Fantasy Champions League 2013 Week 2: Top Stars to Watch on Wednesday

The Champions League enters its second week of action, and that means clubs' top stars will need to be at the top of their respective games. 

Wednesday's games feature plenty of big names. Here's a look at the top players to watch.

Yaya Toure, Manchester City

Manchester City’s Yaya Toure has been the standout player in a team littered with big names this season.

The man from the Ivory Coast has bagged four goals in six Premier League games, and he curled in another stunner during the opening week of Champions League fixtures in his team’s 3-0 away win against Viktoria Plzen.

The Manchester outfit host Bayern Munich at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, and Manuel Pellegrini’s side will once more be looking to Toure to provide the driving force from midfield.

The 30-year-old has offered more of an attacking threat this season, which could possibly be put down to the signing of Fernandinho from Shakhtar Donetsk. The Brazilian’s defensive abilities in midfield have given Toure freedom to roam forward, and he has done so with devastating results.

No longer shackled protecting the back four, Toure has become a genuine threat to opposition defenders. And a player who has the ability to ripple the net from any distance (as demonstrated below) is worth having in your fantasy side.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid

There’s not much to say about Ronaldo that hasn’t been said before. He is an expensive addition to any fantasy side, but points are all but guaranteed with the Portuguese forward in your team.

Ronaldo bagged a hat-trick away to Galatasaray in Real Madrid’s opening match in Group B, which put him as the joint-highest fantasy point scorer after Matchday 1. His total of 17 was matched only by Bayern Munich’s David Alaba, and, with FC Copenhagen set to visit the Bernabeu this week, the former Manchester United man has the potential to cause havoc once more.

The 28-year-old, who has found the net six times in La Liga this year, is the fourth-highest goal scorer in Champions League history with 53. He sits nine goals behind his nemesis Lionel Messi, who lies in third, and with the Argentine missing Barcelona’s 1-0 win over Celtic this week Ronaldo will be eager to cut that deficit.

Wayne Rooney, Manchester United

Although Manchester United have struggled so far this season, getting off to their worst Premier League start in 24 years, their star striker Wayne Rooney has started to look like his old self again.

The Englishman netted twice in his side’s 4-2 victory over Bayer Leverkusen, and his consolation free kick against West Bromwich Albion at the weekend handed him his 202nd goal in a United shirt. He now sits just 35 goals behind Reds legend Denis Law and 47 behind the club’s all-time record goal scorer Bobby Charlton.

Rooney thrives on being his side's talisman, and after being knocked off his perch by Robin Van Persie last season he is on a mission to win back the fans after his flirtations with Chelsea over the summer.

He will arrive in Donetsk with bitter memories of last year’s European Championships in the Ukraine, but this is a different Rooney. He has a chip on his shoulder and a point to prove, and that is when he is at his best. 

Alex Teixeira, Shakhtar Donetsk

Shakhtar Donetsk’s Alex Teixeira impressed during his side’s 2-0 win away against Real Sociedad two weeks ago.

The 23-year-old attacking midfielder capped off a solid performance with two goals, which was enough for him to earn a spot on Week 1’s dream team alongside some of the more established names in world football. 

Shakhtar welcome an out-of-form Manchester United side to the Donbass Arena on Wednesday night, and Teixeira will relish the opportunity to run at the Reds defense. The likes of Rio Ferdinand and left-back Alex Buttner struggled against West Brom’s direct running on Sunday. At times there were gaping holes at the back for Manchester United, and the young Brazilian will be hoping to exploit the faltering defense further.

Teixeira offers his side a goal scoring threat from midfield. He scored 16 times in 41 appearances last season and has started to find the net this campaign too.

And what fantasy team doesn't need a midfielder with an eye for goal?