UCL Fantasy Football popular picks and potential differentials

Ahead of Matchday 10, UEFA.com looks at some highly fancied picks, as well as those who could emerge from under the radar.

GOALKEEPERS

Popular pick

Manuel Neuer (€6.0m) vs Paris
Bayern's first-leg defeat at home to Paris meant Neuer, the highest owned goalkeeper in #UCLfantasy, picking up just one point from the fixture. The German stopper and his defence will have to improve considerably in France if they are to stand a chance of turning the tie around and advancing to the semi-finals. Leading up to that first leg, Neuer was in good form having kept four successive clean sheets in all competitions for club and country, and while he will no doubt be busy on Matchday 10 as Paris look to once again utilise their devastating pace going forward, even if Neuer fails to keep a clean sheet he stands a good chance of racking up #UCLfantasy points based on shot saves.
Owned by 33%

Potential differential

Thibaut Courtois (€6.0m) vs Liverpool
A clean sheet for Real Madrid and goalkeeper Courtois will guarantee Zinedine Zidane’s side a place in the semi-finals after the Spanish giants secured a 3-1 victory over Liverpool in the first leg. From a #UCLfantasy perspective, this bodes well for anyone considering bringing Courtois into their squad, as Madrid are expected to prioritise defensive stability and not take any unnecessary risks that could lead to their two-goal aggregate lead being wiped out. The Belgian international has already kept three clean sheets in this season's competition and given Liverpool have failed to score in six of their last seven Premier League fixtures at Anfield, Courtois represents a shrewd differential option in a position where there is little choice to be had at this stage of the UEFA Champions League.
Owned by 8%

DEFENDERS

Popular pick

João Cancelo (€6.1m) vs Dortmund
Despite being part of a defence that failed to keep a clean sheet on Matchday 9, Cancelo still managed to accrue four #UCLfantasy points from Manchester City's hard-fought 2-1 victory over Dortmund thanks to seven ball recoveries. Cancelo is now the joint highest scoring #UCLfantasy defender remaining in the competition having accumulated a total of 52 points alongside two other players, with 48 of those coming in his past six appearances. The Portuguese star is unsurprisingly a popular option among #UCLfantasy managers considering the different outlets for points that he provides, with both a goal and an assist to his name already to complement his four clean sheets and 46 ball recoveries.
Owned by 17%

Potential differential

César Azpilicueta (€5.2m) vs Porto
Chelsea continued their outstanding defensive record in this season’s UEFA Champions League after overcoming Porto on Matchday 9. The Blues have now recorded an impressive 13 clean sheets from their last 16 games in all competitions and seven from nine European fixtures. Given Thomas Tuchel’s side are yet to concede a goal in the knockout stage, any Chelsea defender is an enticing #UCLfantasy asset ahead of Matchday 10, and none more so than club captain Azpilicueta, who has been a regular starter since Tuchel since took over. The Spaniard is currently the highest scoring #UCLfantasy defender for Chelsea over the course of the competition with 43 points to his name despite not featuring in two of the nine matches played. With an ownership of just 6% to his name, Azpilicueta appears a smart pick for any managers looking for a leg up on their rivals.
Owned by 6%

MIDFIELDERS

Popular pick

Mohamed Salah (€11.8m) vs Real Madrid
Despite being on the losing side in the first leg, Liverpool’s Salah managed to get on the scoresheet once again. That goal helped him acquire seven #UCLfantasy points, taking him to 59 overall with 32 of those coming in his last four appearances as he firmly establishes himself as the highest scoring midfielder still involved. Salah, with six goals in nine UEFA Champions League appearances this season, is likely to play a crucial role if Liverpool are to mount a comeback in the tie, and with penalties falling under his domain, it is no surprise that the Egyptian is amongst the most highly-owned #UCLfantasy assets heading into Matchday 10.
Owned by 20%

Potential differential

Vinícius Júnior (€7.9m) vs Liverpool
A standout performer for Real Madrid in their first leg against Liverpool, Vinícius Júnior recorded the second highest #UCLfantasy score of Matchday 9, gaining a total of 12 points after his two goals helped the Liga side to a 3-1 triumph. Despite being listed as a midfielder in #UCLfantasy, the 20-year-old Brazilian has been utilised as part of both a front two and a front three by Zinédine Zidane to great effect. This means his owners gain an extra point for a goal and also a point for a clean sheet. At this stage of the season, every single point counts and owning such a player can see you gain extra points where your rivals don’t. With 18 points accrued over the course of the last two matchdays, Vinícius Júnior looks a highly enticing differential pick
Owned by 3%

FORWARDS

Popular pick

Kylian Mbappé (€11.1m) vs Bayern
In what was an extraordinarily entertaining quarter-final first leg between last season’s UEFA Champions League finalists, it was Paris forward Mbappé who stole the show, just as he did against Barcelona in the round of 16. Two goals for the Frenchman in his side’s 3-2 win away to Bayern took his goalscoring tally in this season’s competition to eight, with all of those coming over the course of the last four matchdays. Mbappé is currently the joint second highest owned #UCLfantasy asset despite his premium price and with 43 Fantasy points accumulated since Matchday 6, it’s easy to see why. Another end-to-end spectacle in the second leg would suit Mbappé to a tee, and he is easily one of the most captainable assets on Matchday 10.
Owned by 33%

Potential differential

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (€6.6m) vs Paris
In the absence of star striker Robert Lewandowski due to injury, former Paris forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting was given the nod to lead the line for Bayern on Matchday 9 against his old club. The physical Frenchman repaid the faith showed in him by Hansi Flick by scoring his third UEFA Champions League goal of the season, picking up five #UCLfantasy points in the process. It could have been far more with Choupo-Moting afforded numerous chances thanks to Bayern's ultra-attacking style of play that meant they registered 31 shots on goal, the most faced by Paris in the Champions League since records began in 2003/04. The 32-year-old is expected to feature again on Matchday 10 and at just €6.6m, represents what could turn out to be a huge bargain if he can prove more clinical in front of goal in the second leg.
Owned by 3%