Champions League Fantasy Football: Popular Picks and Potential Differentials

As Matchday 2 draws nearer, UEFA.com examines some of the more popular choices among managers, alongside those less sought-after players who could steal the show on #UCLfantasy, presented by Playstation.

GOALKEEPERS

Popular Pick

Thibaut Courtois (€6.0m) vs Leipzig (H)
No goalkeeper comes close to Courtois in terms of #UCLfantasy ownership and last season's top-scoring custodian repaid that faith on Matchday 1 with a clean sheet and seven Fantasy points as Real Madrid ran out 3-0 winners at Celtic. The Belgian is yet to concede in European competition this season having also kept a clean sheet in his side's 2-0 UEFA Super Cup victory against Eintracht Frankfurt in August. As Real Madrid face their first home fixture of the 2022/23 group stage on Matchday 2 against Leipzig, Courtois is set to be owned by almost half of #UCLfantasy managers.
Selected by 45%

Potential Differential

Pau López (€4.5m) vs Frankfurt (H)
Although López only managed to pick up a single point on Matchday 1 in Marseille's 2-0 defeat at Tottenham, Igor Tudor's side impressed defensively with López's goal remaining unbreached until the 76th minute. It was easy to see why Marseille have not conceded in each of their last three Ligue 1 fixtures and with home advantage in their favour on Matchday 2, López will hope to record a first clean sheet of the group stage against Frankfurt, who were beaten 3-0 at home by Sporting CP last time out.
Selected by 1%

DEFENDERS

Popular Pick

João Cancelo (€6.5m) vs Dortmund (H)
Last season's UEFA Champions League campaign was a fruitful one for Cancelo from an offensive perspective, and the Manchester City full-back has begun this season's group stage in similar fashion. The Portugal international recorded two assists in a 4-0 win at Sevilla, leading to 15 points for his sizeable #UCLfantasy ownership. The attacking freedom Cancelo is allowed by Pep Guardiola makes him a hugely attractive Fantasy asset and he already boasts an ownership percentage unmatched by any other defender, with a home game against Dortmund offering another opportunity to pick up points via multiple avenues.
Selected by 46%

Potential Differential

Ivan Perišić (€6.0m) vs Sporting CP (A)
With so many defensive options available to Fantasy managers, Perišić seems to have flown somewhat under the radar. However, the experienced Croatian showed his quality at both ends of the pitch on Matchday 1, his cross leading to Tottenham breaking the deadlock against Marseille. The summer signing has been deployed as a left wing-back by Antonio Conte and his four starts so far for Tottenham in all competitions have yielded three clean sheets. Although a trip to Sporting CP on Matchday 2 is a difficult one for Tottenham, Perišić is still worth serious consideration to Fantasy managers looking for a differential defender.
Selected by 6%

MIDFIELDERS

Popular Pick

Vinícius Júnior (€10.0m) vs Leipzig (H)
The #UCLfantasy position change afforded to Vinícius Júnior had generated plenty of excitement heading into the group stage and this was reflected in his ownership, currently the highest among midfielders. The 22-year-old did not let them down on Matchday 1, scoring the opening goal as European champions Real Madrid overcame Celtic. The Brazilian lit up last season's knockout stage and he already looks set to garner similar success over the coming matchdays in Group F. Expect his ownership to increase even further before the Matchday 2 deadline.
Selected by 33%

Potential Differential

Piotr Zieliński (€7.0m) vs Rangers (A)
Napoli's 4-1 victory at home to Liverpool was one of the standout results of Matchday 1, with Zieliński playing a starring role, scoring twice and gaining an assist. His score of 18 Fantasy points was the joint-second highest of the matchday, but only a small proportion of managers benefited. As it stands, Zieliński's ownership remains extremely modest ahead of Matchday 2, when Napoli travel to a Rangers side beaten 4-0 by Ajax in their opening game. A similar performance from the Polish international and there will be swarms of #UCLfantasy managers snapping him up.
Owned by 4%

FORWARDS

Popular Pick

Erling Haaland (€11.0m) vs Dortmund (H)
Superlatives to describe Haaland seem to be running out as the Norwegian striker continues to shine for Manchester City, taking his Premier League form into Europe. Haaland's Matchday 1 double at Sevilla means that he has now struck 12 goals in eight appearances since joining Pep Guardiola’s side, but scoring goals in this competition is nothing new for him. The 22-year-old has now hit 25 in 20 UEFA Champions League appearances, averaging one every 63 minutes. Unsurprisingly, this makes him as the hottest of properties in #UCLfantasy and he is currently the only player owned by over half of managers. It will be a memorable Matchday 2 for Haaland, who takes on former club Dortmund, and he will be especially eager to make another decisive impact.
Owned by 56%

Potential Differential

Lionel Messi (€10.5m) vs Maccabi Haifa (A)
It seems incredible to think that Messi is to be considered a potential differential from a #UCLfantasy standpoint, but such are the galaxy of lucrative forward options available to managers, the Argentinian has been overlooked. While team-mates Kylian Mbappé and Neymar both recorded at least one attacking return on Matchday 1, Messi went without a goal or assist in Paris's 2-1 victory against Juventus, but it would be no surprise to see him rake in the Fantasy points on Matchday 2 as Paris travel to Maccabi Haifa in Israel. Managers searching for a lesser-owner forward capable of significant returns should look no further.
Owned by 10%