UCL Fantasy Football: Midfielders

UEFA.com looks forward to the first legs of the quarter-finals and weighs up the best midfield options for #UCLfantasy managers.

A fully-fit Kevin De Bruyne (€11.3m) – who was on target on Matchday 8 against Borussia Mönchengladbach – is essential to Manchester City's hopes of winning the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history and he is expected to be one of the first names in Josep Guardiola’s starting line-up against Dortmund on Matchday 9.

Also finding the net on Matchday 8 was German international İlkay Gündoğan (€6.6m), who returned nine Fantasy points for his owners which took his overall tally to 40 points. Having started in all but one of City's eight UEFA Champions League games so far this season and priced at less than €7.0m, Gündoğan represents a real #UCLfantasy bargain with three goals and 27 ball recoveries to his name so far.

As we enter the quarter-final stage, ball recovery points become even more important for #UCLfantasy managers looking to gain an edge on their rivals as the pool of participating players becomes smaller. One such player who could provide that edge is versatile Brazilian Fabinho (€5.7m). The Liverpool man has been deployed as a defender throughout the season due to injuries within the Reds camp, however on Matchday 8 he reverted back to his favoured position in central midfield with great success.

An incredible 19 ball recoveries in Liverpool's 2-0 triumph against Leipzig added six points to Fabinho's otherwise modest #UCLfantasy tally, leaving him with an overall score of nine points. Liverpool travel to Real Madrid on Matchday 9 and with a current ownership of just 3%, Fabinho may prove the ideal differential option for any manager looking for a cheap midfielder.

Speaking of Liverpool midfielders, Mohamed Salah (€11.7m) continued to spearhead the Premier League side's attack with another goal on Matchday 8, his fifth of this season's competition. Salah is currently the highest scoring #UCLfantasy midfielder still involved, having racked up 52 points over the course of his eight appearances. For those looking for a cheaper option though, it may be worth considering Diogo Jota (€7.9m), who has four goals, one assist and 39 #UCLfantasy points to his name including a hat-trick on Matchday 2 which earned him a score of 18 points. Now fully fit after a lengthy injury absence, Jota has an excellent chance of starting for Liverpool on Matchday 9.

Reigning champions Bayern also boast a number of riches in midfield as Hansi Flick's side host Paris Saint-Germain on Matchday 9 in a repeat of last year's final. A key decision facing many #UCLfantasy managers is which winger to opt for, with Leroy Sané (€9.5m), Serge Gnabry (€9.8m) and Kingsley Coman (€8.4m) all vying for a place in the Bayern team.

Coman owners were disappointed with his absence on Matchday 8 but he has recent history against Paris having headed the decisive goal in their Lisbon showdown last August. The Frenchman has already registered three goals and three assists over course of this season's competition with all but one of those six attacking returns coming in Munich.