Champions League Fantasy Football: Forwards

Unlike last season when the choice of forwards was extremely limited in the UEFA Champions League final between Manchester City and Chelsea, this time around both Liverpool and Real Madrid boasting some excellent attacking options for managers on #UCLfantasy, presented by Playstation.

• Midfield options
• Defenders in focus
• Final goalkeepers

There is no doubt who the standout striking option is, with Karim Benzema (€10.8m) taking the competition by storm this year. The Frenchman sits on 100 #UCLfantasy points for the season – 24 points clear of second-placed Mohamed Salah – having scored 15 goals. The Real Madrid talisman even had former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo's record of 17 goals in a single UEFA Champions League season in his sights, and certainly looks capable on current form.

Ten goals in the knockout stage alone is testament to Benzema's big-game pedigree and his recent exploits have put him joint third on the list of all-time goalscorers in the UEFA Champions League. Having already inspired triumphs against both Chelsea and Manchester City in the last two rounds, a third Premier League team now stands in his way and it would be a bold #UCLfantasy manager who would go without the 34-year-old.

Benzema is ably supported by Brazilian pair Vinícius Júnior (€9.2m) and Rodrygo (€8.1m), who have made telling contributions of their own. Vinícius has started all 12 of Madrid's matches in this season's competition and has registered an attacking return in seven of those, his six assists more than any player still involved. Rodrygo was the star in Madrid's 3-1 comeback victory against Manchester City in the semi-final second leg, his last-gasp double integral to turning the tie around. He has five goals and two assists in the UEFA Champions League this season and is the cheapest of Madrid's triumvirate.

Liverpool also have three main forward options to choose from and it is Luis Díaz (€8.5m) who stands out having forced his way into Jürgen Klopp's preferred starting XI since arriving in January. The Colombian has four goals, one assist and three Player of the Match awards across the competition, both for his current club and former employers Porto, and it would be a surprise if he did not start at the Stade de France.

#UCLfantasy managers should certainly not discount Roberto Firmino (€8.7m) and Diogo Jota (€8.5m), however. Despite limited playing time Firmino has found the net five times en route to Paris and is now free of injury, while Jota has enjoyed the best scoring season of his career with 21 club goals in all competitions, and both are likely to be involved even if they miss out on the starting line-up.