Champions League Fantasy Football: who should be my captain for Matchday 12?

The dust has barely settled on Matchday 11 but UEFA.com are already looking ahead to the #UCLfantasy captaincy options on Matchday 12, with the four remaining teams each aiming for a spot in the UEFA Champions League final.

UEFA.com looks at the armband credentials of one player from each of the semi-finalists.

• Matchday 12 options
• Fantasy team of the week

TUESDAY 3 MAY

Arnaut Danjuma (€7.8m) vs Liverpool (H)

A stubborn Villarreal side frustrated Liverpool for a significant portion of their first-leg meeting but their resolve was finally breached with a quick-fire double in the second half. As a result, the second leg in Spain could be an altogether different affair with Villarreal needing to adopt a more offensive approach. If that is to be successful, then Danjuma – their top scorer in all competitions – will need to be at the top of his game. Only two players remaining in the competition have collected more #UCLfantasy points than the Dutch international, whose eight goal contributions this season have been vital in helping Villarreal reach this stage.

Sadio Mané (€10.5m) vs Villarreal (H)

Although many #UCLfantasy managers will no doubt keep faith in Mohamed Salah when it comes to the Matchday 12 captaincy, there is a strong case to be made for siding with his team-mate. Mané has been in excellent form over the past month, having been directly involved in seven goals in his last seven appearances in all competitions, and his spot in Jürgen Klopp's preferred front three is assured. The Senegalese star has been on target in his last two UEFA Champions League starts, and with a significantly lower #UCLfantasy ownership than Salah, represents a lucrative differential option.

WEDNESDAY 4 MAY

Karim Benzema (€10.7m) vs Manchester City (H)

There is no stopping Benzema right now, whose double against Manchester City on Matchday 11 took him to 14 goals in Europe this season – just three behind Cristiano Ronaldo's record for goals in a single UEFA Champions League campaign. The Frenchman is also just one short of Robert Lewandowski in terms of all-time goals in the competition, but his sole focus going into Matchday 12 will be on inspiring his side to overcome their one-goal deficit against the Premier League leaders. The Real Madrid striker's ice-cold Panenka penalty in Manchester encapsulated the confidence coursing through him right now, and he shapes up to be an excellent armband option once again.

Kevin De Bruyne (€11.2m) vs Real Madrid (A)

De Bruyne featured in the last captaincy article, and after his 11-point return in the first leg, there is little reason to deviate for the return fixture. The Belgian was the driving force behind much of Manchester City's display on Matchday 11, the latest in a series of top-level performances. Over the course of his last ten appearances in all competitions, the 30-year-old has registered seven goals and five assists, while he has achieved double figures in terms of Fantasy points in two of City's last three UEFA Champions League games. If the second leg is anything like the first, then De Bruyne shapes up to be an excellent Fantasy skipper once again.