Champions League Fantasy Football: Popular picks and potential differentials

David Raya, Achraf Hakimi, Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland are proving to be popular Matchday 3 picks on #UCLfantasy, presented by Playstation, although Mattia Perin, Alexander Bah, Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Kai Havertz all hold substantial differential appeal for Fantasy managers.

GOALKEEPERS

Popular Pick

David Raya (€5.6m) vs Shakhtar Donetsk (H)
The Arsenal keeper is still yet to concede in the league phase after clean sheets against both Atalanta and Paris Saint-Germain, saving a penalty against the former. No goalkeeper has a higher Fantasy score so far than the Spaniard's 17 points and with Matchday 3 visitors Shakhtar Donetsk still to score in this season's competition, Raya looks well placed to add to that total.
Owned by 22%

Potential Differential

Mattia Perin (€4.0m) vs Stuttgart (H)
Michele Di Gregorio's suspension should lead to a start for the budget-priced Perin as Juventus take on Stuttgart. The 31-year-old has already started two Serie A fixtures this season, keeping a clean sheet in both, and his cheap cost and low ownership, not to mention the Bianconeri's defensive record so far under Thiago Motta, could make him the ideal goalkeeper transfer.
Owned by 1%

DEFENDERS

Popular Pick

Achraf Hakimi (€5.5m) vs PSV (H)
Although Paris Saint-Germain were beaten at Arsenal on Matchday 2, their previous home fixture in the league phase ended in a 1-0 win against Girona with Hakimi scoring seven Fantasy points. The French champions are back in Paris to face a PSV side who conceded three in their last Champions League away game, boding well from both an attacking and defensive perspective for Hakimi's sizeable Fantasy ownership.
Owned by 23%

Potential Differential

Alexander Bah (€5.0m) vs Feyenoord (H)
No defender has more Fantasy points than the Benfica full-back, whose score of 20 is matched only by the 22%-owned Jeremie Frimpong. Bah recorded a goal, a clean sheet, ten ball recoveries and 15 points on Matchday 2 as Benfica defeated Atlético de Madrid 4-0 in Portugal. Matchday 3 brings another Lisbon fixture, this time against Feyenoord, and the in-form Bah will once again offer Fantasy points potential through multiple avenues.
Owned by 1%

MIDFIELDERS

Popular Pick

Mohamed Salah (€10.0m) vs Leipzig (A)
Injuries to both Lamine Yamal and Florian Wirtz means that Salah could enter Matchday 3 as the highest-owned Fantasy player in his position, with a quarter of teams currently including the Egyptian. The Liverpool midfielder's goal and assist against Bologna last time out helped him be named Player of the Match and earn a total of 14 points, while he also has eight attacking returns in seven Premier League games this season.
Owned by 25%

Potential Differential

Hakan Çalhanoğlu (€7.0m) vs Young Boys (A)
The midfielder, who was recently on the scoresheet for Türkiye in the UEFA Nations League, scored ten points in Inter's 4-0 win over Crvena Zvezda. Çalhanoğlu scored a free-kick in that game and his set-piece ability further enhances his Fantasy appeal for a trip to Young Boys side who have conceded eight goals in their two league phase fixtures.
Owned by 4%

FORWARDS

Popular Pick

Erling Haaland (€11.0m) vs Sparta Praha (H)
One of just two players in all positions to be owned by over 50% of Fantasy managers, expectations for Haaland will be extremely high on Matchday 3. The Manchester City striker has ten goals in seven Premier League games this season and became Norway's all-time top scorer in the October international break. Haaland also opened his 2024/25 Champions League account on Matchday 2 and will look to add to his impressive home record in Europe having scored four of his six goals last season at the City of Manchester Stadium.
Owned by 53%

Potential Differential

Kai Havertz (€8.0m) vs Shakhtar Donetsk (H)
Havertz has found the net in all six of Arsenal's home games in all competitions in 2024/25, including against Paris Saint-Germain in the Gunners' first home fixture of the league phase, when he ended on ten Fantasy points after also being named Player of the Match. Given the German international's form at the Arsenal Stadium, and a visit from Shakhtar, who have conceded 24 goals in nine games in England, he could well add to that tally on Matchday 3.
Owned by 8%