Champions League Fantasy Football: Popular Picks and Potential Differentials

Ahead of Matchday 9, UEFA.com assesses a number of the most popular picks for the four UEFA Champions League quarter-final first legs, as well as a selection of potential differentials on #UCLfantasy, presented by Playstation.

GOALKEEPERS

Popular Pick

Thibaut Courtois (€5.9m) vs Chelsea (H)
Courtois has been one of the most popular Fantasy assets all season and heads into Matchday 9 as the highest-owned goalkeeper. His Real Madrid side have home advantage in the first leg of their quarter-final against Chelsea, and history suggests that this bodes well for the Belgian's Fantasy prospects. The Belgian has accumulated 23 points in his three home appearances so far for the holders, conceding just once.
Owned by 36%

Potential Differential

Mike Maignan (€5.4m) vs Napoli (H)
Having been out injured since Matchday 2, Maignan made his return in the round of 16 second leg and played a critical role in AC Milan's progression to the quarter-finals. He kept a clean sheet at Tottenham and recorded three saves, including a vital stop deep into added time. The French international, who recorded consecutive shut-outs for his country over the international break, could play a key role again on Matchday 9 when Milan are at home to a Napoli side they beat 4-0 in Naples on 2 April. Of the eight goalkeepers expected to start on Matchday 9, Maignan is the second lowest owned.
Owned by 4%

DEFENDERS

Popular Pick

Giovanni Di Lorenzo (€5.2m) vs Milan (A)
Given his recent Champions League performances, it's no surprise so many Fantasy managers have moved fast to bring Di Lorenzo into their squads. The Napoli captain backed up a 13-point haul on Matchday 7 with ten more points on Matchday 8 as the Serie A leaders completed a 5-0 aggregate win against Eintracht Frankfurt. Across that round of 16 tie, Di Lorenzo gained a goal, an assist and eight ball recoveries and his overall Fantasy score of 65 points is the highest of any player still involved. The full-back has four clean sheets, two goals, two assists and 51 ball recoveries in this season's competition ahead of the last-eight tie against Milan.
Owned by 22%

Potential Differential

Alexander Bah (€4.7m) vs Inter (H)
Not only does Bah's low ownership offer Fantasy managers an enticing differential defensive option, he also comes with a bargain price tag. The Benfica full-back has picked up 25 points in the last three matchdays and his side have conceded only once in his last nine Portuguese Liga appearances. Two assists on Matchday 6 highlight his attacking potential and that could be useful again for the home meeting with Inter Milan on Matchday 9.
Owned by 1%

MIDFIELDERS

Popular Pick

Kevin De Bruyne (€10.5m) vs Bayern (H)
Manchester City look to have hit form at just the right time heading into the quarter-finals, and De Bruyne has been key to that. The Belgian's first start in the competition since Matchday 4 came in Man City's 7-0 dismantling of Leipzig on Matchday 8, a goal from outside the box and an assist helping to give the midfielder 11 Fantasy points. He has since found the net for both club and country ahead of the quarter-finals, when City welcome Bayern in the first leg, and is is attracting significant attention, with his Fantasy ownership currently the joint third highest among midfielders.
Owned by 21%

Potential Differential

Hakan Çalhanoğlu (€7.5m) vs Benfica (A)
Inter's star of the round of 16 , the Turkish midfielder was named Player of the Match in both legs of the 1-0 aggregate victory against Porto, helping him secure 15 Fantasy points despite not recording an attacking return in either game. Ten ball recoveries helped contribute to those 15 points and with multiple avenues available for further Fantasy points, Çalhanoğlu could prove a shrewd differential pick as Inter visit another Portuguese side in Benfica.
Owned by 2%

FORWARDS

Popular Pick

Erling Haaland (€11.0m) vs Bayern (H)
It will come as no surprise that Haaland's Fantasy popularity is sky high following his devastating display against Leipzig on Matchday 8. His five goals and 25 Fantasy points took him up to 53 points for the season, the most of any forward set to feature on Matchday 9. With an ownership now exceeding 60%, it will take a brave Fantasy manager to go without him as Manchester City take on Bayern. However, injury has kept the Norwegian out of action both during and since the international break, so all eyes will be on Pep Guardiola's Matchday 9 starting line-up.
Owned by 61%

Potential Differential

Thomas Müller (€9.7m) vs Manchester City (A)
Julian Nagelsmann's departure from Bayern led to the appointment of Thomas Tuchel, whose first game in charge was a 4-2 Bundesliga win at home to Borussia Dortmund in which Müller scored twice. The 33-year-old registered seven Fantasy points on Matchday 8, picking up the Player of the Match award in Bayern's 2-0 home triumph against Paris Saint-Germain, and will be looking to add to his one goal in this season's Champions League in the first leg at Manchester City.
Owned by 2%