#UCLfantasy: What the numbers say

Predicting which Fantasy players are going to perform on a given matchday is a difficult task. Through crunching the numbers, a projected points’ total for each player has been calculated based on the player's historical performance in the UEFA Champions League. Goals, assists, clean sheets and the likelihood of playing are the major parameters used in our projections.

The top projected players for each position for Matchday 9 are given below.

GOALKEEPERS

He may be one of the most expensive goalkeepers #UCLfantasy but for good reason as Atlético de Madrid's Jan Oblak (€6.0m) is projected to lead the way on Matchday 9. Since the return to action, Oblak has collected six clean sheets in ten matches in the Spanish Liga and Diego Simeone will be banking on a strong display from their star goalkeeper against Leipzig. Manchester City's Ederson (€5.7m) and Paris Saint-Germain's Keylor Navas (€5.6m) provide viable alternatives with the latter the top-scoring goalkeeper this season on 41 points.

DEFENDERS

Unsurprisingly it is Paris and Atlético defenders that are also projected to reap the most returns on Matchday 9 with Juan Bernat (€5.7m) for Paris and Atlético's Felipe (€5.3m) the top-ranked defenders. Not only do the duo feature in strong defensive lines, but they have picked up attacking returns to bolster their scores. Bernat leads all defenders in #UCLFantasy with 53 points so far this season having been involved in six clean sheets but he's also scored once and provided two assists. Felipe sits just behind him in second for defenders with 48 points thanks to four clean sheets and one goal, while the Atlético central defender has picked up 15 points due to his impressive 51 balls recovered this season.

Both are likely to figure in plenty of teams, but another key defender to pick is Manchester City's Kyle Walker (€5.6m). The right-back was in rampaging form against Real Madrid last week and is worth considering for defensive and attacking returns against Lyon.

MIDFIELDERS

It is no surprise to see two Bayern midfielders on the list with the competition’s leading goalscorers showing no sign of easing up in their second leg against Chelsea. The German champions have now scored 31 goals in eight matches in this season’s Champions League which explains the high projected scores for Serge Gnabry (€8.3m) and Ivan Perišić (€8.5m).

Manchester City also feature two midfielders in the top five with Raheem Sterling (€11.3m) and Kevin De Bruyne (€10.3m) expected to continue their fine form. No midfielder has scored more than Sterling’s 56 points this season, the England international having scored six times, won two penalties and claimed two assists. De Bruyne is another one to watch as he has been in sparkling form on the domestic front since football resumed. The Belgian playmaker has scored six goals and produced four assists in his last 12 matches in all competitions.

FORWARDS

We are used to seeing Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo topping the Champions League goalscoring charts, but it is Robert Lewandowski (€10.9m) in top spot this year. The Polish hitman has scored a staggering 13 goals and produced four assists in 617 minutes of Champions League football, translating into an attacking return just over every 36 minutes. His 83 points in #UCLFantasy take him way above any other player on the game and make him a vital part of any team.

Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus (€8.4m) is next on the list as the Brazilian is enjoying his best goalscoring season in Europe’s elite club competition. He has scored six goals and picked up three assists which makes the second-highest point scoring forward great value at €8.4m. The top five is completed by Neymar (€11.4m), Lionel Messi (€11.5m) and Memphis Depay (€8.0m), the latter having scored in all six of his appearances in this season's UEFA Champions League.