Champions League Fantasy Football: Popular Picks and Potential Differentials

As the UEFA Champions League round of 16 enters the second leg of fixtures, UEFA.com, presented by PlayStation, runs through a list of players courting plenty of interest among #UCLfantasy managers, as well as those less popular picks who could steal the show on Matchday 8.

GOALKEEPERS

Popular Pick

Gianluigi Donnarumma (€6.2m) vs Real Madrid (A)
Paris secured a slender 1-0 win over Real Madrid to take to Spain for the second leg on Matchday 8, with the French giants producing an excellent defensive display to shut out their opponents. Donnarumma recorded his second clean sheet in the competition, elevating his #UCLfantasy points tally to 23 across four appearances. Working out at an average of over five points per appearance this season, it's easy to see why the Italian sits among the top three highest-owned goalkeepers ahead of Matchday 8, with Paris well aware that another clean sheet would see them through to the quarter-finals.
Owned by 10%

Potential Differential

André Onana (€4.5m) vs Benfica (H)
Following an injury to Remko Pasveer, as well as the long-term absence of Maarten Stekelenberg, Onana is expected to make his second appearance of this season's UEFA Champions League campaign on Matchday 8 as Ajax welcome Benfica to Amsterdam. Their round of 16 tie is currently locked at 2-2 and Erik ten Hag will be expecting a significant improvement from the Dutch champions at the back. Given Benfica failed to score in two of their three away fixtures in the group stage, those #UCLfantasy managers looking for a cheap goalkeeper with significant points potential may well have found the ideal option in Onana.
Owned by 4%

DEFENDERS

Popular Pick

Antonio Rüdiger (€5.9m) vs LOSC Lille (A)
Currently one of only four defenders to boast a #UCLfantasy ownership of over 20%, Rüdiger remains a key pillar of an indomitable Chelsea defence who secured their fifth clean sheet in seven UEFA Champions League fixtures on Matchday 7. Rüdiger's points for that, plus an additional seven ball recoveries, brought him a total of eight Fantasy points, bringing his overall score to 41 from his six appearances. Only four defenders have picked up more #UCLfantasy points than the German international ahead of the return leg against LOSC and Chelsea's impressively strong back line, combined with Rüdiger's attacking threat from set-pieces, means that he will remain a popular #UCLfantasy asset for the trip to northern France.
Owned by 24% 

Potential Differential

Andy Robertson (€6.3m) vs Inter (H)
Although over 30% of #UCLfantasy managers own Trent Alexander-Arnold, fellow Liverpool full-back Robertson has attracted far less attention. The Scot registered an assist to go with a clean sheet in a 2-0 triumph away to Inter in the round of 16 first leg, and the Reds will be confident of keeping the Italian champions at bay once again in the Anfield return. Liverpool have not conceded in Robertson's last five appearances in all competitions and when you also factor in his corner kicks and forward runs from the left-hand side, Matchday 8 could bring more returns at both ends of the pitch.
Owned by 4% 

MIDFIELDERS

Popular Pick

Mohamed Salah (€11.0m) vs Inter (H)
Salah's #UCLfantasy credentials are undeniable as he continues to run up the goals in this season's competition. The Liverpool midfielder's eighth goal of the competition helped Jurgen Klopp's side to victory at Inter and his hefty ownership will be licking their lips at the prospect of Salah's potential second-leg returns. The 29-year-old has already accumulated 60 Fantasy points across the last seven matchdays and with Inter needing to push forward in a bid to turn around their two-goal deficit, it would be no surprise if Salah was left with plenty of space on the counterattack to produce more returns.
Owned by 42%

Potential Differential

Kingsley Coman (€8.7m) vs Salzburg (H)
One of the most consistent Fantasy point-scorers during the 2021/22 campaign, it is a surprise to see Coman's ownership so low among #UCLfantasy managers. The Bayern winger has recorded a minimum of six points in each of the last five matchdays, with his most recent goal coming on Matchday 7 when he salvaged a 1-1 draw in the first leg at Salzburg. Julian Nagelsmann's men are expected to put in a much more potent attacking performance in Germany and Coman could play a key role once again, making him the perfect midfield signing for any #UCLfantasy boss looking to get the jump on their mini-league rivals.
Owned by 3% 

FORWARDS

Popular Pick

Robert Lewandowski (€12.1m) vs Salzburg (H)
Arguably the biggest surprise of Matchday 7 was Lewandowski failing to get on the scoresheet, the first time all season in the UEFA Champions League that the Polish international had not managed an attacking return. The Bayern spearhead be looking to put that right come Matchday 8 as Bayern know that victory against Salzburg will take them through to the quarter-finals. With five goals, two assists and 33 Fantasy points over the course of Bayern's three home group stage fixtures, it is no wonder that Lewandowski is comfortably the highest owned asset among #UCLfantasy managers.
Owned by 48%

Potential Differential

Gabriel Jesus (€8.8m) vs Sporting CP (H)
Although his playing time across the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League has been limited, whenever Jesus has been given the chance to feature for Manchester City he has not disappointed. In his four appearances so far in this season's competition, the Brazilian has delivered an attacking return in three of those, most recently coming off the bench to play a starring role on Matchday 5 with a goal and an assist in City's 2-1 win over Paris. Having just returned to full fitness, Jesus could make his first European start of the campaign at home to Sporting CP. Although Pep Guardiola's men boast a five-goal lead over the Portuguese champions, Jesus would no doubt be determined to make a big impression and offers a high-risk, high-reward #UCLfantasy investment.
Owned by 1%