Champions League Fantasy Football: Defenders

UEFA.com looks back on the top-performing UEFA Champions League defenders over the course of the group stage on #UCLfantasy, presented by Playstation.

Having topped the charts for Fantasy points among defenders in the group stage, Alejandro Grimaldo (€5.3m) should attract plenty of #UCLfantasy attention ahead of Matchday 7. Though Benfica gained just one clean sheet, Grimaldo's offensive prowess brought him two goals – both from outside the box – and and two assists. The Spaniard also racked up 31 ball recoveries, helping him to an overall score of 47 Fantasy points, which included a 20-point haul on Matchday 1.

Grimaldo is not the only Benfica defender who will appeal to #UCLfantasy managers. Nicolás Otamendi (€4.7m) has again delivered high returns when it comes to ball recoveries and no other player set to appear in the knockout stage has acquired more recoveries than the Argentinian's 45.

Benfica take on Club Brugge in the round of 16, another team boasting multiple enticing Fantasy defensive assets, including Brandon Mechele (€4.5m). The 29-year-old matches Otamendi's total ball recoveries and with five clean sheets to his name, only Grimaldo and Leipzig's Mohamed Simakan (€4.8m) have a higher overall Fantasy score.

Like Mechele, Simakan has scored five or more points on any matchday this season, but in Simakan's case this is largely down to attacking returns, including three assists and a goal. With Leipzig facing a daunting tie against Manchester City, goals and assists rather than clean sheets are likely to prove Simakan's best route for further returns.

For those #UCLfantasy bosses tempted by a potential Club Brugge defensive double-up – an understandable tactic considering their five Group B clean sheets – then both Abakar Sylla (€4.9m) and Bjorn Meijer (€4.3m) will appeal. Each picked up 35 Fantasy points across the group stage and the latter in particular looks an ideal budget enabler.

Attacking full-backs are particularly alluring from a Fantasy point of view due to their potential to pick up points at both ends of the pitch. One such player who should court significant interest heading into Matchday 7 is Napoli's Giovanni Di Lorenzo (€5.1m) whose goal, assist, two clean sheets and 43 ball recoveries helped him to a total score of 42 Fantasy points.

In terms of popularity, no player in any position is more highly owned than João Cancelo (€6.7m). The Portuguese international accumulated 34 Fantasy points across the opening four matchdays, including four assists and two clean sheets. Although Cancelo's minutes were restricted during Manchester City's final two group games, he should be one of the first names on the team sheet come the round of 16 tie against Leipzig.