Champions League Fantasy Football: Popular Picks and Potential Differentials

As the UEFA Champions League reaches the quarter-finals, UEFA.com sifts through a selection of players attracting lots of attention, as well as those who are still flying under the radar, among managers on #UCLfantasy, presented by Playstation.

• Who should be your Matchday 9 captain?

GOALKEEPERS

Popular Pick

Edouard Mendy (€6.4m) vs Real Madrid (H)
As has been case throughout this season's campaign, Mendy is the most popular goalkeeper and for good reason. The Chelsea No1 has conceded just two goals so far, keeping five clean sheets in his seven appearances and gaining 34 #UCLfantasy points overall. The Senegalese international is yet to concede a goal in the UEFA Champions League at Stamford Bridge, keeping eight successive clean sheets, and with home advantage in Chelsea's favour on Matchday 9 for the first leg against Real Madrid, this bodes well for his clean sheet prospects.
Owned by 36%

Potential Differential

Odisseas Vlachodimos (€5.4m) vs Liverpool (H)
Despite enjoying an outstanding campaign from a #UCLfantasy perspective, Vlachodimos' ownership remains remarkably low, particularly when considering the numbers already racked up by Benfica’s first-choice goalkeeper. His total of 43 Fantasy points after eight matchdays is bettered only by Thibaut Courtois among goalkeepers, and the Greek international underlined his credentials by successfully shutting out free-scoring Ajax in Amsterdam in the round of 16 second leg. With five clean sheets and 31 saves to his name, Vlachodimos represents an ideal differential option for those looking to bring in a goalkeeper ahead of Matchday 9 despite a tough-looking assignment at home to Liverpool.
Owned by 6%

DEFENDERS

Popular Pick

João Cancelo (€6.6m) vs Atlético (H)
It's testament to Cancelo's ability to gain #UCLfantasy points that, despite not featuring in two of Manchester City's last three UEFA Champions League fixtures, he stands as the highest-owned asset among defenders remaining in the competition. He is also the highest scorer in his position having accumulated 49 Fantasy points with his attacking ability offering multiple avenues towards returns. Despite having only recorded one clean sheet in this season's eight matchdays, Cancelo has logged two goals, three assists and 40 ball recoveries and should once again play a key offensive role for Pep Guardiola's side at home to Atlético.
Owned by 36%

Potential Differential

Reinildo Mandava (€5.7m) vs Manchester City (A)
The likelihood is that Mandava's price tag has contributed to his low ownership, but when deep diving into his numbers, it's clear that the left-back is worth his relatively high #UCLfantasy valuation. He is the joint third highest-scoring defender with 47 points and no player in any position has picked up more ball recoveries than Mandava's 59, which has contributed to 18 of those 47 points. Mandava has slotted seamlessly into Diego Simeone's Atlético after a January transfer from LOSC Lille and has already enjoyed success in north-west England this season with a clean sheet at Manchester United in the round of 16 second leg. Another trip to the city awaits on Matchday 9, with Manchester City Atlético's quarter-final opponents, and Mandava may prove a shrewd #UCLfantasy investment given his small ownership.
Owned by 2%

MIDFIELDERS

Popular Pick

Leroy Sané (€9.6m) vs Villarreal (A)
Sané is one of only two players who have scored more than 80 #UCLfantasy points this season, so it is no surprise that over a quarter of managers currently own the flying winger. The German registered his fifth double-figure points haul of the season on Matchday 8, with a goal and two assists enough to help him rack up 14 Fantasy points as Bayern swept to a 7-1 triumph against Salzburg. With six goals and six assists already, Sané's attacking potency should ensure he continues to court huge attention ahead of Matchday 9 as Bayern look to secure a quarter-final first-leg lead away at Villarreal.
Owned by 28%

Potential Differential

Arnaut Danjuma (€7.2m) vs Bayern (H)
Whilst Bayern will pose a huge challenge to Villarreal from an attacking point of view, the Bavarians have kept just one clean sheet in their last five UEFA Champions League fixtures. This bodes well for Unai Emery's men, who will be looking to utilise home advantage in this first leg as they bid to gain an advantage of their own. With that in mind, Danjuma will fancy his chances of extending his excellent run of form in Europe. The 25-year-old has scored three goals across the last three matchdays, acquiring 25 #UCLfantasy points in the process. Despite sitting on an impressive 54 Fantasy points, his ownership remains in single figures and the Villarreal star remains a crafty differential.
Owned by 7% 

FORWARDS

Popular Pick

Karim Benzema (€10.4m) vs Chelsea (A)
Benzema stole the show on Matchday 9, scoring a hat-trick against Paris Saint-Germain to spearhead Real Madrid's remarkable comeback and book their place in the quarter-finals. Those three goals brought Benzema 17 #UCLfantasy points, taking his overall totals in the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League to eight goals and 56 Fantasy points, a score exceeded by just three other players across all positions. When assessing the remaining forwards in the competition, only Robert Lewandowski boasts a higher #UCLfantasy ownership than Benzema, who will need to play another starring role if Madrid are to enjoy success on Matchday 9 at Chelsea.
Owned by 17%

Potential Differential

Darwin Núñez (€7.7m) vs Liverpool (H)
As we enter the quarter-final stage, the pool of forwards available to #UCLfantasy managers has diminished, but that doesn't mean there aren't differentials to be had. One such player is Núñez, who played a decisive role for Benfica on Matchday 8 when he scored the winning goal against Ajax in their round of 16 second leg. Finding a cheap starting player at this stage of the competition is no easy task, but Núñez is again expected to lead the line for the Portuguese side at home to Liverpool on Matchday 9 and #UCLfantasy managers will have the security of knowing the Benfica starting line-up ahead of the transfer deadline. At just €7.7m, the Uruguayan offers excellent value and with 26 goals in all competitions this season, is the Portuguese side's most likely threat in Lisbon.
Owned by 2%