Champions League Fantasy Football: Midfielders

With the final round of group stage fixtures upon us, UEFA.com looks at some midfielders who could make a splash on Matchday 6 of #UCLfantasy, presented by Playstation.

Leipzig were one the standout performers on Matchday 5, beating Club Brugge 5-0 in Belgium with Emil Forsberg (€7.3m) playing a key role in proceedings. Although the German side are unable to reach the round of 16, victory against Manchester City on Matchday 6 would guarantee them a place in the UEFA Europa League and Forsberg could once again play a key role against a side who have failed to keep a clean sheet across the group stage so far.

Also worth serious consideration among the Leipzig midfield is Christopher Nkunku (€8.2m), who has already scored seven goals in the UEFA Champions League this season. The Frenchman has accumulated more #UCLfantasy points (57) than any other player to date.

The only player to match Forsberg's tally of 18 points on Matchday 5 was Sporting CP's Pedro Gonçalves (€8.1m), with the attacking midfielder continuing his incredible form in this season's UEFA Champions League. After missing the opening two matchdays due to injury, Gonçalves has since racked up four goals, two assists and a mammoth 42 points in the next three, including successive 18-point hauls. Should the 23-year-old make a fourth successive Group C start at Ajax, his #UCLfantasy points potential is clear, although with Sporting already certain to finish second to the Dutch champions, head coach Rúben Amorim may be tempted to rest key players.

If Sevilla are to reach the knockout stage then three points are a must against Salzburg and that makes their midfielders appealing from a #UCLfantasy perspective. Lucas Ocampos (€8.2m) has registered an attacking return in each of Sevilla's last two Group G fixtures and accumulated 19 points across the last three matchdays, while Joan Jordán (€6.6m) is expected to make a second consecutive start after an excellent individual performance in the 2-0 win against Wolfsburg on Matchday 5 in which he scored, made three ball recoveries and earned 12 #UCLfantasy points after being named Player of the Match.

Another team who must win on Matchday 6 to book a place in the round of 16 is Atalanta, who are at home to Villarreal. Gian Piero Gasperini's side have scored at least twice in four of their five Group F encounters so far and a similarly attacking performance is expected against their Spanish opponents. Atalanta's top-scoring midfielder in #UCLfantasy is Remo Freuler (€6.6m), who offers the potential for points not only via attacking returns but also through ball recoveries.

Freuler has scored 25 Fantasy points after five matchdays with a goal, an assist and 25 ball recoveries. Another Atalanta midfield asset worth a mention is Mario Pašalić(€7.9m), who recorded an attacking return in two of the last three matches.