Champions League Fantasy Football: Popular Picks and Potential Differentials

With Matchday 4 just around the corner, UEFA.com weighs up some of those picks proving highly sought after among managers, alongside those players who could warrant more of a turn in the spotlight on #UCLfantasy, presented by Playstation.

GOALKEEPERS

Popular Pick

Manuel Neuer (€6.1m) vs Benfica (H)
With more Fantasy points to his name this season than any other goalkeeper, Neuer's popularity among #UCLfantasy managers comes as no surprise. Bayern's 4-0 victory at Benfica on Matchday 3 means that Neuer is one of just two goalkeepers to have recorded clean sheets in all three of their group stage fixtures so far. With home advantage against Benfica on Matchday 4, Neuer's significant ownership can be confident that the Bayern captain can record a fourth Group E shut-out.
Owned by 16%

Potential Differential

Remko Pasveer (€4.7m) vs Dortmund (A)
Ajax have been in outstanding form defensively of late, having conceded just one goal across their last eight games in all competitions. From a #UCLfantasy perspective, goalkeeper Pasveer has benefitted from this excellent run of form, with clean sheets on Matchdays 2 and 3 helping him to a score of 15 Fantasy points at the halfway point of the group stage. Pasveer's most recent shut-out in the UEFA Champions League came against Dortmund in Amsterdam and the 37-year-old faces the same opposition in Germany on Matchday 4. With Dortmund set to be weakened offensively due to the absence of Erling Haaland, those #UCLfantasy managers bringing Pasveer into their squads may be set to profit, especially considering his incredibly limited ownership.
Owned by 1%

DEFENDERS

Popular Pick

Achraf Hakimi (€6.6m) vs Leipzig (A)
Whilst the Paris defender is yet to fully fire in this season's UEFA Champions League from a #UCLfantasy point of view, the Moroccan international remains comfortably the highest owned defensive asset in the game. Hakimi's attacking tendencies at full-back has given him the license to roam forward and that is likely to continue on Matchday 4, when Paris travel to Leipzig. Paris triumphed 3-2 at the Parc des Princes and with Leipzig having conceded the joint highest number of goals in this season's group stage so far, Hakimi owners have every right to be confident that the flying full-back can register at least one attacking return here.
Owned by 34%

Potential Differential

Andreas Christensen (€5.4m) vs Malmö (A)
Christensen has so far been a mainstay in Chelsea's miserly defence in the UEFA Champions League having started all three of their Group H fixtures so far, in which the reigning European champions have conceded a single goal. However, the Danish international has proven to have more strings to his bow, finding the net on Matchday 3 in a 4-0 triumph against Malmö, a match in which he accumulated 13 Fantasy points. Throw in his 21 ball recoveries across the last three matchdays and Christensen's overall score of 26 points is the second highest among defenders. With an ownership of just 5% and double-figure point hauls in two of his last three games, Christensen represents a golden differential.
Owned by 5%

MIDFIELDERS

Popular Pick

Mohamed Salah (€10.6m) vs Atlético (H)
Having picked up 29 points across his last two Group B matches, Salah's stock continues to soar among the #UCLfantasy community. On Matchday 3 he found the net twice against Atlético, his fourth and fifth goals respectively in this season's UEFA Champions League, and the Egyptian has since gone on to score a hat-trick at Old Trafford against Manchester United in the Premier League – the tenth successive game in which Salah had scored. #UCLfantasy managers are understandably falling over backwards to get him into their respective squads ahead of Matchday 4, when Liverpool welcome Atlético to Anfield.
Owned by 29%

Potential Differential

Hans Vanaken (€7.3m) vs Manchester City (A)
When it comes to consistency in the competition, not many have proven more reliable than Club Brugge midfielder Vanaken. Often fielded just behind the striker, Vanaken has scored in all three Group A fixtures so far and also provided an assist on Matchday 2. These attacking returns have led to a regular stream of #UCLfantasy points for Vanaken despite his low ownership, with only three midfielders having collected more than his 29 points. On Matchday 4 Club Brugge travel to Manchester City, who are yet to keep a clean sheet in Group A, and Vanaken appears a shrewd differential selection as he looks to score in successive matches.
Owned by 1%

FORWARDS

Popular Pick

Cristiano Ronaldo (€11.1m) vs Atalanta (A)
Manchester United have been reaping the rewards of bringing back Ronaldo this season in the UEFA Champions League, the Portuguese forward scoring in all three games including late winners on both Matchdays 2 and 3, when the Portuguese star completing a 3-2 comeback victory over Atalanta. One of only three players to be owned by over 40% of #UCLfantasy managers, Ronaldo will be looking to keep that run of goals going in Italy on Matchday 4.
Owned by 43%

Potential Differential

Antony (€7.4m) vs Dortmund (A)
Having already provided three assists in the competition, Antony netted his first goal in this season's UEFA Champions League on Matchday 3 in Ajax’s 4-0 defeat of Dortmund. Given the form of the higher-owned Sébastien Haller in the same side, Antony has gone under the radar within #UCLfantasy circles. However, as the fourth highest-scoring forward with 22 points, the Brazilian is an attractive pick in his own right. Ajax have scored 11 goals in the group stage so far and with a trip to Dortmund on the horizon, Antony could prove the perfect differential selection for any #UCLfantasy manager looking to steal a march on their mini-league rivals.
Owned by 4%