Champions League Fantasy Football: What the numbers say

Ahead of Matchday 3, UEFA.com crunches the numbers to find out which players are predicted for big points hauls on #UCLfantasy, presented by Playstation.

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 3 are given below. As ever, check latest teams news and possible line-ups before making your final selection.

GOALKEEPERS

Second successive UEFA Champions League clean sheets for Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois and Bayern No1 Manuel Neuer on Matchday 2 ensures that both premium goalkeepers are favoured by the algorithm for Matchday 3, while the more budget-friendly Antonio Adán and Simon Mignolet are fancied given that fact that Sporting CP and Club Brugge have also yet to concede a goal in Europe this season.

Ederson may have conceded against Dortmund last time out but owners of the Brazilian can be hopeful of a clean sheet on Matchday 3, when Manchester City entertain a Copenhagen side who have yet to find the net in the competition.

DEFENDERS

João Cancelo tops the projected defenders list for the third matchday running with the Manchester City full-back currently leading the competition in terms of assists, while team-mate Rúben Dias, who earned 14 #UCLfantasy points at Sevilla on Matchday 1, is expected to return to the starting line-up after missing out last time out.

Plenty of attack-minded full-backs and wing-backs feature in the Matchday 3 projections, with Alphonso Davies, Achraf Hakimi, Alejandro Grimaldo, Denzel Dumfries and Pedro Porro having all shown their Fantasy potential so far this season, although Club Brugge centre-back Abakar Sylla has flown under the radar, the 4%-owned Ivorian having amassed 23 points to date – second only to Grimaldo.

MIDFIELDERS

Leroy Sané scored the most #UCLfantasy points among midfielders last season and he once more finds himself in that position after two matchdays, so the German winger is naturally predicted to add to his total against Plzeň on Matchday 3. The algorithm also likes the chances of Kevin De Bruyne – Player of the Match in both Manchester City's fixtures to date – and Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior, who has recorded an attacking return in seven of his last eight UEFA Champions League appearances.

Plenty of cheaper options look attractive on Matchday 3 though. English pair Marcus Edwards and Jude Bellingham both impressed on Matchday 2 for Sporting CP and Dortmund respectively, while Mohammed Kudus has been superb value for money, the Ajax man having recorded two goals and an assist in his central forward role.

FORWARDS

Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé and Robert Lewandowski lead the UEFA Champions League top scorer charts on three goals so far, and they are likewise the three highest-owned forwards in #UCLfantasy. For those looking elsewhere though, there are plenty of alternative assets to consider.

Paris duo Lionel Messi and Neymar are viable alternatives in the premium department, while Milan's Rafael Leão, who has assisted in both Group E games to date, is a little friendlier on the wallet.

Cheaper still are Dinamo Zagreb pair Mislav Oršić and Bruno Petković, who have recorded attacking returns in both matches, while Ferran Jutglà is the cheapest of the bunch with the Club Brugge striker's 14 points on Matchday 2 more than any other player in #UCLfantasy.