Just one game to go in the First Round.
No-one is yet guaranteed a bye to Round 3, and no-one is eliminated yet.
De Bruyne Trousers 54 – 50½ Alleviate the Tedium
In an eerily similar result to their one previous encounter (S10, Cup R3, DBT W54-50) De Bruyne Trousers came out winners from another close-run 100-point match. 9- and 10-point returns for Reece James, Jacob Murphy and Leandro Trossard outshone all bar Giorgi Mamardashvili (also 10), and DBT are very well placed for a shortcut to the QFs.
Gloopy Yarbles 60½ – 69 Housewives Favourite
Of the three games this “matchday” surpassed the 120-point line, this was the closest. Had Dan Burn not had another negative outing, this game could’ve been a lot closer, possibly even going the other way. Unfortunately for the five Yarbles that scored 9 or more, Wives Fave were hot stuff again. HF: 3-from-3 in the group and seemingly receiving a bye; Yarbles on the cusp of qualifying for the next round.
Hung Like A Bony 73 – 53½ A.F.C. Chester
The Best-ish #1’s were no match this week for a Chester side desperate for goals. Defensively, Chester were great again, but they shared Raya’s seven points and were simply outclassed in midfield – Caicedo and Minteh both racking up 10½, playing behind another Haaland 16. It is now highly unlikely that Hung won’t proceed straight to R3, and quite unlikely that AFC Chester will squeeze into R2. Some consolation is that Chester are still top for least yellow cards and least negative points from GAO.
Peltier 50½ – 26 Atletico Topo Chico
If the group stage finished today, both teams would go into Round Two with a 2-1 record. However, as there is one more game to come, there is a glimmer of opportunity for one or both of these to finish in the top four next week. Peltier ended ATC’s mini-run with an Amad/Murphy 20-pt midfield combo, and ATC didn’t help themselves with two zeroes and a Nathan Collins -5.
Preliminary Version 57½ – 39 All Star Gunners
Gabriel was on form yet again, their fifth 8+ score in a row, and they were matched by Guehi in another victory over their Championship rivals. Granit Xhaka (ASG) was the man of the match with an impressive 13½FPts, but the Gunners were let down by a front three of Kroupi (3½), Schade (1) and Semenyo (3) who had been scoring really well over the last few weeks.
Shams Army 55 – 47 Mighty Fine
We said last week that Shams Army had a problematic midfield and that continued in GW10, with the exception of Morgan Gibbs-White, scoring one of Shams two goals this week, and winning the game for the Army. It was his highest return this season (9½FPts) turned a 1½-point loss into an impressive 8-point win. Danny Welbeck should also be credited here with the other goal, his fourth in three weeks, and 9 points for Sham. Mighty Fine brought in ex-Oxford United and World Cup-winning ‘keeper Emi Martinez to fill the net, but he was unable to repeat his double-figure score of last week, and Mighty Fine will have to hope results go their way next week. Shams Army qualify for Round Two, they are unlikely to sneak into the top four, but if they beat fifth-placed Peltier this weekend then they will climb above at least one of the three teams they need to surpass.
Smash & Grab 43½ – 83½ Barons FC
Once again, Smash counted more minutes on the green (862v813), but it would have taken another whole gameweek to match the 83½FPts of their opponents. Barons revelled in big scores from Cucurella (9), Gibbs-White (9½), Cherki (11½), Rice (14½) and Haaland (16), and probably didn’t mind leaving Reece James (10) on the bench. The result leaves the two teams adjacent to the two cutoffs – Smash are hovering just below the red line, needing a win and facing the #1 team next, while Barons return to the top four with a best-of-the rest matchpoints advantage.
The Phenoms 52½ – 46 BattleVAR Galactico
The Phenoms continue their trend of scoring between 47-57 FPts, but BattleVAR were unable to better that this week. Once again, Dan Burn (-2) will be taking the blame for a loss, but in truth their midfield and strike force have a lot to answer for too. The win puts Gyökeres and The Phenoms into the next round, with a narrow shot at a golden ticket, and the Galacticos remain in the top 12.
Fixtures – MD4 (GW11)
A.F.C. Chester (0-3) -v- Barons FC (2-1)
Chester have found themselves facing a bogey team next – they have lost the last NINE games against Barons, extending back to League One in Season 4. That run includes two Champions League games in Season 10, BArons won those 28-18 and 32-19.
As BattleVAR are playing ASG this weekend, if Chester can win they they will be in a good position to take one of the last four progression spaces. Unfortunately, they have to face the highest-scoring team last week. Barons massive 80+ was the highest score of all three weeks so far, and it put Barons in a good position to earn a bye to the Quarter-Finals. However, if they lose then they will have to go through a Second Round KO to get there.
Atletico Topo Chico (2-1) -v- Mighty Fine (1-2)
We are privileged this weekend to have a rematch of last season’s BFFA Cup Final, being played in the Champions League. That high-profile fixture went the way of Mighty Fine, winning 38-24. There have been two more meetings since then too – Gameweek 1: ATC 29-44 MF; Gameweek 10: ATC 26-47 MF. And these two have met in the Champions League First Round before too – in S9, winning one game each. This season, ATC are guaranteed progress to the next round no matter the result as they can’t finish the round any lower than 12th. They can, however, make the top four if they win and other results go their way. MFF are extremely unlikely to claim the bye, and instead will be focusing on just sealing a top-12 finish, because if they lose and two of the bottom five win, it could mean a drop into the red zone.
BattleVAR Galactico (1-2) -v- All Star Gunners (1-2)
This is the game that all eyes will be on. Because both teams are on the bubble, the winner will qualify for the next round, and the loser’s survival will be in jeopardy. It’s all or nothing for ASG next weekend. If Preliminary Version win, then ASG would need to beat BattleVAR and outscore them by 17 or more in order to progress. The game could be decided by how each team uses/benches Granit Xhaka.
Gloopy Yarbles (1-2) -v- De Bruyne Trousers (3-0)
Last season’s Champions League Final finished with a convincing win for Gloopy Yarbles, giving them the crown that they still wear today. However, the cross-season nature of the CL is evident here as the holders come in to this rematch as underdogs. Gloopy lost to DBT in Gameweek 7 (53½-56½), but did outscore them by six last weekend, and in five of the ten gameweeks this season, so this matchup could go either way.
Housewives Favourite (3-0) -v- Alleviate the Tedium (0-3)
This pair also met in the CL First Round last season, where Wives Fave won both meetings. Judging by their form this season Wives Fave – top of the PL, 7W streak – seem to be clear favourites with the bookies as well as those bored housewives. Their record in this season’s CL also indicates an inability to lose, thus far anyway. This could be Housewives’ year. They are already assured progression, but they don’t currently know whether they will feature in Round 2 or have a rest week before the Quarter-Finals. In order for ATT to get into the next round on the other hand, they will have to not only perform a giant-killing, they will also have to outscore the teams above them, by quite a lot. We’ve seen that Mamardashvili, Lacroix and Saliba can represent well, Grealish also has his moments, but can they all bring it together when it counts? It’s all or nothing from Saturday.
Hung Like a Bony (3-0) -v- Smash & Grab (0-3)
Hung have long tried to emulate HF’s success, and this year they seem to be on course to earn some prize money. They are top-scorers across the Leagues and in the CL too and, while it is extremely unlikely that they will fall out of the golden four, are looking to seal a bye to the QF’s with a win over Smash & Grab. Unless winless Smash & Grab can beat Hung LAB next weekend, they will waving goodbye to another opportunity at CL glory.
Preliminary Version (1-2) -v- The Phenoms (2-1)
The fixture between BVAR and ASG ensures that the 2-1 teams will be progressing while the other eight will be competing for their place. This means that The Phenoms aren’t worried about elimination tonight, but instead will be playing for a golden ticket. For that, they will need a good score, a win and two or three teams above them to lose their games this weekend. It could very well happen for them.
At the other end, Prelim are on the verge of qualifying for the second round, but they will also need a win to guarantee it. They could lose and qualify, but that route would leave their fate in the hands of the Gunners and Chester (and Smash and ATT), and that’s not an appealing (albeit dramatic) option. Prelim (3rd in the Championship) thrashed The Phenoms (2nd) 71½-50½ in Gameweek 4, and outscored them last weekend too.
Shams Army (2-1) -v- Peltier (2-1)
Shams Army will be facing Calafiori in both the League and CL, and Peltier will be playing against Gvardiol in the League and CL. The Champions League fixture will be the first meeting between the two sides, and both are playing for a top-four finish. The winner of this game will have a chance, but not a guarantee, of earning a direct route to the Quarters. The loser will lose nothing, they are simply playing for position in the group; the higher they finish, in theory, the better. So expect a high-scoring affair, expect some last-minute line-up changes, and expect to see more fireworks from Danny Welbeck (Shams) and Jacob Murphy (Peltier) at 2pm on Sunday.
At the end of the round:
1st-4th: 》The top four will get a bye to Round 3 (the QFs).
5th-12th: 》The teams in places 5th-12th will playoff in Round 2;
(A) 5th v 12th // (B) 6th v 11th // (C) 7th v 10th // (D) 8th v 9th. Two legs.
13th-16th: 》The bottom four will be eliminated.
If tiebreakers are needed, it will be decided on Goals Scored, then Best-ish ranking, then trackback weekly scores.
Round 2: Two legs
GW12 & GW13
From Round 3 the highest-ranked teams will face the lowest-ranked teams (rankings decided by the Group Stage positions). R3 is also two legs – GW15 & GW16.
Round 4 is the Semi-Finals.
Again, the highest-ranked team will play the lowest-ranked remaining side.
SF also two legs, beginning after the new year – GWs 22 & 23
And then the Final takes place in Gameweek 25. One leg – No replay if drawn.
Enjoy.
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