Fantasy Football Files - 2025/26 - Gameweek 13 - 'Triple Jeopardy'

Coach Kojo was my gameweek 13 opponent. We were both languishing at the wrong end of the table and having lost a 6-pointer against Jacques last week there was no way I could afford to lose against someone near me again.

I used my free transfer this week to sell Hugo Ekitike for Jean-Philippe Mateta. I wanted at least two Liverpool players but with Ekitike coming off with a knock in the Champions League last week, I did not believe he would start so I let him go as I fancied that Mateta could score against Manchester United. Kojo made three transfers, as only two of them were free he took a 4-point deduction. Out went Kieran Trippier, Amad Diallo and Matheus Cunha for Matty Cash, Estevao and Jeremy Doku. Coach and I both triple captained Erling Haaland.

The action started at 3pm on Saturday. Igor Thiago may have cost me dearly last week when he missed a penalty, but he redeemed himself this week. Brentford beat Burnley 3-1 and Thiago was at the double which included another spot kick. No clean sheet for Caoimhin Kelleher however, my other keeper Martin Dubravka was at the other end so it would not have made much difference. Dubravka was actually Kojo’s goalkeeper, so he did not benefit from this game. Manchester City took a 2-0 lead against Leeds, only for Leeds to pull it back to 2-2. A late Phil Foden goal sealed the game and his brace as I was left to feel sick for the first time since selling him. There was nothing again from Doku, so this made the Foden sale even more annoying. What was just as frustrating was the fact that Haaland blanked which wasted the triple captaincy. Sunderland got another important goal off the bench from Brian Brobbey as they came from 2-0 down to beat Bournemouth 3-2. Antoine Semenyo returned and was denied of points because Evanilson decided to touch a deflected shot that was going in anyway and the Brazilian was offside. Granit Xhaka got me points as he assisted Bertrand Traore’s goal with a slick reverse pass. Whilst Nordi Mukiele blanked, I left Marcos Senesi on the bench, but Kojo started the Argentine who ended with 2 points. Coach’s other man in the game Wilson Isidor blanked.

Neither of us had any players in Newcastle’s 4-1 demolition of Everton, so we will head to the 8pm game. Malick Thiaw’s double for the Magpies though shows he is an outrageous bargain at £4.9m. Anyway, as said to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium we go. With me fast running out of players, I was hoping that Micky van de Ven could help me out only for Spurs to be beaten 2-1 down by Fulham and for him to be booked. The Lilywhites’ home record is diabolical, and it continued as Guglielmo Vicario’s blunder saw him lobbed by Harry Wilson (£5.2m). Josh King assisted Wilson’s goal, he was only my second substitute though. Saturday concluded with a healthy lead 29-14, after last week however, I will never take anything for granted as the opposition had more players than me left.

Sunday, saw Crystal Palace take the lead at home to Manchester United as Mateta scored a re-taken penalty. Kojo lost Ismaila Sarr to an injury in the first half, so things looked good at half-time. United fired back to take all 3 points in the second period which saw us both lose points from Daniel Munoz. Kojo will much prefer in this instance that the team he supports won nevertheless, I am sure.

In the 2pm kick-offs, Jorgen Strand Larsen found the net and I was applauding, only for the goal to be ruled as Aston Villa went on to beat Wolves 1-0. This meant clean sheet points for Cash to please Kojo. Liverpool, did not start Mo Salah for their trip to West Ham and he was not substituted on either as they won 2-0. This meant I got Senesi’s points anyway off my bench. Cody Gakpo scored and assisted, but I do not know if I can go from Salah to him as the amount of money that would leave me in the bank I may go crazy with my transfers after. With AFCON soon coming up I am trying to keep composure as we will be getting extra transfers. Surely Salah starts at home to Sunderland, but you never know.  

So, it all depended on if Kojo’s remaining players Bukayo Saka and Estevao could get him the win as he trailed by 16 points. After Eze singlehandedly eradicated my 16-point lead last week I did not feel safe at all. Chelsea had Moises Caicedo sent off in the first half and you expected Arsenal to capitalise only for Enzo Maresca's men to remain the better side with one less man. Saka had an effort saved by Robert Sanchez. Estevao was then substituted at half-time, so I only had Saka to worry about. In the second half, the Blues took the lead through Trevoh Chalobah, however Saka assisted the leveller with some good wing-play as he found Mikel Merino who headed in. Thankfully, that was how the game ended and I was victorious as it finished 38-24.

The gameweek average was only 35, so my low score still beat it nevertheless I need to find some more points somewhere to significantly help my rank. I have a tough opponent next up, so I am going to be going through the motions deciding what to do as I need to get as clear from the bottom three in the 'Justice League' as possible.

@DubulDee