UCL Fantasy Football popular picks and potential differentials

UEFA.com looks over some popular #UCLfantasy assets ahead of Matchday 4 as well as some options who could prove valuable differentials.

GOALKEEPERS

Popular pick

Jan Oblak (€5.9m) vs Lokomotiv Moskva (H)
It hasn’t been the ideal start to this season’s UEFA Champions League for Oblak, who has failed to keep a clean sheet in the group stage so far, conceding seven goals in three games. However, Oblak has shown signs in recent matches that things may start looking up for him and his high #UCLfantasy ownership, having followed his clean sheet for Atlético in their Liga fixture against Cádiz with another shut-out for Slovenia away to Greece in the UEFA Nations League. With Atleti at home to Lokomotiv on Matchday 4, Oblak still represents a popular goalkeeper pick and is highly fancied to record his long overdue first clean sheet of this season's UEFA Champions League.
Owned by 11%

Potential differential

Agustín Marchesín (€5.0m) vs Marseille (A)
Porto will be happy with their start to this season’s UEFA Champions League group stage having won two of their opening three games, and a key component to their success has been the form of their goalkeeper, Marchesín keeping clean sheets in both of those victories. This has led to the Argentinian custodian accumulating 15 Fantasy points, the third highest total among all goalkeepers so far in this season’s competition. Porto travel to Marseille on Matchday 4, with the French side having yet to find the net in the group stage, and an in-form Marchesín will be confident of a third successive European shut-out.
Owned by 1%

DEFENDERS

Popular pick

Ben Chilwell (€5.5m) vs Rennes (A)An integral part of a Chelsea defence that has kept clean sheets in all three of their UEFA Champions League group stage matches, the left-back has proved a worthy acquisition for the Blues after signing from Leicester this summer. Not only has Chilwell been solid at the back, he also poses a significant attacking threat having already registered two goals and two assists for Frank Lampard’s men in this season’s Premier League. Chelsea visit Rennes on Matchday 4 and whilst this not only appears an attractive prospect in terms of keeping a fourth consecutive clean sheet, Chilwell’s offensive runs into the opposition penalty box increases the likelihood of the England international adding to the 18 #UCLfantasy points he has already racked up in this season’s competition.
Owned by 17%

Potential differential

Rúben Dias (€5.5m) vs Olympiacos (A)
The centre-back has settled in nicely at Manchester City and has already recorded his first UEFA Champions League clean sheet for the club via a 3-0 win at Marseille on Matchday 2. Dias returns from international duty having scored twice in Portugal’s thrilling 3-2 UEFA Nations League victory against Croatia, proving that he brings more than just his defending abilities to the table. With City at Greek champions Olympiacos on Matchday 4, Dias is likely to play an important defensive role as his side looks to keep their third clean sheet in four group stage games and, combined with his aerial threat from set-pieces, the defender looks a shrewd pick.
Owned by 3%

MIDFIELDERS

Popular pick

Frenkie de Jong (€6.5m) vs Dynamo Kyiv (A)
The Barcelona midfielder is a player who has benefitted from the ball recovery system in #UCLfantasy this season. The Dutch international has recorded a total of 18 completed ball recoveries over the course of the opening three group stages matches, which has added an extra five Fantasy points to his tally. With an assist on Matchday 1, De Jong is an example of a player who can combine his ability to gain ball recoveries with the potential for attacking returns as well. This establishes him as a valuable #UCLfantasy option that is reflected in his high ownership, and those owners will be hoping De Jong continues on the same path in Barcelona’s trip to Dynamo.
Owned by 18%

Potential differential

Diogo Jota (€7.5m) vs Atalanta (H)
Jota has made quite the impact so far in the UEFA Champions League group stage. Having started for Liverpool on both Matchdays 2 and 3, the summer signing from Premier League rivals Wolves backed up his first UEFA Champions League goal against Midtjylland with a hat-trick away at Italian side Atalanta as the champions of England hit five goals without reply. Having accrued the most #UCLfantasy points of any midfielder so far this season with 27, Jota has to be considered a golden differential pick as Matchday 4 pits him against Atalanta again.
Owned by 8%

FORWARDS

Popular pick

Cristiano Ronaldo (€12.0m) vs Ferencváros (H)
Ronaldo missed out on the opening two matchdays of the group stage but returned to the Juventus starting line-up on Matchday 3 and registered an assist in the Italian champions’ 4-1 win away to Ferencváros, who now come to Turin for the reverse fixture. That result was sandwiched between two Serie A games against Spezia and Lazio respectively, in which Ronaldo was in the thick of the action again with three goals scored. The Hungarian side travel to Juventus Stadium with Ronaldo looking for his first UEFA Champions League goal of this season’s group stage and it would take a brave #UCLfantasy manager not to have the forward in their team.
Owned by 17%

Potential differential

Lautaro Martínez (€10.5m) vs Real Madrid (H)
Inter have just two points despite scoring four goals over the course of their opening three matches. However, they will be hugely encouraged by the return to form of forward Martínez, who provided both a goal and an assist in their 3-2 defeat at Real Madrid on Matchday 3. The Argentinian added another goal five days later against Atalanta in Serie A. With Martínez central to Inter’s attacking prowess, head coach Antonio Conte will be pinning his hopes on the 23-year-old once again on Matchday 4 as the Italians again take on Madrid, this time in Italy. With such a low percentage of #UCLfantasy ownership, Martínez may prove the best forward investment out there for anyone looking to make ground up in their respective leagues.
Owned by 3%