Fantasy Football Matchday 7 lessons: Defenders

The end of Matchday 7 provided a strong reminder to #UCLfantasy managers that there is still plenty of value to be found at the defensive end of the field.

Of the top six defensive scorers on Matchday 7, four were priced at a budget-friendly €4.8m or less. The quartet was led by Atalanta's Hans Hateboer (€4.8m), whose two goals at home to Valencia helped him rack up 15 points. Lyon's Fernando Marçal (€4.8m), Konrad Laimer (€4.2m) of Leipzig and Atlético's Renan Lodi (€4.2m) all picked up nine #UCLfantasy points, far exceeding the returns of a number of more premium-priced defenders.

Atlético's Renan Lodi (right) holds off Mohamed Salah of LiverpoolGetty Images

These cheaper options also serve to free funds up for the more expensive midfield and forward assets, as well as offering differential potential for #UCLfantasy managers. Even with the reduced number of teams at this stage of the competition, each of these four players have an ownership under 10%, with Hateboer and Marçal featuring in just 1% of teams.

With Liverpool, Paris, Juventus and Barcelona among the big names playing at home on Matchday 8, however, it would not be surprising to see a return to form of some of the pricier defensive assets who produced consistent returns in the group stage.