UCL Fantasy Football: Midfielders

UEFA.com looks ahead to the second legs of the round of 16 and assesses the best midfield options for #UCLfantasy managers.

A number of midfielders made a big impact on Matchday 7 from a #UCLfantasy perspective, with three players recording a haul of ten points or more. Both Leroy Sané (€9.4m) of Bayern and Manchester City's Bernardo Silva (€7.3m) registered a goal and an assist in their sides' respective Matchday 7 victories, with each picking up 11 Fantasy points. Just behind them with a score of ten points was central midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud (€5.3m), who found the net in Dortmund's 3-2 win away at Sevilla.

As we turn our attention towards the round of 16 second legs, one #UCLfantasy midfielder who stands out as an attractive option is Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (€11.6m). The Egyptian opened the scoring in the first-leg victory at Leipzig and has accrued 43 points over the course of this season's UEFA Champions League campaign – more than any other midfielder remaining in the competition. With Leipzig forced to commit bodies forward on Matchday 8 in an attempt to overturn a 2-0 deficit, Salah could be afforded a number of opportunities to find the net on the break with the likely additional space available to him.

Whilst Sané took the headlines in Bayern's 4-1 away triumph against Lazio, fellow winger Kingsley Coman (€8.4m) will prove an enticing prospect himself ahead of the return leg. The Frenchman managed one assist in that game and will be looking to add to the three goals he scored during the group stage, all three of which came on home soil.

One positive Lazio can take from their first-leg defeat against Bayern was the performance of Joaquín Correa (€8.1m), who scored his third UEFA Champions League goal of the season to give Simone Inzaghi's side a glimmer of hope heading into the second leg. With the Serie A outfit left with no choice but to go all out in a bid to overturn a three-goal deficit, Correa – classed as a midfielder in #UCLfantasy but is often found up front – could be the beneficiary. With his ownership at a mere 1%, the Argentinian is a tempting differential option.

Manchester City racked up nine goals over the course of their three home group stage matches and with Matchday 8 opponents Mönchengladbach having shipped 11 goals in their seven UEFA Champions League games this season, the current Premier League leaders are worthy of serious consideration for #UCLfantasy managers. As always, there are an array of attacking options to choose from amongst the City midfield, particularly Kevin De Bruyne (€11.4m) and Raheem Sterling (€10.5m). The former in particular, at just 5% ownership, has explosive potential and looks a tantalising Fantasy prospect now that he is back to full fitness.

A number of #UCLfantasy managers were dealt a headache on Matchday 7 as a booking for Casemiro (€6.2m) means the Real Madrid midfielder will be suspended on Matchday 8. For those looking to use one of their free transfers to replace the Brazilian, plenty of cheap options are available.

Bayern teenager Jamal Musiala (€5.2m) scored against Lazio in the first leg and could well be deployed in a central attacking midfield role once again. Alternatively, 20-year-old Curtis Jones (€5.4m) has been given scope to roam forward by Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp and like Musiala, comes at a budget-friendly price. Of course, neither are guaranteed a Matchday 8 start and either of their selections bring an element of risk. Whilst the temptation for many will be to transfer him out, holding Casemiro could well prove in the long term should Real Madrid qualify for the quarter-finals.