Champions League Fantasy Football: Popular Picks and Potential Differentials

As the UEFA Champions League approaches the quarter-final second legs, UEFA.com highlights a number of players attracting interest among managers, while some lesser-owned assets are also given attention for Matchday 10 on #UCLfantasy, presented by Playstation.

• Fantasy: Matchday 10 captain
• Options for quarter-final second legs
• Fantasy team of the week Matchday 9

GOALKEEPERS

Popular Pick

Manuel Neuer (€6.4m) vs Villarreal (H)
Despite Bayern having not kept a clean sheet in the knockout stage so far, Neuer retains a significant portion of #UCLfantasy ownership, with only Chelsea's Edouard Mendy among goalkeepers featuring in more teams. If the Bundesliga side are to qualify for the semi-finals, they will need to overturn a one-goal deficit against Villarreal and a clean sheet on Matchday 10 would be a huge help. Neuer has four shut-outs to his name across the competition and a fifth could well be required.
Owned by 18%

Potential Differential

Alisson Becker (€6.4m) vs Benfica (H)
Whilst Liverpool will have been delighted to secure a two-goal advantage in the first leg against Benfica, Alisson will have no doubt been disappointed not to keep a clean sheet. A shut-out on Matchday 10 would guarantee a semi-final place, and the Reds have generally been in excellent form defensively. They have kept five clean sheets across their last seven games in all competitions, conceding just twice, and this bodes well for the relatively few #UCLfantasy managers who own Alisson.
Owned by 8%

DEFENDERS

Popular Pick

Antonio Rüdiger (€6.1m) vs Real Madrid (A)
Chelsea fell victim to the brilliance of Karim Benzema on Matchday 9 as the Frenchman's hat-trick consigned Thomas Tuchel's side to a 3-1 home defeat, and they have a huge task on their hands to turn around their tie at Real Madrid. #UCLfantasy managers still have faith in centre-back Rüdiger though, who is currently the third highest-owned defender in the game. If Chelsea are to advance they will need to be at their very best defensively at the Santiago Bernabéu. Rüdiger offers multiple avenues to return Fantasy points, whether via a clean sheet, attacking returns or ball recoveries, of which he has 39 so far this season.
Owned by 24%

Potential Differential

Pau Torres (€5.6m) vs Bayern (A)
Defensive stability has been key for Villarreal in the knockout stage and after a 3-0 victory at Juventus that secured their place in the quarter-finals, Unai Emery's men followed that up with an excellent 1-0 win at home to Bayern on Matchday 9. Torres has starred for the 2020/21 UEFA Europa League winners from a #UCLfantasy point of view, having accrued 20 points across the last two matchdays and was even on the scoresheet against Juventus. The centre-back is available at a relatively low price and, although shutting out Bayern in Munich represents their toughest challenge to date, it would be foolish to write off Villarreal given their recent exploits.
Owned by 1%

MIDFIELDERS

Popular Pick

Mohamed Salah (€11.2m) vs Benfica (H)
With Benfica 3-1 down going into the second leg at Liverpool, the Portuguese side have no choice but to push bodies forward and risk exposing their back line at Anfield on Matchday 10. This may go in Salah's favour, as there are likely to large pockets of space inside the opposition half to exploit, especially on the counterattack. The Egyptian has already scored eight goals in this season's UEFA Champions League and is currently the second highest-owned #UCLfantasy player across all positions.
Owned by 44%

Potential Differential

Kevin De Bruyne (€11.0m) vs Atlético (A)
The Belgian scored the only goal of a tight first leg at home to Atlético with 20 minutes remaining, giving Pep Guardiola's side a slim advantage going into the second leg in Madrid. That was the third successive game in all competitions in which De Bruyne had found the net, and from a solely UEFA Champions League perspective, he has managed a goal, assist and 17 #UCLfantasy points across his last two appearances. His premium price tag will have played a part in his limited ownership, but those managers willing to invest in De Bruyne may well reap the rewards.
Owned by 7%

FORWARDS

Popular Pick

Robert Lewandowski (€12.3m) vs Villarreal (H)
For the second successive away first leg, Lewandowski failed to find the net for Bayern, leaving them with work to do on Matchday 10 to turn around the quarter-final against Villarreal. However, Lewandowski's vast ownership need only look to the last time he took to the field in a second leg, when he struck a first-half hat-trick at home to Salzburg on Matchday 8 and also provided an assist on the way to 24 Fantasy points. It is no surprise therefore, that Lewandowski is set to start Matchday 10 as the highest-owned #UCLfantasy player with over half of all managers having the striker in their teams.
Owned by 51%

Potential Differential

Antoine Griezmann (€10.4m) vs Manchester City (H)
As is the case with De Bruyne in midfield, Griezmann's price tag is a major factor in why only a small portion of #UCLfantasy managers have the 31-year-old within their squads. Although the Frenchman had little impact on Atlético's first-leg defeat at Manchester City, he may well play a far more prominent role on Matchday 10 with the Spanish champions needing to score at least once to stand any chance of going through. Griezmann already has form in a second-leg knockout game this season, recording an assist and seven Fantasy points on Matchday 8 to help Atlético knock out Manchester United, and will be hoping for even better this time round.
Owned by 1%