 10 points
MID Ousmane Dembele (PSG, $10.0m) – 10 points
Low returns
FWD Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid, $11.0m) – 2 points
MID Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, $9.3m) – 2 points
MID Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (PSG, $9.2m) - 2 points
Next up (Sunday 13 July) - FIFA Club World Cup Final
Chelsea FC v Paris Saint-Germain
Highest owned players in action
DEF Achraf Hakimi (PSG, $6.5m) – 69.0%
DEF Nuno Mendes (PSG, $6.2m) – 47.7%
GK Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG, $5.7m) – 43.7%
MID Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (PSG, $9.2m) – 42.4%
MID Cole Palmer (Chelsea, $9.6m) – 35.7%
Transfer targets
One final push to the fantasy summit remains. With two European heavyweights reaching the decider and six free transfers available, most fantasy teams should be able to get to a full XI.
For this last remaining match, where substitutions are not a concern, the only focus should be on ensuring the strongest possible starting side. For those who have saved a Booster that too could be a crucial factor in winning mini-leagues or making a late overall ranking surge.
Given that there are plenty of budget friendly starters at both finalists, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, the other factor now is one of strategy. Many a fantasy title has been won at the death by going all-in on one team.
With eight players now available to be owned from each club, ‘stacking’ a defence with a goalkeeper and four defenders from either team is a well-defined way to play the final.
While there remain some starting doubts over both Reece James ($5.8m) and the returning Levi Colwill ($5.3m), those respective backlines should be fairly settled. For PSG, Lucas Beraldo ($4.3m) is again expected to cover for the suspended Willian Pacho ($5.2m).
Further forward, new Blue Joao Pedro ($6.5m) appears the only probable starter among the forward options, making a 5-4-1 or a 4-5-1 the most logical tactical approach for the decider in New York New Jersey.
