Champions League Fantasy Football: Top performers on Matchday 9

Eight players picked up 12 or more points in UCL Fantasy, presented by PlayStation, in the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off first legs; UEFA.com highlights the top scorers.

GOALKEEPERS

Despite conceding three times in Monaco's defeat at home to Paris Saint-Germain, Philipp Köhn (€4.6m) still recorded the best Fantasy score of any goalkeeper. The Monaco No1 picked up eight points thanks to his seven saves and a penalty stop from Vitinha.

Three goalkeepers earned clean sheets on Matchday 9, two of those gaining seven Fantasy points. Both Thibaut Courtois (€6.1m) and Gregor Kobel (€5.0m) registered three saves for Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund respectively, adding an extra point to their Fantasy as both sides secured first-leg leads.

Janis Blaswich (€4.0m) collected six points, making it consecutive Champions League clean sheets as Leverkusen overcame Olympiacos in Greece.

DEFENDERS

Two defenders produced double-figure Fantasy scores on Matchday 9, Alejandro Grimaldo (€6.2m) leading the way. The Leverkusen wing-back, a regular attacking threat this season, laid on the assist for the second goal at Olympiacos, his sixth attacking return of the campaign. Combined with a clean sheet and six ball recoveries, the Spaniard earned 11 points.

Another full-back who shone at both ends was Julian Ryerson (€4.9m), who picked up his highest Fantasy tally of the season. He set up Dortmund's first goal in a 2-0 win against Atalanta and finished with ten points having recorded five ball recoveries.

Both Dortmund and Real Madrid defenders scored heavily thanks to clean sheets. Ryerson's team-mate Ramy Bensebaini (€4.7m) acquired eight points, while Madrid's Álvaro Carreras (€5.0m) and Dean Huijsen (€4.4m) managed eight and nine respectively. Malick Thiaw (€4.8m) also recorded nine points after scoring his first Champions League goal for the Magpies, but Fantasy bosses should be aware that Thiaw is suspended for Matchday 10.

MIDFIELDERS

Matchday 9 will be remembered for the exploits of Newcastle's Anthony Gordon (€7.1m) thanks to four goals and 27 Fantasy points against Qarabağ. Two of his goals were penalties, one of which he won himself, and the Player of the Match award further boosted his tally to the highest individual Fantasy score of the season.

No one got close to Gordon's numbers, but there were other sizeable midfield returns. Désiré Doué (€7.9m) scored 19 points, coming off the bench to score twice and set up another as Paris came from two down to beat Monaco 3-2.

Multiple midfielders registered double-figure Fantasy returns as Galatasaray beat Juventus 5-2. Gabriel Sara (€4.7m) led the way with 14 points thanks to a goal, an assist, three ball recoveries and the Player of the Match. Team-mate Noa Lang (€6.2m) was on target twice and gained 12 points while Teun Koopmeiners (€6.0m) matched that total having scored both of Juventus' goals.

FORWARDS

No striker managed a higher return than Kasper Høgh (€5.3m), the only forward to be involved in three goals in the first legs after scoring once and providing two assists as Bodø/Glimt beat Inter 3-1. Player of the Match Høgh finished on 15 points and now has four goals, two assists and 34 points in the last three games.

Two strikers struck twice on Matchday 9, Patrik Schick (€7.0m) putting Leverkusen in pole position to secure a place in the round of 16. Another Player of the Match winner, Schick's 13 points was bettered only by Høgh among forwards.

A popular signing for the knockout phase play-offs, Serhou Guirassy (€8.3m) delivered a goal, an assist and 12 points against Atalanta in Dortmund. The fourth forward to register a double-figure Fantasy score was Monaco's Folarin Balogun (€6.1m), whose two early goals against Paris led to ten points.