It’s a fresh new start for the toughest tournament in Fantasy Football.
The greatest teams of yesteryear are thrown together into the completely fictional Coliseum of fantasy football competition. Sixty matches will reduce the field down from sixteen elite teams to just two.
Then, the final battle will decide who will be named the Champion of Champions!
Group A:
The Premier League Champions will face three teams that are also looking for their first Champions League title. Vanishing Spray have been in every Champions League since the first tournament in 2015 but have never made the Final. In a group full of BFFA history, it will take a very high-quality side to make it through to the Quarter-Finals.
Vanishing Spray F.C. -v- Branwellington F.C.
The Premier League Champions begin their Champions League quest against a team they’ve only faced twice before, in a previous CL. Branwellington and Vanishing Spray began the 2016 Champions League with a low-scoring 50-point game; The Spray won the match 27-23. In the return fixture Spray took the three points more convincingly, striding out 37-20 winners and progressing from their group in second place. Vanishing Spray would go on to the Semis, winning one and losing one but going out 101-89 on aggregate to Cornballers.
The Money Team -v- Smash & Grab
Since joining the BFFA in 2015, these two have shared a lot of the last four years in each other’s crosshairs. Both enjoyed consecutive promotions in their first two seasons to bring them into the Premier League.
In the 2017/18 season Smash played and beat Money six times out of six, including both legs of their Champions League Quarter-Final in 2017. When the 2018/19 season started, Money’s fortunes changed. They beat Smash three times in four games and finished the season as Premier League Runners-Up. Smash however, lest we forget, won the BFFA Cup.
There’s pure pedigree in this match, definitely one to watch.
Group B:
All four Group B teams are competing in the Premier League this season. Although there are no CL/PL double-headers this season, each team has already met two of the others in the first four weeks and will meet the third before the group stage is over.
Boss -v- All Star Gunners
It’s the Championship Champions versus the current Champions League Champions in the first match in Group B. If that’s not enough to whet your appetite then it might be worth noting that Boss are 6-2 against the more-successful Gunners and ASG’s last win was back in GW1. This game will also set up nicely their PL matchup in GW6.
Mighty Fine Feeling -v- Bigger Than Brolin
Another match overflowing in quality here. Both teams won three consecutive promotions to get themselves into the Premier League and neither look like dropping out anytime soon. There’s also plenty of silverware on show from the two teams – both have League titles, BtB have won the Cup and MFF have won the CL.
This season MFF enter the CL with their 100% winning record intact and look good to challenge for another Best-ish title. They have beaten the other two teams in this group in the PL already but haven’t played BtB yet. This isn’t their first meeting though. The pair were brought together in last season’s Champions League Quarter Finals; MFF won both games, 54-44 and 47-42.
Group C:
Group C offers the best mix of the four. This melting pot will bring together teams from all three of the top divisions.
Tralfamadore Zoo F.C. -v- AFC Chester
No-one likes playing the Zoo, and why would they? Since joining the BFFA they have won 71 of their 97 games. So who’s the best team to take them on? Well AFC Chester aren’t a bad bet at all. They came closest last season to the Zoo, they’re second in the Championship right now and they’ve got the next best matchpoints tally. If anyone’s going to get a win over the Zoo, well, Chester have a better chance than most.
Hung Like a Bony -v- F.C. Santa Barbara
When previewing a match-up, I rely pretty heavily on similarities and past meetings. However, these two have never played each other. One team have just completed their second season, the other is entering their fifth. Hung LAB are joining the Champions League for the first time, stepping into the unknown. FCSB have been here before, and were cruelly dropped out in the first round having drawn two of their group games. One matchpoint would’ve got them into the next round as group winners. Oh for what could’ve been… As for this weekend, this result is anyone’s guess.
Group D:
“Veterans” was a key word used at the draw. Group D features two teams that have been here since the start – Sporting Wicker Park and KH Granitza Sting. Both have been to the CL Final, one has won it. But while their trophy collects dust, they are preparing to win another, and maybe enough dough to pay for a cleaner.
Route 57 F.C. -v- Sporting Wicker Park
Last season R57 set a record for the most League Points in a season as they ran away with the League Two title. They’ve never crossed paths with SWP, so this matchup could prove to be anyone’s game. Both have raised similar tallies, only six matchpoints between the two after four games and both are mixing wins and losses early on this season. It is going to be a test of new blood against experience. Did R57 burn too brightly last season? Are Wicker Park still burning too gently?
K.H. Granitza Sting F.C. -v- Cabezazo Increíble
If you’re looking for tough-to-call games, try this one on for size. Both in League One, both tied in second place; both have won three, lost one; both have scored exactly the same number of matchpoints! They’ve not met in the League yet, that comes in GW8, but they have met once before in the BFFA Cup. In 2018 they faced-off in Round Two. Cabezazo (then 4th Place Trophy) won the game 40-39. This weekend, who knows‽
Gameweek 5
This Gameweek begins on Saturday with Liverpool -v- Newcastle, well known for it’s high-scoring history, and will finish with the claret-and-blue derby (the other one) on Monday night.
Enjoy the weekend!
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