Champions League Fantasy Football: Popular Picks and Potential Differentials

With Matchday 5 drawing closer, UEFA.com shines a spotlight on those picks proving extremely popular among #UCLfantasy managers, as well as some players currently flying under the radar.

GOALKEEPERS

Popular Pick

Edouard Mendy (€6.2m) vs Juventus (H)
Comfortably the most popular goalkeeping asset on #UCLfantasy, Chelsea's Mendy boasts three clean sheets after four group games, his only goal conceded coming against Juventus on Matchday 2. The two sides meet once more on Matchday 5, with the European champions looking for revenge on their own ground after their defeat in Turin. The defensive stability of the Blues has long established Mendy as an attractive #UCLfantasy option and his vast ownership will be hoping that the Senegalese stopper adds significantly to the 20 Fantasy points he has collected already this season.
Owned by 34%

Potential Differential

Ivo Grbić (€4.8m) vs Salzburg (H)
If previous Group G fixtures involving LOSC are anything to go by, Grbić has a great chance of recording his third clean sheet on Matchday 5 as the French champions entertain Salzburg. Both of the Croatian keeper's previous shut-outs against Wolfsburg and Sevilla came at home, with the 25-year-old gaining 14 Fantasy points across those two fixtures. LOSC will be desperate to keep Salzburg out in what is a crucial match for both sides and those #UCLfantasy managers looking for a differential option between the sticks should consider Grbić.
Owned by 1%

DEFENDERS

Popular Pick

Trent Alexander-Arnold (€6.4m) vs Porto (H)
Currently the third highest-owned defender, a quarter of #UCLfantasy managers own Alexander-Arnold and it would be no surprise if this percentage was to increase as we get closer to the Matchday 5 deadline. The right-back shone for Liverpool at both ends of the field on Matchday 4, keeping a clean sheet and supplying two assists in the 2-0 win at home to Atlético, helping him to a total of 14 Fantasy points. If the England international is granted a start on Matchday 5 against Porto, then his hefty ownership could be set to profit again.
Owned by 25%

Potential Differential

Daley Blind (€5.4m) vs Beşiktaş (A)
Despite having racked up 35 Fantasy points after four matchdays, the second highest score among all defenders, Ajax's Blind remains under-appreciated among the #UCLfantasy community in terms of his ownership. The Dutch champions travel to Beşiktaş, the team they defeated 2-0 in Amsterdam on Matchday 2 in a game that brought Blind seven Fantasy points. With two clean sheets, a goal, an assist and 20 ball recoveries to his name, the 31-year-old has the ability to gain #UCLfantasy points from multiple avenues, making him a potentially shrewd pick for Matchday 5.
Owned by 6%

MIDFIELDERS

Popular Pick

Jude Bellingham (€7.6m) vs Sporting CP (A)
With striker Erling Haaland out injured, the onus has been on the rest of Marco Rose's squad to provide the attacking threat and one player who has proved himself in this department is Bellingham. Dortmund's teenage star already has three attacking returns to his name after four games, and alongside 14 ball recoveries, he has produced 29 Fantasy points, including a 15-point haul on Matchday 1. #UCLfantasy managers have taken note, as only three midfielders currently boast a higher ownership heading into Dortmund's potentially decisive Matchday 5 game at Sporting CP, who have kept just one clean sheet across their four Group C matches.
Owned by 21%

Potential Differential

Riyad Mahrez (€9.2m) vs Paris (H)
Manchester City's Matchday 5 opponents Paris Saint-Germain will need no reminder of Mahrez's capabilities going forward. The Algerian international scored three goals across City's 4-1 aggregate victory over Mauricio Pochettino’s men in the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League semi-finals and has continued his rich vein of scoring form in the competition this season, hitting four goals across his four appearances. Under 5% of #UCLfantasy managers own the 30-year-old ahead of the game against the French side in Manchester, but with Mahrez likely to be on penalty duty as well as his threat from free-kicks, his attacking potential is undeniable should he start.
Owned by 4%

FORWARDS

Popular Pick

Robert Lewandowski (€11.8m) vs Dynamo Kyiv (A)
It should come as no surprise that Lewandowski is among the top three highest-owned #UCLfantasy players in all positions considering how destructive the Bayern striker has been in front of goal. Lewandowski leads the scoring charts after four matchdays with eight goals including a Matchday 4 hat-trick against Benfica. An overall score of 47 Fantasy points is bettered only by club-mate Leroy Sané and over 40% of #UCLfantasy managers will be hoping that Lewandowski continues his incredible form at Dynamo Kyiv on Matchday 5. With the Bundesliga champions already through to the knockout stage, Julian Nagelsmann may be tempted to rest Lewandowski, but with the Bayern line-up to be revealed ahead of the Matchday 5 deadline, #UCLfantasy managers can react accordingly.
Owned by 42%

Potential Differential

Duván Zapata (€9.7m) vs Young Boys (A)
With Atalanta currently third in Group F, three points away at Young Boys on Matchday 5 are absolutely critical for their hopes of qualifying for the round of 16. The Italian side are therefore likely to push forward in Switzerland with Zapata expected to play a big part. The Colombian forward has already registered four attacking returns in the group stage and played a starring role in the 2-2 draw at home against Manchester United on Matchday 4, with a goal and an assist. Should Zapata replicate that performance against the Swiss champions, then he could prove worth his weight in differential gold to those #UCLfantasy managers searching for an under-the-radar pick.
Owned by 1%