#UCLfantasy popular picks and potential differentials
Monday, April 8, 2019
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Which players can you ill afford to miss out on, and are there still any bargain buys others aren't aware of?
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As the quarter-finals kick off, UEFA.com identifies the most popular Fantasy options in each position while also singling out some who could make the difference.
GOALKEEPERS
Popular pick
Alisson Becker (€5.6m) v Porto (h)
Close to a fifth of #UCLfantasy managers have selected Liverpool's No1 and most will be expecting a clean sheet from the Brazilian on matchday nine. A fortress for the Reds during last season's run to the final, Liverpool have once again turned Anfield into a place where opposition teams can expect few chances. The club have now kept three clean sheets in a row at home and will look to make it four in four when Porto visit.
Selected by: 18%
Potential differential
Andre Onana (€4.6m) v Juventus (h)
Selected by just 5% of all managers, Onana has scored the second most Fantasy points out of all goalkeepers. Ajax have kept two clean sheets in their four home matches this season, while Onana offers significant save points in addition to clean sheet potential. The Cameroonian has made 33 saves in the UEFA Champions League so far – the most of all goalkeepers currently left in the competition.
Selected by: 5%
DEFENDERS
Popular pick
Virgil van Dijk (€6.0m) v Porto (h)
We've doubled up on our popular picks at the back as we have selected Virgil van Dijk as our popular defender. The Dutch stalwart has been monstrous at the back for Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League and has shown his proficiency at the other end with a goal and two assists.
Selected by: 11%
Potential differential
Mattia De Sciglio (€5.4m) v Ajax (a)
You can't get more of a differential player than one who has an ownership of 0% amongst #UCLFantasy managers. Juventus have already kept five clean sheets in this season's competition and in recent domestic matches Massimiliano Allegri has deployed Mattia De Sciglio as a right wing back in a 3-5-2 system. With the Italian starting further up the field he offers attacking value, in addition to clean sheet potential. He is competing with João Cancelo for that position, but if selected, he offers great value.
Selected by: 0%
MIDFIELDERS
Popular pick
Mohamed Salah (€11.0m) v Porto (h)
Already on the radar of most Fantasy managers, Salah and Liverpool love playing at home in the UEFA Champions League, with the club scoring eight goals in their four home matches – Salah scoring three of them. The Egyptian is just coming into form at the right time, as he became the fastest Liverpool player to score 50 Premier League goals at the weekend. Given Porto have conceded in every away game in the UEFA Champions League this season, Salah's owners will be expecting some form of attacking returns here.
Selected by: 22%
Potential differential
Leroy Sané (€8.9m) v Tottenham (a)
Given Leroy Sané is the top-scoring midfielder in #UCLfantasy, it is perhaps a little surprising his ownership remains below 10%. Although a rotation risk, the German showed in the last round that he is capable of rewarding owners with significant points totals regardless of whether he starts or comes on from the bench. Manchester City played Schalke in the round of 16, where Sané scored in the first leg after coming on with just 12 minutes remaining. In the second leg he demonstrated how devastating he can be from kick-off with three assists and a goal in a 7-0 victory.
Selected by: 8%
FORWARDS
Popular pick
Lionel Messi (€11.6m) v Manchester United (a)
The highest owned #UCLFantasy asset this season is Lionel Messi. The Argentinian has been near unstoppable once again this season and is currently the tournament's joint top scorer on eight goals. The goals, coupled to his three assists, mean Messi has offered an attacking return every 44 minutes. Barcelona face Manchester United at Old Trafford on matchday nine and will take heart from the fact that the English club conceded two goals to Paris at home in the last round.
Selected by: 53%
Potential differential
Dušan Tadić (€7.5m) v Juventus (h)
Ajax come into the match against Juventus in terrific form, having scored 12 goals in their last three domestic matches. While Tadić has only accounted for one of these 12 goals, it has been a different story in the UEFA Champions League. Ajax's trip to the quarter-finals has been fuelled on the back of Tadić's six goals and four assists. If Ajax are to go further in this season's competition, they will surely rely on the Serbian to keep up his incredible record.
Selected by: 5%
