Champions League Fantasy Football: What the numbers say

Ahead of Matchday 12, UEFA.com crunches the numbers to find out which players are predicted for big points hauls.

Predicting which Fantasy players are going to perform on any given matchday is a difficult task. Through crunching the numbers, a projected points total for each player has been calculated based on the player's historical performance in the UEFA Champions League. Goals, assists, clean sheets and the likelihood of playing are the major parameters used in our projections.

The top projected players for each position for Matchday 12 are given below. As ever, check the latest team news and possible line-ups before making your final selection.

• Popular picks and potential differentials
• Matchday 12 captain

GOALKEEPERS

Liverpool were the only side who kept a clean sheet on Matchday 11, and another would guarantee Jürgen Klopp's side a spot in the UEFA Champions League final. Alisson Becker did not face a single shot on goal in the first leg, but can expect to be busier in Spain with Villarreal needing to go on the offensive. By contrast, Gerónimo Rulli made five saves at Anfield to take his overall tally in the competition to 39, and that appears to be his likeliest avenue for points in the return fixture on Matchday 12.

The high-scoring nature of the first leg between Manchester City and Real Madrid is a key factor behind Ederson and Thibaut Courtois's relatively low projected scores, although it should be noted that Ederson was on a streak of four consecutive UEFA Champions League clean sheets prior to that match while Courtois has accumulated more Fantasy points this season than any other goalkeeper.

DEFENDERS

#UCLfantasy managers who loaded up on the Liverpool back line raked in the points on Matchday 11, and it is Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konaté who top the projected defenders list ahead of the return legs. Alexander-Arnold's Fantasy credentials are well known, whilst Konaté has impressed in recent matchdays and is averaging 7.3 #UCLfantasy points per appearance this season.

Matchday 12 brings the return of the highest point-scoring #UCLfantasy defender with João Cancelo set to be restored to the Manchester City line-up following suspension. The Portuguese full-back has been a standout Fantasy option this season, while Aymeric Laporte represents another route into City's back line. Both defenders have made 48 ball recoveries in the competition this season, but that pales in comparison to the 67 of Villarreal's Raúl Albiol, who could play a key role on Matchday 12 if his side are to have any chance of overturning their tie against Liverpool.

MIDFIELDERS

An inspirational performance from Kevin De Bruyne on Matchday 11 means those Fantasy managers who don't already own the Belgian will surely be looking to bring him into their squads, and the algorithm backs this decision by placing him top of the pile. Riyad Mahrez remains Manchester City's highest point-scorer though, with the Algerian logging his eighth attacking return of this season's competition on Matchday 11.

There is little between Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané, the former assisting the latter for Liverpool's second goals in the first leg with Villarreal, for whom Arnaut Danjuma – who has 66 #UCLfantasy points for the season – will be hoping to spearhead his side to a comeback on Matchday 12.

FORWARDS

Karim Benzema once again underlined his status as the outstanding forward left in the competition with two more goals on Matchday 11, and any #UCLfantasy manager going without the Frenchman on Matchday 12 is asking for trouble. Benzema's projected score is significantly higher than any other player in his position, but team-mates Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo offer additional routes into the Real Madrid front line. The former in particular is an enticing Fantasy option having either scored or assisted in each of the Spanish side's last four UEFA Champions League games.

The in-form Gabriel Jesus marked his second start in this season's competition with his fourth goal on Matchday 11 and the Manchester City man is making a big claim to be selected once more for the second leg, while Liverpool's Luis Díaz will be hoping for a fourth successive start in the competition.