Champions League Fantasy Football: Popular picks and potential differentials

Ahead of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second legs, UEFA.com assesses the players who are highly sought after on #UCLfantasy, presented by Playstation, as well as those of lower ownership capable of big returns.

GOALKEEPERS

Popular pick

Thibaut Courtois (€5.7m) vs Arsenal (H)
With Real Madrid needing to overturn a three-goal deficit against Arsenal, keeping a clean sheet is likely to be essential. Courtois recorded five saves in the first leg and is the second highest-owned of the eight goalkeepers who featured on Matchday 13. He should be crucial to the holders' chances of mounting what would be a memorable comeback.
Owned by 20%

Potential differential

Wojciech Szczęsny (€4.0m) vs Dortmund (A)
Szczęsny has conceded just one goal in the knockout stage, making 12 saves and keeping two clean sheets, including most recently in Barcelona's 4-0 home victory against Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their quarter-final. The Polish goalkeeper picked up seven Fantasy points in that game and at a budget-friendly price, offers differential appeal heading into the return leg.
Owned by 9%

DEFENDERS

Popular pick

William Saliba (€5.5m) vs Real Madrid (A)
Part of an Arsenal back line who shut out Real Madrid in their first-leg triumph, Saliba came away from Matchday 13 with nine points after making 11 ball recoveries. Of the Gunners' six clean sheets in this season's Champions League, Saliba has played in five and the Frenchman heads into Matchday 14 as one of just three defenders with an ownership over 20%.
Owned by 23%

Potential differential

Alessandro Bastoni (€5.4m) vs Bayern München (H)
Inter's 2-1 win against Bayern in Germany was underpinned by a brilliant defensive performance from Bastoni, who claimed six points after being named Player of the Match. Averaging over five points a game since Matchday 7, Bastoni could be key to Inter's chances of maintaining their aggregate lead in the second leg. With no team having conceded less goals in the competition, Bastoni offers excellent value as a lesser-owned defender.
Owned by 6%

MIDFIELDERS

Popular pick

Raphinha (€7.8m) vs Dortmund (A)
Owned by half of Fantasy managers, Raphinha's three attacking returns and 14 points in the first leg against Dortmund made it 12 goals, seven assists and 119 points for the season. Three more goal involvements would break Cristiano Ronaldo's record of 21 for Real Madrid in the 2013/14 Champions League, and Raphinha next returns to Dortmund, where he scored on Matchday 6.
Owned by 50%

Potential differential

Youri Tielemans (€6.2m) vs Paris Saint-Germain (H)
With Aston Villa needing to score at least twice in the second leg, Tielemans' creativity may be crucial after his assist helped Villa open the scoring in France. The Belgian is yet to record less than a four-point score across the knockout stage and offers potential Fantasy returns from multiple avenues having also registered 13 ball recoveries over the past three matchdays.
Owned by 3%

FORWARDS

Popular pick

Harry Kane (€10.9m) vs Inter (A)
Despite not scoring on Matchday 13, Kane's sizeable Fantasy ownership will be backing the England captain to add to his ten goals already in the 2024/25 Champions League in the second leg at Inter. With two goals, an assist and 17 points from Bayern's last two away fixtures in the knockout stage, he has the form to deliver again.
Owned by 36%

Potential differential

Désiré Doué (€4.8m) vs Aston Villa (A)
The 19-year-old's cheap price tag combined with his recent form in front of goal makes him a hugely attractive option for Fantasy bosses looking for a point of difference in their forward line. Doué's brilliant strike against Aston Villa made it four goals in his last three appearances for Paris in all competitions and also gave him a third eight-point Fantasy return of the campaign.
Owned by 2%