Bundesliga Fantasy Matchday 23 Expert Picks and Team Reveal

Bundesliga Fantasy Matchday 23 is approaching with speed! Because of this we bring in our regular contributor @FPLGunnersaurus to reveal his team. Jay also picks out his top three picks in each position for the new round ahead.

As we head into Bundesliga Fantasy Matchday 23 it could be vital to know which players to target based on form and fixtures. It is also helpful to see the team of an expert as this could give us clarity in regards to our own decisions.

Defenders – Jeremie Frimpong (19.4m / 70% TSB / B04)

For those worried about Frimpong’s role in Leverkusen’s starting XI worry not. His recent absences can be explained by rotation due to the DFB Pokal quarter final and due to Alonso also wanting a bit more defensive coverage against Bayern. The flying Dutchman returned to the starting XI against Heidenheim in style scoring the winning goal.

In the fantasy game he picked up a monster 26 points haul, 12 points of which came as a result of the six shots he fired off during the game. Frimpong now has seven goals and six assists this season and with a Friday night home game on the horizon against 17th placed Mainz another haul could be on the cards. Mainz picked up a vital win on MD22 against Augsburg but not even a new manager bounce should stop the league leaders picking up a comfortable home win. I run out of superlatives when it comes to both of Leverkusen’s wing-backs. Almost a third of managers, 30% to be precise, do not own Frimpong – rectify that ASAP!

Robin Gosens (11.8m / 6% TSB / FCU)

Die Eisernen seem to have got their steeliness back about them. They have kept back-to-back clean sheets for only the second time this season which now makes it five shut outs in the last six matches – not bad for a club who went on a nine game losing streak at one point this season. In terms of defensive fantasy assets from Union Berlin there is only one real option given his attacking nature in Germany international Robin Gosens.

Gosens has probably been their only summer signing who has worked out well. His attacking returns are not of the ilk of Frimpong and Grimaldo with only four goals scored so far. However in the fantasy game he can be known to haul from time to time with top matchday scores of 24 points and 19 points. Union host Heidenheim who lost last weekend for the first time since MD13 so Gosens is an ‘outside the box’ pick but one with the potential to pay dividends.

Mitchell Weiser (11.3m / 11% TSB / SVW)

More and more so recently we are starting to see the Weiser of old. Weiser in his last six starts averages 11.6pts per game with fantasy four double-digit fantasy returns, his highest being 24 points in that memorable 1-0 away win over Bayern Munich. It therefore makes completes sense to bring him in for a home game against bottom of the table Darmstadt.

Darmstadt have now conceded 51 goals this season, a league worst, and are also expected to concede twice in an away game. Bremen are in a good run of form having won four of their last five but have been indifferent at home having only won two games at the wohninvest WESERSTADION since November. That said this is what the English would call a ‘plum’ fixture (and please reach out to me if you know the German equivalent) so a Bremen player or two (perhaps even fellow defender Agu) should be on your MD23 shortlist. As far as players with a high ceiling goes Weiser’s could not be any higher here.

Alternatives – Maatsen (11.1m / 34% TSB / BVB) / Mittelstädt (7m ON SALE / 25% TSB / VFB) / Agu (1.9m ON SALE / 1% TSB / SVW)

Midfielders – Julian Brandt (18.1m / 15% TSB / BVB)

Dortmund disappointed at the weekend with that 1-1 away draw to Wolfsburg. Brandt himself was not up to scratch registering a 0.05xG and 0.05xA but you could perhaps put that down to him not firing on all cylinders having not long been bedridden for 10 days with illness. On his day we all know Brandt can be the key that unlocks the opponent’s defence and with Dortmund heavy favourites to not only beat but beat Hoffenheim comfortably he should be a vital cog in your fantasy squad.

Hoffenheim, after a strong start to the season, have fallen off completely with only one league win in the last three and half months. They have lost four of their last five away games and have not fared well against Dortmund in recent years losing their last five league meetings against them. Brandt will create chance after chance, and is currently registering 2.6 key passes per game, so why not give him a chance in your team?

Chris Führich (12.4m / 51% TSB / VFB)

For the third week in a row Führich makes my weekly picks and maybe it will be third time lucky in justifying the recommendation. Führich’s form has disappeared over the past two matchdays picking up measly scores of 4 four points and three points, both in Stuttgart victories. 51% of managers still own the German international however due to the fact that Stuttgart are on a favourable fixture run. That and also the fantasy returns he can bring, especially when at home.

It is recycled information but lest we forget at home Führich has returned double-digit fantasy scores eight times so far this season. Stuttgart host Köln on MD23 whose only away win this season was at bottom of the table Darmstadt – otherwise it has been mostly disappointment for them on their travels. If you are an engaged manager Führich will already be a staple of your midfield but if you do not currently own him give him a go despite some poor recent efforts.

Kevin Stöger (12m / 21% TSB / BOC)

Kudos to the what was 17% of fantasy managers who kept Stöger ahead of what turned out to be a big win for Bochum against the might of Munich. The Austrian, who has by far been Bochum’s stand out player this season, bagged a goal and an assist in a 24 points fantasy haul. Stöger not only stars at home and has done the business away for Die Unabsteigbaren, at least fantasy wise whilst results would indicate otherwise, with almost a quarter of his total points (52pts/219pts) coming from solely goal attempts and passes to a shot whilst away from home.

Stöger will look to add to those away returns when Bochum travel to Borussia-Park to face Borussia Mönchengladbach. The Foals still boast the worst expected goals record coming in at 1.8xGA overall with their home record only faring slightly better at 1.52xGA. Bochum should get their chances and as Stöger tends to be involved with any of Bochum’s attacks he could be a budget friendly pick for your fantasy midfield.

Alternatives – Musiala (17.8m / 40% TSB / FCB) / Knauff (9.4m / 2% TSB / SGE) / Stage (5.9m / 7% TSB / SVW)

Forwards – Niclas Füllkrug (17.2m / 20% TSB / BVB)

Does anyone remember when we were able to pick up Füllkrug for less than 7m last season? Now up to an eye-watering premium price of 17.2m managers may think twice about purchasing Dortmund’s leading man but I am telling you he is absolutely worth the price ahead of a home tie against Hoffenheim. The national team striker has scored five goals and supplied two assists in his last two home games and has picked up 44 points across those two ties. With 11 goals (and seven assists) Füllkrug is on track to beat his 16 league goals from last season and against Hoffenheim you can see him adding to that total.

In their four wins since the winter break Dortmund have been free scoring which has seen them enter the top five for xG. Meanwhile Hoffenheim have forgotten how to keep clean sheets, registering their last one on MD5 and boast a poor away 1.98xGA record. That combined with Füllkrug’s form only spells trouble for Die Kraichgauer.

Serhou Guirassy (14.9m / 20% TSB / VFB)

The Guinean goal machine is back. Starting for the first time since returning from AFCON Guirassy scored the first and decisive goal in their 2-1 away win over Darmstadt and picked up 11 points in the fantasy game. With the news that Undav will miss the MD23 game against Köln due to a slight muscle tear managers will flock to Guirassy as his replacement and with good reason. Such was his early season goalscoring form he still sits only second to Kane in the goalscoring charts with 18 goals this season.

Stuttgart tend to be rampant when at home too. They have scored 34 goals at the MHPArena which is only second to Bayern’s 37 goals at home. They have also performed well recently against the Billy Goats winning the last two games by a total of five goals to nil. Being the sole target man also makes an interesting case for Guirassy to be your star striker if you want to challenge those who place the star on Kane up front.

Ermedin Demirović (12.3m / 4% TSB / FCA)

It’s that man Demirović again in my recommended weekly striker picks and this week I am suggesting him as an alterative to the likes of Kane, Guirassy, Füllkrug and co. The Bosnia and Herzegovina striker does well at home as evidenced by nine goals and four assists at the WWK Arena. MD23 opponents Freiburg do not fare well on their travels. Put those two pieces of information together and you can see why Demirović could be a good differential.

Delving deeper into Freiburg’s away struggles they have lost 7/10 away games and have conceded a joint third worst 23 goals on the road. The Black Forest club have, including one game at home, conceded three goals in each of their last four fixtures – a leaky defence if ever I saw one. Augsburg have not won a home game since December 3rd but will fancy their chances on MD23 against a club in defensive turmoil.

Alternatives – Malen (16.5m / 7% TSB / BVB) / Ducksch (13m / 2% TSB / SVW) / Marmoush (12.3m / 3% TSB / SGE)

Matchday 23 Team Reveal (subject to change)

Notes

Transfers OUT – Raum, Guerreiro, Hofmann, Openda and Undav.
Transfers IN – Gosens, Weiser, Brandt, Füllkrug and Guirassy.
Formation: 4-3-3.
Goalkeeper – Zetterer (2.2m – SVW).
Defenders – Frimpong (19.4m – B04), (STAR) Grimaldo (16.6m – B04), Weiser (11.3m – SVW) and Gosens (11.8m – FCU).
Midfielders – Führich (12.4m – VFB), (STAR) Wirtz (19.5m – B04) and Musiala (17.8m – FCB).
Forwards – (STAR) Guirassy (14.9m – VFB), Kane (20.5m – FCB) and Füllkrug (17.2m – BVB).
BENCH – Nicolas (1.8m – BMG), Mittelstädt (7m ON SALE – VFB), Simons (18.5m – RBL) and Brandt (18.1m – BVB).
10.1m in the bank.