Champions League Fantasy Football: Popular Picks and Potential Differentials

With Matchday 3 of the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League on the horizon, UEFA.com runs the rule over some of those picks proving hugely popular among managers on #UCLfantasy, presented by Playstation, and picks out a number of players still flying under the radar.

GOALKEEPERS

Popular Pick

Edouard Mendy (€6.0m) vs Malmö (H)
Any outcome other than a clean sheet for the Chelsea goalkeeper on Matchday 3 would be both a surprise and a disappointment among his vast ownership. Mendy is currently by far the highest owned goalkeeper in #UCLfantasy and after recording a clean sheet against Zenit in Chelsea's first home group fixture, will be hoping for the same against opponents who are yet to score in this season's group stage.
Owned by 34%

Potential Differential

Giorgos Athanasiadis (€4.6m) vs Inter (A)
Inter are yet to find the net in the group stage and owners of Athanasiadis will be hoping Sheriff continue the outstanding form that has brought wins in both Group D fixtures, the Greek accumulating 15 Fantasy points, the most of any goalkeeper so far. Athanasiadis followed his clean sheet against Shakhtar Donetsk on Matchday 1 with an inspired performance at Real Madrid, where he was named Player of the Match after recording 11 saves. Such strong performances bode well for Matchday 3.
Owned by 2%

DEFENDERS

Popular Pick

Alphonso Davies (€6.0m) vs Benfica (A)
German champions Bayern have made the perfect start so far in Group E, winning twice without conceding a goal and scoring eight themselves. Those two clean sheets have helped Davies pick up 13 Fantasy points, and the 20-year-old even showed his attacking capabilities during the most recent international break, providing an assist in Canada's 1-1 draw with Mexico. The fourth-highest owned #UCLfantasy defender at present, Davies is yet to deliver an attacking return in this season's UEFA Champions League but it would be no surprise if that changed on Matchday 3.
Owned by 21%

Potential Differential

Joakim Mæhle (€5.0m) vs Manchester United (A)
Another defender whose attacking prowess shone through on international duty, the full-back scored in Denmark's wins against Andorra and Austria that sealed their place at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. An injury to Robin Gosens early on Matchday 2 gave Mæhle his chance as a substitute, Atalanta going on to beat Young Boys 1-0, and with the German still sidelined, Mæhle is expected to start on Matchday 3. Opponents Manchester United have failed to keep a clean sheet in this season's group stage and have managed just one in their ten matches in all competitions in 2021/22, so Mæhle could well be set to capitalise roaming forward down the left.
Owned by 2%

MIDFIELDERS

Popular Pick

Jude Bellingham (€7.2m) vs Ajax (A)
The England's international's ownership has substantially increased already thanks to attacking returns in each of the games so far. A goal, an assist and 15 Fantasy points in Dortmund's victory at Beşiktaş on Matchday 1 was backed up with a further assist and five points as BVB beat Sporting CP. This has led to a price increase of €0.2m for Bellingham, who is now the fourth highest owned midfielder on #UCLfantasy. Though Ajax represent tough opposition on Matchday 3, an entertaining encounter could be on the cards among two high-scoring teams which could well see the ownership of Bellingham profit with further returns.
Owned by 21%

Potential Differential

Kevin De Bruyne (€11.0m) vs Club Brugge (A)
Sidelined by injury at the start of the season, De Bruyne is now fully fit heading into Matchday 3. The talismanic midfielder's found the net in Manchester City's 2-2 draw at Liverpool immediately before the international break before he shone for Belgium in the finals of the UEFA Nations League, assisting all three goals scored by Roberto Martinez's side. Rotation is always a concern among #UCLfantasy managers where City midfielders are concerned, but De Bruyne has started in each of their two Group A fixtures and has the potential to be a golden Matchday 3 differential selection given his attacking potency.
Owned by 5%

FORWARDS

Popular Pick

Robert Lewandowski (€11.6m) vs Benfica (A)
When it comes to #UCLfantasy attacking assets, few are more reliable than Lewandowski. No matter how difficult the fixture looks on paper, the Bayern striker continues to rack up both the goals and the Fantasy points. Two goals in both matches so far have given the 33-year-old point hauls of 13 and ten respectively and it is no surprise to see the high ownership Lewandowski commands ahead of Bayern's Group E summit meeting against Benfica.
Owned by 32%

Potential Differential

Karim Adeyemi (€7.1m) vs Wolfsburg (H)
The 19-year-old may be owned by significantly fewer #UCLfantasy managers than Lewandowski, but the Salzburg forward has set the UEFA Champions League alight so far, winning four penalties, scoring twice and being named Player of the Match in both Group G fixtures. This has led to the German international gaining 24 Fantasy points, the third highest total among all players in the group stage. However, #UCLfantasy managers continue to overlook Adeyemi with his ownership remaining extremely low, meaning he retains his differential appeal ahead of Wolfsburg's visit.
Owned by 3%