UCL Fantasy Football: Best Matchday 12 options

#UCLfantasy managers have been granted three free transfers heading into Matchday 12, so UEFA.com highlights some assets worth considering from each position.

GOALKEEPERS

None of the four goalkeepers on show on Matchday 11 managed to keep a clean sheet, but each is still a perfectly viable #UCLfantasy option ahead of the second legs. Chelsea stopper Edouard Mendy (€5.5m) has the highest number of clean sheets accrued of all the goalkeepers remaining in this season's competition with seven to his name so far. After securing a vital away goal in their 1-1 draw against Real Madrid in the first leg, Chelsea and Mendy know that another clean sheet on Matchday 12 would see them advance to the final and therefore defensive solidarity could well be prioritised by Thomas Tuchel's side in the second leg.

Any managers looking for an alternative option to Mendy would be wise to consider Brazilian keeper Ederson (€6.0m), who has already racked up six clean sheets in this season's competition. His Manchester City side triumphed 2-1 against Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg in France and, like their fellow Premier League side, know a clean sheet in the second leg would ensure their passage to the final.

DEFENDERS

Whilst clean sheets are hard to come by at this stage of the competition, defenders can still accumulate a large portion of #UCLfantasy points through their attacking exploits. This was proven on Matchday 11 by Marquinhos (€6.0m) as the Paris captain scored the opening goal of the game which led to him earning a total of eight Fantasy points, the most of any defender on Matchday 11. With last season’s runners-up trailing to Josep Guardiola's side on aggregate heading into the second leg, the likes of Marquinhos and full-back Alessandro Florenzi (€5.0m) each have a high potential #UCLfantasy points ceiling on Matchday 12, as each are expected to be afforded licence to roam forward both for set-pieces and in open play.

A strong defensive performance is needed by Real Madrid in their second leg away to Chelsea if they wish to advance to the final and owners of Real Madrid defenders such as Nacho (€5.0m) and Raphaël Varane (€5.8m) will need to hope Chelsea don't find the net. One potential returnee to the Real Madrid side is captain Sergio Ramos (€6.5m), who hasn't featured in the UEFA Champions League since Matchday 8. Whilst his status must be monitored, getting Ramos in early could prove extremely lucrative for #UCLfantasy managers, with the centre-back providing not only defensive stability, but also a huge attacking threat having already registered two goals and one assist in just four appearances in this season's competition, with a big factor his penalty-taking duties

Chelsea will have ambitions for a clean sheet of their own, particularly at Stamford Bridge where they have managed eight from nine matches in all competitions since Tuchel took charge as head coach back in January. The Blues will be expected to field a back three and after recording an assist on Matchday 11, centre-back Antonio Rüdiger (€4.9m) should be a popular transfer in when considering his cheap price tag. Whilst slightly more expensive assets, César Azpilicueta (€5.4m) and Ben Chilwell (€5.5m) are also expected to court interest among #UCLfantasy managers.

MIDFIELDERS

Manchester City's midfield talisman Kevin De Bruyne (€11.4m) continues to establish himself as one of the most valuable #UCLfantasy assets remaining after picking up his third goal and seventh attacking return of the competition on Matchday 11. He now sits on 47 points overall, an outstanding return when considering the fact he has not featured in five of Manchester City’s 11 European games played so far. However, it was team-mate Riyad Mahrez (€9.0m) who was the highest scoring midfielder of the semi-final first legs after the winger scored a free-kick to go with his three completed ball recoveries, giving him a total of nine Fantasy points. While De Bruyne will likely court more attention from #UCLfantasy managers, the cheaper Mahrez may provide the shrewder #UCLfantasy asset to own with the Algerian having scored in successive UEFA Champions League fixtures and accruing 27 points over the course of the last four matchdays.

With the onus on both Paris and Real Madrid to turn their respective semi-final ties around, midfielders from each side may prove lucrative from a #UCLfantasy perspective as the two teams look to pour bodies forward. Following an assist in the first leg, Paris's Ángel Di María (€8.9m) could turn out to be a differential diamond with just a 6% ownership at present, and while both Luka Modrić (€8.0m) and Casemiro (€6.3m) had disappointing #UCLfantasy returns on Matchday 11, each have proven to be consistent points scorers over the course of the season. The two Real Madrid players are also amongst the top five midfielders still in the competition in terms of ball recoveries, with the latter having racked up 24 ball recovery points, the most of any player competing on Matchday 12.

FORWARDS

Of the five goals on Matchday 11, only one was scored by a forward player. Karim Benzema (€10.4m) struck his sixth UEFA Champions League goal of the season in Real Madrid's 1-1 draw with Chelsea and with Zinédine Zidane's side needing to score at least one goal in the second leg, the French star is set to play a key role leading the line once again. Benzema is currently the third most popular forward remaining in the competition, but owning him could still lead to #UCLfantasy managers making gains on their rivals who have put their faith in other options.

One of those options will likely be Paris's Kylian Mbappé (€11.2m). Despite having already scored eight goals in this season's UEFA Champions League, including six in the knockout stage, Mbappé frustrated his 41% ownership after failing to find the net against Manchester City. However, with two goals a minimum requirement on Matchday 12 if Paris are to progress to a second successive UEFA Champions League final, the French international will be required to play a starring role in attack. Another Paris forward worth considering is Brazilian Neymar (€11.6m), who despite not scoring on Matchday 11, looked a consistent threat throughout and could play an integral role in the second leg.