UCL Fantasy Football Matchday 4: 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 4 are given below. As ever, check the team news and predicted line-ups before making your final selection.

GOALKEEPERS

It is no surprise to see Edouard Mendy top the list as he is the only goalkeeper to have kept clean sheets in all three group stage games so far, with his Chelsea side looking for a second successive shut-out against Rennes on Matchday 4. Not far behind him is fellow Premier League keeper Ederson, who has not conceded a UEFA Champions League goal since Manchester City’s Matchday 1 victory over Porto, while Juventus’ Wojciech Szczęsny and Swiss pair Yann Sommer and Roman Bürki are also projected to perform well.

DEFENDERS

Thomas Meunier was an excellent #UCLfantasy asset during his time with Paris and he is proving his worth once more at new club Dortmund. A clean sheet and assist against Club Brugge on Matchday 3 brought the Belgian ten Fantasy points and he tops the projected defenders list ahead of the reverse fixture on Matchday 4.

One of the new entries this time around is Ramy Bensebaini, who has already amassed two goals and a clean sheet in Mönchengladbach’s three games to date. The versatile Algerian was on the scoresheet in the 6-0 win at Shakhtar last time out and the Bundesliga side now welcome the same opponents to Germany.

Given their impeccable defensive record so far, Chelsea centre-back pairing Kurt Zouma and Thiago Silva are favoured once more, while Atlético’s José María Giménez and Kieran Trippier sneak into the top ten with the Liga side hoping to keep a first clean sheet in the UEFA Champions League this season when Lokomotiv Moskva visit Madrid.

MIDFIELDERS

Following his stunning hat-trick on Matchday 3, Diogo Jota has shot straight to the top of the list and is fully deserving of that spot given that he has accumulated more points than any other #UCLfantasy midfielder at this stage. Bruno Fernandes may be considered a surprise inclusion after blanking against İstanbul Başakşehir on Matchday 3 but domestic performances are also taken into account by the algorithm and the Manchester United man has been in fine form in the Premier League.

Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho did not feature on Matchday 3 but has every chance of starting against Club Brugge this time around. The 20-year-old impressed for England over the international period and his 3% ownership makes him an attractive option for #UCLfantasy managers hunting for an explosive differential option in midfield.

FORWARDS

The increasingly essential Erling Baut Haaland tops for the forward list and for good reason considering his two goals away Club Brugge on Matchday 3. The Norwegian has scored on all three matchdays so far which is a record also shared by Lionel Messi, and with Cristiano Ronaldo expected to line up for his first home game of the UEFA Champions League campaign, #UCLfantasy managers face some key decisions when it comes to their Matchday 4 forward line.

An alternative Juventus option could be the cheaper Álvaro Morata, currently the joint top scorer in the competition, while Robert Lewandowski owners should monitor the team news carefully as the Pole is said to have picked up a knock while playing for his country recently.