The football world recently witnessed a moment of unexpected dominance as Chelsea faced off against Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup final. Despite pre-match predictions potentially favoring the Parisian giants, Chelsea delivered a stunning 3-0 victory in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All goals arrived in a decisive first half, with a brace from the phenomenal Cole Palmer and a crucial third from Joao Pedro, assisted by Palmer himself. This triumph not only added another major trophy (following a recent Conference League win) to Chelsea`s cabinet but also significantly impacted the world of fantasy football.
For managers participating in fantasy leagues centered around the tournament, the final matchday proved to be a goldmine for those who placed their faith in the London Blues. While some were left rueing their decision to stack teams with predicted PSG stars, others who dared to back the underdogs were richly rewarded. Here`s a technical breakdown of the fantasy “Top 11” (lining up in a 4-3-3 formation) derived from the results of this pivotal final matchday, showcasing where the points were truly won.
Goalkeeper
Unsurprisingly, the top fantasy goalkeeper for the final match was Chelsea`s guardian, Robert Sanchez. His clean sheet in the commanding 3-0 win earned him a solid 9 fantasy points (derived from a base score of 8 plus the invaluable clean sheet bonus). For fantasy managers, a goalkeeper keeping PSG at bay is a rare and beautiful sight, translating directly into crucial points.
Defense
Chelsea defenders truly dominated the fantasy backline, a direct consequence of their defensive solidity and attacking contributions. The highest scores among defenders went to Levi Colwill and Malo Gusto, both racking up an impressive 8 points each. This was a result of strong individual performances (rated 7.5) combined with attacking output – notably assists – which fantasy systems generously reward (though Gusto seemingly picked up a yellow card which slightly tempered his score). Reece James wasn`t far behind, securing a robust 7.5 points, while Trevoh Chalobah completed the formidable, all-Chelsea defensive quartet with a respectable 7 points. Selecting this defensive unit would have laid a strong foundation for any fantasy team.
Midfield
The midfield engine room also contributed significantly to fantasy tallies. The highest score in the middle of the park came from Moises Caicedo, earning 7 points (from a 7.5 performance score, slightly reduced by a yellow card – fantasy football`s often frustrating rule!). Enzo Fernandez also provided a solid return with 6.5 points. Rounding out the midfield spots in this fantasy selection, all securing 6 points, were Chelsea`s young talent Andrey Santos, alongside PSG`s duo of rising stars, Warren Zaïre-Emery and Senny Mayulu. This highlights that even in a losing team, players registering significant minutes or specific actions can find their way into the fantasy elite for the matchday.
Attack
The undisputed king of fantasy points on the final matchday was Chelsea`s attacking maestro, Cole Palmer. His phenomenal performance, featuring clinical finishing for two goals and a decisive assist for the third, resulted in a staggering 16 points (a base score of 9, heavily boosted by goal and assist bonuses). For any fantasy manager, such a return from a single player is transformative – a true captain`s performance if ever there was one. Sharing the fantasy forward line, albeit with significantly lower scores, were Mateo Delap (whose inclusion suggests points earned across the final matchday`s fixtures, perhaps a third-place playoff) and PSG`s forward Bradley Barcola, with 6 and 6.5 points respectively. A stark reminder that sometimes, one player`s exceptional outing can eclipse the fantasy returns of multiple others combined.
Chelsea`s unexpected and comprehensive 3-0 demolition of PSG was the defining moment of the Club World Cup final, and its impact on fantasy football was equally decisive. The fantasy “Top 11” for the final matchday is heavily skewed towards the victorious Blues, a testament to their dominant performance. Managers who either trusted their instincts and backed Chelsea, or perhaps just got lucky with their selections, reaped immense rewards, solidifying the notion that in fantasy football, as in the real game, backing the underdog when they strike gold can lead to ultimate glory (and significant bragging rights amongst friends).