Champions League fantasy football: popular selections | UEFA Champions League

With the UEFA Champions League group stage fast approaching, UEFA.com are evaluating a number of players in all four positions, sparking strong interest among managers on #UCLfantasy, presented by Playstation.

GUARDIANS

Thibaut Courtois (€6.0m) was the standout goalkeeper in last season’s competition, so it’s no surprise to see him not only the highest scoring goalkeeper, but also the second most popular player in all positions (44 %). The Belgian keeper has recorded 69 Fantasy points in 2021/22, including five clean sheets and 61 saves.

Under Diego Simeone, Atlético are still seen as a team capable of shutting out opponents and providing clean sheet points for #UCLfantasy managers. Jan Oblak (€5.5m) has already earned two clean sheets in three La Liga games this season and boasts an ownership percentage only improved by Courtois.

The only other goalkeeper whose ownership currently stands at more than 10% at the time of writing is the ever-reliable Manuel Neuer (€6.0m). The experienced German kept four clean sheets in last season’s group stage for Bayern and a similar story here would net plenty of Fantasy points, although with Bayern drawn in a tough group Neuer is likely to be a man busy.

Other popular choices: Gianluigi Donnarumma (9%), Alisson Becker (8%), Marc-André ten Stegen (8%)

DEFENDERS

Given the threat of attack from Joao Cancelo (€6.5m) For Manchester City, not to mention his UEFA Champions League numbers last season, many managers moved quickly to land the high-priced full-back, with 41% holding the Portugal international as-is. Cancelo’s 65 points were the most by a defender in last year’s competition and that’s largely down to the 28-year-old’s attacking power combined with his defensive skills. Not only did Cancelo score two goals and three assists, but he also racked up 55 ball recoveries.

Another flying rear, Trent Alexander-Arnold (€6.5m) is also extremely popular. Like Cancelo, Alexander-Arnold’s attacking license makes him the perfect fantasy defender despite his high price tag. Expect the Liverpool star to be a regular set-piece taker as his 33% ownership looks to increase his four assists in the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League campaign.

Alexander-Arnold isn’t the only Liverpool defender to catch the eye of #UCLfantasy, with 29% ownership Virgil Van Dijk (€5.5 million) currently the third most popular player in this position. The towering centre-back has been cheaper in 2022/23 compared to previous seasons which is probably the key factor behind his current popularity. Van Dijk offers several routes to Fantasy points: clean sheets, ball recoveries or offensive returns thanks to his aerial threat from set pieces.

Other popular picks: Reinildo (23%), Alphonso Davies (20%), Achraf Hakimi (14%)

MIDFIELDS

Jorginho (€5.5m) Being the most popular midfielder at the time of writing may come as a surprise to a few people, but he’s proven to be a useful Fantasy asset over the years. His price is extremely cheap for a midfielder who is likely to play regularly for Chelsea during the group stage, and he should once again be the regular penalty taker for Thomas Tuchel’s side. Two goals and two assists last season prove the Italy international is more than capable of attacking returns and he is certainly capable of justifying his 28% ownership.

Just behind Jorginho on the property front is another central midfielder Luka Modric (€7.0m), after winning his fifth UEFA Champions League trophy last season with Real Madrid. The timeless 36-year-old – currently in 26% of squads – continues to show why he remains one of the best players in Europe and Fantasy managers sense a bargain. In 2021/22, Modrić provided four assists, but also collected 39 fetches and two Player of the Match awards.

A new addition to the #UCLfantasy midfield ranks is Vinicius Junior (€10.0m). The 2021/22 UEFA Champions League Young Player of the Season played a key role in Real Madrid’s European triumph, registering four goals and six assists, including the winner of the final against Liverpool. Having been listed as a striker last season, #UCLfantasy managers acted quickly after his switch to midfield, with 23% having already signed the 22-year-old.

Other popular picks: Joshua Kimmich (20%), Kevin De Bruyne (18%), Mohamed Salah (16%)

FORWARDERS

After a great UEFA Champions League campaign last time out, more than half of active #UCLfantasy managers are betting on Karim Benzema (€11.0m) to repeat his remarkable goalscoring exploits from 2021/22. The experienced French striker is the only player in all positions to claim more than 50% ownership ahead of this season’s group stage, having scored 15 goals last season and also managed to acquire a fantastic triple-digit tally of 102 points, unmatched by any. other player. Having started the domestic season well, it would take a brave #UCLfantasy manager to ignore Benzema.

He may not be at Bayern anymore, but Robert Lewandowski (€11.0m) continued to score goals with almost monotonous regularity. The Barcelona striker will be looking to make a big impact in the UEFA Champions League at his new club, and as the third all-time top scorer in the competition’s history, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Lewandowski accumulate important Fantasy points. once again. With a current turnout of 25%, a quarter of managers agree.

Also owned by a quarter of Fantasy bosses is Erling Haaland (€11.0m)who started the new campaign emphatically at new club Manchester City, already finding the net with regularity. Kylian Mbappe (€11.0m) is in 23% of teams at the time of writing, thanks to four goals in his first three Ligue 1 outings in 2022/23 – and five goals in his last four UEFA Champions League appearances.

Other popular picks: Lionel Messi (14%), Neymar (14%), Darwin Núñez (14%)