UCL Fantasy Football popular picks and potential differentials

UEFA.com looks over some highly fancied #UCLfantasy assets as well as some options who could prove shrewd differentials.

GOALKEEPERS

Popular pick

Manuel Neuer (€6.0m) vs Atlético (A)
While he may not have kept a clean sheet on Matchday 4, the Bayern keeper was nonetheless at his brilliant best in the reigning European champions' 3-1 victory over Salzburg. Neuer recorded a total of ten saves over the course of the match as his side were reduced to ten men during the second half, guiding them safely to victory. The German international has now racked up 19 saves in his last two UEFA Champions League matches. Next up for Neuer and Bayern is a trip to Atlético, a side that Neuer shut out on Matchday 1 and which failed to score against Lokomotiv Moskva in their most recent Group A contest.
Selected by 31%

Potential differential

Ederson (€6.0m) vs Porto (A)
Manchester City's 1-0 win at Olympiacos on Matchday 4 brought their Brazilian keeper his third successive clean sheet of the group stage. He has now accrued 18 #UCLfantasy points over the course of the last three matchdays, playing a pivotal role in his side securing their safe passage into the round of 16 with two games to spare. A trip to Porto awaits Josep Guardiola's men on Matchday 5, with motivation high for Ederson to keep his run of clean sheets going as City look to confirm themselves as Group C winners.
Selected by 7%

DEFENDERS

Popular pick

Angeliño (€5.4m) vs İstanbul Başakşehir (A)
The race for knockout qualification from Group H is really starting to hot up with Manchester United topping the group on nine points and both Paris and Leipzig on their heels with six apiece. The latter travel to İstanbul Başakşehir on Matchday 5, a team that defender Angeliño has very fond memories of after not just keeping a clean sheet but also scoring twice in a 2-0 victory against the Turkish champions on Matchday 1. With another assist to his name over the course of this season's group stage and 28 Fantasy points acquired thus far, Angeliño provides a huge attacking threat from full-back to go with his defensive ability, making him a highly popular #UCLfantasy option.
Selected by 19%

Potential differential

Zaidu Sanusi (€4.6m) vs Manchester City (H)
With 29 points already this season, the Porto left-back is among the top four highest scoring #UCLfantasy defenders after four matchdays. It's easy to see why, with Sanusi always a threat roaming forward on the left-hand side, combined with the Portuguese side's defensive stability. The Nigerian's first goal of the group stage on Matchday 4 brought him 14 Fantasy points as Porto defeated Marseille 2-0 in France. With three successive clean sheets to his name and 28 points picked up within the same time period, Sanusi could prove a highly valuable differential option on Matchday 5 as his side welcome Manchester City to Portugal.
Selected by 1%

MIDFIELDERS

Popular pick

Wílmar Barrios (€4.5m) vs Club Brugge (A)
As the second most highly owned #UCLfantasy player in this season's UEFA Champions League, the Zenit midfielder has proved to be a fine budget-enabler due to his ability to record ball-recovery points. The Colombian has completed 37 of those in the four matchdays so far, the joint third most of any #UCLfantasy player this season. This has brought Barrios an extra 11 points, once again showing the benefits of the ball recovery system to #UCLfantasy managers. Barrios will continue to provide great value to his large ownership, who will be expecting another high total of ball recoveries from him on Matchday 5 as Zenit travel to Club Brugge.
Selected by 45%

Potential differential

Jadon Sancho (€10.0m) vs Lazio (H)
After being afforded a rest from Bundesliga action heading into Matchday 4, the fresh legs of Sancho starred for Dortmund against Club Brugge. The England international curled in a sumptuous free-kick and also laid on an assist for Erling Braut Haaland as Lucien Favre's men secured a comfortable 3-0 win. The 12 #UCLfantasy points that Sancho accumulated from the victory took him to 22 points overall this season, an impressive figure considering the winger did not feature on Matchday 3. Most notably, Sancho has scored in his last two group appearances and, should he keep this goalscoring form up against Lazio on Matchday 5, owning him could prove extremely lucrative.
Selected by 3%

FORWARDS

Popular pick

Erling Braut Haaland (€11.0m) vs Lazio (H)
Another Dortmund player takes the spotlight here and for good reason considering his form in both European and domestic competition. Haaland continued his mesmerising run of goals on Matchday 4, his double against Club Brugge breaking another UEFA Champions League record. Haaland's first goal was his 15th in the UEFA Champions League in just his 12th appearance, with fewer games required to reach that milestone than any other player in the competition's history. His 16th goal in the second half means the 20-year-old striker has not only scored six goals in this season's group stage, but he has also racked up 12 in his last seven appearances for Dortmund in all competitions. With 32 points to his name, the Norwegian is the second highest points scorer in the group stage so far and it would take a brave #UCLfantasy manager not to have him in their side for the home game with Lazio on Matchday 5.
Selected by 44%

Potential differential

Martin Braithwaite (€5.8m) vs Ferencváros (A)
Starting in a rotated Barcelona side on Matchday 4, the Danish forward took his chance by scoring twice and registering an assist in a 4-0 win away to Dynamo Kyiv. Having previously played just one minute of UEFA Champions League football this season, Braithwaite gained 15 #UCLfantasy points, offering a message to investors that he could prove the differential they need heading into Matchday 5. With Barcelona already through and on the road again as they travel to Hungarian champions Ferencváros, Ronald Koeman will surely be tempted to stick with Braithwaite after his performance on Matchday 4. It's a gamble, but if he does you won't find a cheaper route into the Barcelona attack.
Selected by 0%