Champions League Fantasy Football: Matchday 3 top performers

UEFA.com casts an eye back at some of the top performers in each position on Matchday 3 on #UCLfantasy, presented by Playstation.

GOALKEEPERS

Whilst a number of goalkeepers recorded clean sheets on Matchday 3, Porto's Diogo Costa (€4.9m) stood out from the rest. Not only did he successfully keep Bayer Leverkusen at bay, but he also denied Patrik Schick from the penalty spot, helping him reach six saves over the course of a 2-0 victory. This meant Costa was named Player of the Match, picking up a total of 16 #UCLfantasy points, nine more than the second-highest scoring goalkeeper of Matchday 3.

The Portuguese international wasn't the only goalkeeper to gain a clean sheet across this latest round of group fixtures; Bayern's Manuel Neuer (€6.0m) and Simon Mignolet (€4.7m) of Club Brugge are still yet to be beaten.

It was a profitable Matchday 3 for Kevin Trapp (€5.0m), who recorded a second successive clean sheet as Eintracht Frankfurt played out a 0-0 draw with Tottenham, while André Onana (€5.0m) gained five points despite also not being beaten after being given a yellow card during Inter's 1-0 win at home to Barcelona. Those #UCLfantasy managers who owned either Ederson (€6.0m) or Alisson Becker (€6.0m) will have been satisfied to see them each pick up six points at home to Copenhagen and Rangers respectively.

DEFENDERS

Four defenders racked up double-figure point scores on Matchday 3, with all four being attacking full-backs. Topping the list was Trent Alexander-Arnold (€6.5m), the Liverpool right-back showing off his set-piece prowess by curling in a free-kick to open the scoring against Rangers. That, combined with a clean sheet and eight ball recoveries earned him 14 #UCLfantasy points, one more than Giovanni Di Lorenzo (€5.0m) of Napoli.

Luciano Spalletti's side produced a stunning performance to win 6-1 at Ajax, with Di Lorenzo getting on the scoresheet, making seven ball recoveries and being named Player of the Match. The highest-scoring player however, not just among defenders but in all positions, was Chelsea's Reece James (€6.0m), who secured 20 points in his side's 3-0 victory against Milan courtesy of a goal, assist, clean sheet and Player of the Match award.

Rounding off the top four highest-scoring defenders is left-back Federico Dimarco (€4.4m), who racked up 11 ball recoveries and set up Inter's winning goal against Barcelona.

Sergio Gómez (€4.1m) marked his second UEFA Champions League start with an assist, clean sheet and ten Fantasy points as the Premier League champions defeated Copenhagen 5-0. Gómez's fellow Manchester City full-back as João Cancelo (€6.7m) recorded his fourth assist of the group stage, although being substituted before the 60-minute mark denied him any clean sheet points.

MIDFIELDERS

Adrien Rabiot (€6.0m) marked his return to the Juventus starting line-up with two goals and 12 ball recoveries as the Bianconeri secured a crucial 3-1 victory over Maccabi Haifa in Group H. No midfielder was able to match Rabiot's score of 16 points and with an enticing price tag, #UCLfantasy managers should consider him for Matchday 4.

From a consistency perspective, both Leroy Sané (€9.2m) and Jude Bellingham (€7.3m) continue to shine for Bayern and Dortmund respectively. Despite being substituted in the 58th minute, Sane still had time to score twice for Bayern as they overcame Plzeň 5-0, and his 35 #UCLfantasy points this season is more than any other midfielder. Bellingham is, however, breathing down his neck with 33 points and recorded a second double-figure Fantasy points haul of the season on Matchday 3.

Despite Ajax being beaten heavily at the hands of Napoli on Tuesday, Mohammed Kudus (€5.3m) maintained his run of scoring in every group fixture this season, leading to a second consecutive seven-point-score. However, those Fantasy managers looking for a Napoli midfielder are spoiled for choice with Piotr Zieliński (€7.3m), André-Frank Zambo Anguissa (€5.7m) and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (€5.5m) all worthy options.

FORWARDS

Despite getting on the scoresheet twice more on Matchday 3 and extending his goal tally in this season's group stage to five, Manchester City's Erling Haaland (€11.1m) is currently not the top-scoring forward on #UCLfantasy. That honour goes to Ferran Jutglà (€5.6m) who, for the second straight European fixture, recorded a goal and an assist for Club Brugge as they maintained their 100% record in Group B by beating Atlético 2-0. Jutglà has 26 Fantasy points across Matchdays 2 and 3 after being named Player of the Match on both occasions, and currently represents a bargain for Fantasy managers.

Haaland's team-mate Julián Álvarez (€5.9m) rewarded Pep Guardiola for his first UEFA Champions League start with a goal against Copenhagen, and could feature more heavily in the remainder of the group stage, while Dortmund's Youssoufa Moukoko (€4.9m) is another budget asset who impressed and will also be under consideration for another start on Matchday 4.

André Silva (€7.5m) showed his qualities with two goals in Leipzig's crucial 3-1 win against Celtic. His Matchday 3 score of 16 points was the joint second highest of any player in all positions.