Bundesliga Fantasy Matchday 22 Expert Picks and Team Reveal

With a new round ahead, we take a look at Bundesliga Fantasy Matchday 22 expert picks and team reveal. @FPLGunnersaurus joins us to give his top picks for the Matchday ahead whilst also sharing his squad going into the new round with his general thoughts.

Twitter is full of the most experienced fantasy football players around. Those managers can be some of the best people to look to when trying to gain clarity when making decisions within our teams. Checking out the Bundesliga Fantasy Matchday 22 expert picks and team reveal can help hugely for the round ahead.

Defenders – David Raum (13.5m / 45% TSB / RBL)

Raum has come right back into form lately. The German international has picked up double-digit fantasy scores in three matches since the winter break despite the indifferent form of Die Roten Bullen. In Leipzig’s 2-2 away draw at Augsburg Raum registered an assist for the third game in a row. That is now six assists for the season along with a couple of goals and against MD22 opponents Borussia Mönchengladbach another attacking return could be on the cards.

I will go into detail on Gladbach’s expectation to concede more than two goals per game away from home in a later pick. But, focussing on Raum it is perhaps surprising to see that he is underperforming when it comes to his expected assists, albeit perhaps through no fault of his own. He has created 10 big chances this season and has a 6.95xA, suggesting that those on the other end of his crosses/passes simply are not putting them away. Henrichs on the other side of defence is a great pick too but if you only have ‘raum’ for one Red Bull defender then Raum is your man.

Maximilian Mittelstädt (7.8m / 15% TSB / VFB)

With goals in each of his last two games and up against the side who have conceded the most goals at home it should no shock to see Mittelstädt’s name here once again. Mittelstädt in Stuttgart’s current set-up is playing a left-wing back role which is allowing him to venture into the opposition half more. I am possibly thinking about moving him out for Bayern’s Mazraoui away to Bochum (who returned 25 points in the reverse fixture there) especially if it looks like Stuttgart will change formation to accommodate Guirassy back into the XI.

Mittelstädt is however slowly becoming a reliable source of points, averaging 13.6 points across his last three, and with a favourable fixture schedule still ahead there is no rush to move him on. After the Darmstadt game Die Schwaben host Köln, Union Berlin and Heidenheim in their next three home games with away trips to Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim either side of those first two home games. At such a great price owning him really allows you to go big elsewhere too when a favourable fixture presents itself.

Max Finkgräfe (1.8m / 2% TSB / KOE)

I can not remember the last time I suggested a pick from the Die Geißböcke but for this matchday it comes with good reason. Köln are starting to show some signs of life in the relegation battle and are unbeaten in three, picking up one win and two draws. That win came at home with a 2-0 surprise victory over Frankfurt and it is at the RheinEnergieStadion Max Finkgräfe will play on Friday night.

Finkgräfe has picked up 34 points of his 49 points total over this three game undefeated mini-streak with 15 points of those coming in the last game against Hoffenheim. There he scored his first goal of a season and from a direct free kick no less, which only strengthens his appeal. The 19-year-old will be full of confidence coming into the home game against Werder Bremen, this despite Bremen having won their last two away games. Of course there are better options to target this matchday in defence but if you are strapped for cash and need a budget asset then look no further.

Alternatives – Henrichs (13.4m / 16% TSB / RBL) / Mazraoui (12.2m / 2% TSB / FCB) / Gosens (10.5m ON SALE / 5% TSB / FCU)

Midfielders – Xavi Simons (18.1m / 58% TSB / RBL)

Despite his nine game double-digit fantasy streak coming to an end in MD21 Simons is still one of the best midfield options for MD22. He may have only registered one attacking return since MD11 but I still have that feeling we are due a sensational Simons haul soon. With how his double-digit returns are going all it will take is a goal or assist (preferably both) and we could be seeing a fourth 20 points+ return of the season for the Dutchman.

Opponents Gladbach have not won an away game since September 30th and have lost four in their last five on their travels, conceding three or more goals in three of those losses. It is fair to say Leipzig are not a team in form either but with an upcoming away trip to current champions Bayern Munich they will be desperate to instil some confidence ahead of that fixture. As always Simons remains a strong candidate for the star midfielder and I am leaning towards placing my trust once again in the Leipzig maestro this upcoming matchday.

Jamal Musiala (17.4m / 43% TSB / FCB)

Bayern Munich only recorded a 0.29xG against Leverkusen, the lowest they have ever recorded since xG records were kept. After a humbling 3-0 loss to the league leaders (as well as a midweek 1-0 away loss to Lazio in the UCL where they did not record a single shot on target) Bayern will be looking for a statement win on MD22 and an opponent they love recording those kind of victories against are their MD22 opponents Bochum.

In the last five meetings between the two clubs Bayern have scored 26 goals against Bochum’s four and have won three of those five games 7-0, one of which was when they last visited the Vonovia Ruhrstadion. Bambi has not returned more than nine points in a game since his 26 points haul on MD17 but do not be put off by that. With a good pool of forwards available this matchday managers may need to look at other positions to increase their Bayern contingent ahead of this game. Musiala, as mentioned many times before, is listed as a midfielder so it is easier for him to score points. Prospective owners could be in for some Musiala madness on matchday 22.

Aleksandar Pavlovic (1.9m / 10% TSB / FCB)

I will start this pick by saying I am not sure if the Bayern academy graduate will start on MD22. Given Kimmich’s return to full fitness we may see Tuchel revert to the tried and tested central midfield pairing of Kimmich and Goretzka. That said if you are buying a Bayern midfielder sure to get some gametime for 1.9m then you can not complain even if he comes off the bench.

Prior to the Leverkusen loss Pavlovic had scored his first Bundesliga goals scoring in wins over Augsburg and Gladbach. As with the Finkgräfe pick there are better options available but if your wallet is light and you need someone cheap then the German U20 international fits the bill.

Alternatives – Grifo (17.5m / 12% TSB / SCF) / Olmo (13.9m / 9% TSB / RBL) / Millot (9.9m / 6% TSB / VFB)

Forwards – Loïs Openda (16.5m ON SALE / 35% TSB / RBL)

It is another rinse and repeat pick recommending Openda for the second week running. It should come as no surprise though considering he is on sale with a 1.8m saving and especially considering his MD22 opponents are Borussia Mönchengladbach. Openda was selected by many to carry the forward star on MD21 and he could have hauled if it was not for a missed penalty. He still found the back of the net though and continued his hot scoring streak with a goal for the fourth game in a row.

The Foals, as I have mentioned many times before, boast the worst expected goals away metric which is currently sitting at 2.09xG. It is no wonder they have conceded a league second worst 26 goals whilst on the road this season. Leipzig will hope to make it back it back home wins for the first time this side of the winter break. If they do pick up the win it is a safe bet to make that Openda finds the next for the fifth successive game.

Ermedin Demirović (12.4m / 3% TSB / FCA)

Demirović may not be the name on many a fantasy manager’s mind when they think of prolific Bundesliga strikers this season but 12 goals and six assists for the Augsburg man says otherwise. With attacking returns in each of his last four games, including tough games against Bayern and Leipzig, the Bosnia and Herzegovina international striker could well be the differential you need to stand out against your rivals.

Die Fuggerstädter have a favourable fixture on MD22 when they travel to second from bottom Mainz. Mainz look like a club in total disarray having not won a game since MD10 (their only win this season) and are now on to their third manager of the season after the sacking of Jan Siewert replacing him with Dane Bo Henriksen. In such form and against a club struggling for Bundesliga survival Demirović could dazzle.

Deniz Undav (12.1m / 45% TSB / VFB)

With the news that Undav was struggling with a muscular injury fantasy managers either transferred the Stuttgart striker out or chose not to bring him in at all (or worse in my case bring Guirassy in instead). In classic fantasy football fashion he started the game versus Mainz, scored and picked up 10 points making him the fourth striker to break the 200 points barrier this season.

In what is probably a completely sideways move I will be looking to transfer Guirassy out for his German strike partner. It is crazy to think that the Guinean goal machine could be benched again but with Stuttgart having won three in a row and scoring 11 goals across them is there room for him? Meanwhile Undav just continues to be one of the Bundesliga’s most lethal strikers. Undav now has 14 goals for the season and with an upcoming away trip to bottom side Darmstadt one would think he adds to that tally on MD22. Die Lilien are one goal away from conceding 50 goals for the season – Undav probably scores that.

Alternatives – Sané (19.4m / 33% TSB / FCB) / Ducksch (12.8m / 2% TSB / SVW) / Tella (10.7m / 0% TSB / B04)

Bundesliga Fantasy Matchday 22 Team reveal (subject to change)

Notes

Transfers OUT – Mittelstädt, Reus, Olmo and Guirassy.
Transfers IN – Mazraoui, Musiala, Grifo and Undav.
Formation: 4-3-3.
Goalkeeper – Zetterer (2.0m – SVW).
Defenders – Frimpong (19m – B04), Henrichs (13.4m – RBL), Raum (13.5m – RBL) and (STAR) Grimaldo (16.4m – B04).
MID – Führich (12.5m – VFB), (STAR) Musiala (17.4m – FCB) and Wirtz (19.1m – B04).
FOR – Undav (12.1m – VFB), (STAR) Kane (20.2m – FCB) and Openda (16.5m ON-SALE – RBL).
BENCH – Nicolas (1.7m – BMG), Mazraoui (12.2m – FCB), Simons (18.1m – RBL) and Grifo (17.5m – SCF).
1.9M in the bank.