#UCLfantasy popular picks and potential differentials
Thursday, August 20, 2020
Article summary
UEFA.com looks at the Paris and Bayern squads to find out who everyone's picking, and who they might have overlooked.
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Article body
UEFA.com examines who the masses are flocking to and who is flying under the radar on Matchday 11.
GOALKEEPERS
Popular pick
Manuel Neuer (€6.0m)
Bayern's sweeper-keeper produced the goods on Matchday 10 with a clean sheet and seven #UCLfantasy points in the semi-final win over Lyon, and his owners will be hoping for more of the same against another French outfit in the final. Neuer has conceded just three goal in the eight matches he has played against French club opposition in his career and has five clean sheets in this season's competition ahead of Sunday's finale.
Selected by 18%
Potential differential
Sergio Rico (€4.3m)
This suggestion comes with a warning as Paris No1 Keylor Navas – the highest-scoring goalkeeper in #UCLfantasy this season – could recover from injury in time to return between the sticks on Sunday. If the Costa Rican fails to make it, though, understudy Sergio Rico could once again prove to be a canny differential following his seven points against Leipzig in the semi-finals, so keep your eye on the Paris line-up before making your final decision.
Selected by 3%
DEFENDERS
Popular pick
Joshua Kimmich (€6.5m)
Bayern's Kimmich is everything you want from a Fantasy defender as he provides both clean sheet potential and attacking returns. Both were in evidence in Wednesday's semi-final victory against Lyon and his owners were rewarded with a healthy ten points. The German is easily the most highly selected defender in the game and looks a must-own asset heading into the final.
Selected by 29%
Potential differential
Presenel Kimpembe (€5.6m)
Kimpembe is one of the lesser-owned players in the Paris back line but is surely worthy of consideration for one main reason: ball recoveries. In a match in which both teams are likely to score, ball recoveries could be the difference in terms of which defender scores the most #UCLfantasy points, and Kimpembe has made 55 of them in this season's UEFA Champions League campaign – second only to team-mate Thiago Silva.
Selected by 6%
MIDFIELDERS
Popular pick
Serge Gnabry (€8.5m)
In-form Gnabry is the runaway leader in terms of popularity among #UCLfantasy managers as the Bayern man is approaching 30% in ownership. It's easy to see why, as the German international has nine goals and leads his nearest midfield competitor – Ángel Di María – by 20 points, meaning he is surely an essential option for #UCLfantasy managers on the final matchday.
Selected by 28%
Potential differential
Philippe Coutinho (€9.0m)
There is certainly a risk associated with selecting Coutinho given he has not started the last four UEFA Champions League matches, but he showed how devastating he could be from the bench in Bayern's quarter-final against parent club Barcelona and he was somewhat unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet again against Lyon last time out. Owned by just 7% of #UCLfantasy managers, the Brazilian should not be discounted.
Selected by 7%
FORWARDS
Popular pick
Robert Lewandowski (€11.1m)
The best-scoring Fantasy player in 2019/20 is unsurprisingly the most highly owned, with Lewandowski surely the first name on #UCLfantasy managers' team sheets. The Pole has scored 55 goals in all competitions this season and is two goals short of Cristiano Ronaldo' record of 17 in a single UEFA Champions League campaign, despite not playing every game.
Selected by 46%
Potential differential
Thomas Müller (€9.0m)
Following his 13-point return against Barcelona, Müller saw his ownership rise prior to Bayern's semi-final and, despite failing to provide an attacking return against Lyon, he remains a tempting differential choice as he still only features in 5% of teams. The one-club man is no stranger to the biggest stages having done it all in the game and it would be no surprise to see him play an integral role in the final.
Selected by 5%