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Fantasy Focus: Arise Arias
In a winding career that has taken him from his homeland to Mexico, back to Colombia and then to Brazil, Jhon Arias ($6.2m) has finally, and firmly, settled at Rio giants Fluminense FC.
Now in his fifth Flu season, the 27-year-old winger has also proven to be one of the stars of the FIFA Club World Cup™ Fantasy game having produced across multiple categories, including the direct free-kick bonus on his way to a 14-point haul, as his side came from behind to down Ulsan HD 4-2 in New York New Jersey.
With six goals in that fixture and seven as Borussia Dortmund edged Mamelodi Sundowns FC 4-3 in the day’s opening encounter there were plenty of attacking returns on offer.
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Mamelodi’s midfield orchestrator Lucas Ribeiro ($5.7m) and forward Iqraam Rayners ($5.8m) both went big for the second straight match, pocketing 10 and 9 points respectively here.
Finally, in a day where defences struggled, a tight, scoreless, draw between CA River Plate and CF Monterrey saw some healthy outcomes, with defender Sergio Ramos ($5.3m) returning 9 points to go with his 11 from the opener and goalkeeper Esteban Andrada ($5.1m) producing 11 for the Mexican outfit.
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Mamelodi Sundowns FC 3-4 Borussia Dortmund
Star players
MID Felix Nmecha (Dortmund, $5.6m) – 10 points
MID Julian Brandt (Dortmund, $6.5m) – 10 points
MID Lucas Ribeiro (Mamelodi, $5.7m) – 10 points
Low returns
DEF Khuliso Mudau (Mamelodi, $4.3m) | -3 points
MID Karim Adeyemi (Dortmund, $8.0m) – 1 point
DEF Niklas Sule (Dortmund, $5.2m) – 1 point
FC Internazionale Milano 2-1 Urawa Red Diamonds
Star players
MID Ryoma Watanabe (Urawa, $5.4m) – 10 points
MID Valentin Carboni (Inter, $4.8m) – 9 points
MID Takuro Kaneko (Urawa, $5.1m) – 8 points
Low returns
DEF Alessandro Bastoni (Inter, $5.6m) – 1 point
GK Yann Sommer (Inter, $5.4m) – 2 points
DEF Federico Dimarco (Inter, $5.8m) - 2 points
Fluminense FC 4-2 Ulsan HD
Star players
MID Jhon Arias (Fluminense, $6.2m) – 14 points
MID Lee Jinhyun (Ulsan, $4.9m) – 13 points
FWD Um Wonsang (Ulsan, $6.0m) – 12 points
Low returns
DEF Kim Younggwon (Ulsan, $5.1m) | -1 point
MID Ganso (Fluminense, $4.2m) – 1 point
DEF Thiago Silva (Fluminense, $4.7m) – 1 point
CA River Plate 0-0 CF Monterrey
Star players
GK Esteban Andrada (Monterrey, $5.1m) – 11 points
DEF Gerardo Arteaga (Monterrey, $4.9m) – 9 points
DEF Sergio Ramos (Monterrey, $5.3m) – 9 points
Low returns
FWD Facundo Colidio (River, $5.8m) – 2 points
MID Franco Mastantuono (River, $4.3m) – 3 points
MID Sergio Canales (River, $6.1m) – 3 points
Next up (Sunday 22 June)
Juventus FC v Wydad AC
Real Madrid C.F. v CF Pachuca
FC Salzburg v Al Hilal
Manchester City v Al Ain FC
Highest owned players in action
FWD Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid, $11.0m) – 43.7%
DEF Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid, $6.4m) – 26.6%
DEF Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City, $6.1m) – 22.9%
FWD Erling Haaland (Manchester City, $11.0m) – 22.7%
FWD Omar Marmoush (Manchester City, $8.0m) – 18.4%
Differentials
With section heavyweights Juventus and Manchester City both coming off impressive first-up wins, it no surprise that players from that pair have been heavily targeted. While rotation is a risk, injury issues abound and there are some clear, highly-owned standouts, there remains value to be had.
Both Juve’s midfielder Francisco Conceicao ($5.7m) and City’s Phil Foden ($8.1m) were ultra-impressive in their first starts and should they survive the rotation roulette they profile as smart investments.
Elsewhere, Al Hilal’s midfield marvel Salem Al Dawsari ($5.6m) is above the mark for the scouting bonus but given he could monopolise set-pieces and poses and ever-present attacking threat he could be in for a strong outing.
Those under the scouting bonus cut-off (5% or less ownership) include the likes of Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz ($7.3m) and Real Madrid academy product Gonzalo Garcia ($5.1m), who dazzled having been handed a surprise start by new head coach Xabi Alonso.
Also in play as the final of the second round of matches are completed is the 12th man booster that could net additional points in a slate of fixtures where plenty of high returns seem likely.
