Champions League Fantasy: Popular Picks and Potential Differentials
Thursday, September 9, 2021
Article summary
With Matchday 1 looming large, UEFA.com considers which players most Fantasy managers are picking, and who can help you steal a march.
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With Matchday 1 of the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League just around the corner, UEFA.com examines some of the most popular selections among #UCLfantasy managers, alongside those sparsely-owned players who could emerge from under the radar.
GOALKEEPERS
Popular Pick
Edouard Mendy (€6.0m) vs Zenit (H)
The highest scoring goalkeeper in last season's UEFA Champions League with nine clean sheets and 66 Fantasy points, Mendy has unsurprisingly proven highly sought after among #UCLfantasy managers heading into Matchday 1. The Chelsea No1 is currently the most owned goalkeeper among #UCLfantasy managers by a significant margin and kept a clean sheet in the his last UEFA Champions League fixture, the 2020/21 final, as Chelsea became champions of Europe for a second tim. Mendy has started the new campaign by conceding just one goal in three Premier League games and Thomas Tuchel's side will be looking to carry that defensive stability into Matchday 1 with a clean sheet at home to Zenit.
Owned by 30%
Potential Differential
Juan Musso (€4.5m) vs Villarreal (H)
After joining Atalanta from fellow Italian side Udinese this summer, Musso appears to have established himself as Gian Piero Gasperini's first-choice goalkeeper having started both of Atalanta's Serie A fixtures so far this season. The second of those games ended in his first clean sheet for the club and the Argentinian is expected to retain his place for La Dea's opening UEFA Champions League group stage fixture against Villarreal in Bergamo. Given Unai Emery's UEFA Europa League winners have failed to score in two of their opening three Liga games, the hosts can be confident of shutting out the Spanish side on Matchday 1. With an ownership of just 1%, the 27-year-old represents a shrewd differential option.
Owned by 1%
DEFENDERS
Popular Pick
Trent Alexander-Arnold (€6.5m) vs Milan (H)
Given Liverpool's penchant for clean sheets, combined with Alexander-Arnold's attacking prowess, it is understandable that #UCLfantasy managers have been moving in their droves to bring in the full-back. The Reds have begun their Premier League campaign well from a defensive point of view, gaining two clean sheets from their first three matches, with Alexander-Arnold also picking up an assist. With license to push forward down the right-hand-side and his role as the taker of the majority of Liverpool's set pieces, Alexander-Arnold's #UCLfantasy points ceiling is extremely high as Jürgen Klopp's men host AC Milan at Anfield.
Owned by 32%
Potential Differential
João Cancelo (€6.0m) vs Leipzig (H)
While predicting a Manchester City starting line-up under Pep Guardiola is never easy, Cancelo has started in every City fixture this season: their Community Shield match against Leicester and their opening three Premier League games. Two of those fixtures were at home and Guardiola's side recorded clean sheets in both, which bodes well ahead of Leipzig's visit to Manchester. However, the Portuguese full-back offers more to Fantasy managers than just clean sheet potential, having managed a goal, an assist and 51 ball recoveries in last season's UEFA Champions League. These multiple avenues for Fantasy points underline Cancelo's credentials as the ideal defensive asset for those looking to gain an early lead over their mini-league rivals.
Owned by 4%
MIDFIELDERS
Popular Pick
Jorginho (€6.0m) vs Zenit (H)
A ball recovery magnet in midfield, Jorginho has commanded huge attention from the #UCLfantasy community ahead of Matchday 1, with 29% of managers having already selected the 29-year-old, now a European champion for both club and country following his exploits for Italy at this summer's UEFA European Championship. Jorginho racked up 80 ball recoveries in last season's UEFA Champions League, the second highest number of any player in the competition, which contributed 23 points to his overall Fantasy of 57. Given the likelihood Jorginho will also take any Chelsea penalties and it is easy to see why the Italian international is among the top ten highest-owned players in all positions ahead of Chelsea's meeting with Zenit.
Owned by 29%
Potential Differential
Sadio Mané (€10.0m) vs Milan (H)
When it comes to selecting Liverpool midfield assets, Mohamed Salah is expected to prove easily the most popular acquisition for #UCLfantasy bosses, but those who go down a different route and plump for Mané could reap the rewards. Fielded on the left of a front three, the 29-year-old offers a consistent goalscoring threat and could well improve on his numbers from the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League, which brought three goals and two assists. Having already found the net once this season in the Premier League and as part of such a strong offensive unit, Mané is likely to be afforded chances against Milan to open his European goalscoring account for the season at the first attempt on Matchday 1, enhancing his appeal as a differential.
Owned by 1%
FORWARDS
Popular Pick
Erling Haaland (€11.0m) vs Beşiktaş (A)
Not only is Haaland the most popular forward within #UCLfantasy, the Dortmund star is also the highest owned asset in all positions with his ownership well over 50% and counting, one of just two players to be owned by over half of the entire #UCLfantasy playerbase. Last season's UEFA Champions League top scorer with ten goals, Haaland has racked up 20 from 16 appearances in the competition since making his debut for Salzburg back in 2019. The 21-year-old heads into Matchday 1 in typically brilliant form, scoring 11 times across his last eight appearances for both Dortmund and Norway. It would take a brave #UCLfantasy manager not to have Haaland in their side as Dortmund travel to Turkish champions Beşiktaş on Wednesday.
Owned by 56%
Potential Differential
Neymar (€10.5m) vs Club Brugge (A)
With all the attention understandably on new Paris signing Lionel Messi both publicly and from a fantasy football point of view, another forward could yet steal the spotlight on Matchday 1. Neymar enjoyed a hugely successful 2020/21 UEFA Champions League campaign for the French giants, racking up nine attacking returns with six goals, three assists and 54 #UCLfantasy points, the third highest total among forwards. With team-mate Kylian Mbappé an injury doubt having missed France's latest two World Cup Qualifiers due to a calf problem, the onus could fall on to Neymar’s shoulders to deliver the attacking impetus for Mauricio Pochettino's side away at Club Brugge. With just 6% of #UCLfantasy managers currently in possession of the Brazilian, his appeal to those looking for a differential option in the Paris squad is clear.
Owned by 6%