Champions League Fantasy Football: Popular picks and potential differentials

UEFA.com takes a look at the options for Matchday 9 of #UCLfantasy, presented by Playstation, examining both the popular selections and some leading differentials before the first legs of the inaugural knockout phase play-offs.

GOALKEEPERS

Popular pick

Gregor Kobel (€4.9m) vs Sporting CP (A)
The most popular Fantasy goalkeeper involved in the knockout phase play-offs, Kobel was a key part of the Dortmund side that advanced all the way through to last season's Champions League final. The German side visit Sporting CP in the first leg with both of Kobel's clean sheets in the league phase having come away from home.
Owned by 16%

Potential differential

Anatoliy Trubin (€4.5m) vs Monaco (A)
One of only two goalkeepers set to feature on Matchday 9 who have recorded over 30 Fantasy points, Benfica's Trubin made 28 saves in total and has kept two clean sheets in his last three European games. Available at a budget price, Fantasy managers might want to give Trubin some thought ahead of Benfica's trip to Monaco, although they did concede twice at the Stade Louis II on Matchday 5.
Owned by 3%

DEFENDERS

Popular pick

Achraf Hakimi (€5.5m) vs Brest (A)
No defender involved in the knockout phase play-offs has a higher Fantasy ownership than Hakimi, who recorded a goal and three assists in the league phase. The Moroccan earned double-figure returns in two of the last three matchdays and has also made 44 ball recoveries, registered three clean sheets and collected a Player of the Match award.
Owned by 28%

Potential differential

Isak Hien (€4.9m) vs Club Brugge (A)
Hien's 64 ball recoveries ranks third among defenders and the Atalanta full-back's Fantasy consistency makes his low ownership even more of a surprise. In seven league phase appearances, Hien is yet to gain less than four points and is one of four defenders remaining in the competition to have already passed 50 points.
Owned by 4%

MIDFIELDERS

Popular pick

Jamal Musiala (€9.0m) vs Celtic (A)
The third highest points scorer among midfielders set to feature on Matchday 9, only Jude Bellingham can match Musiala's ownership percentage in his position. After an assist as a substitute on Matchday 8, the German international will be looking to add to his six attacking returns in Europe when Bayern travel to Celtic.
Owned by 22%

Potential differential

Hans Vanaken (€6.2m) vs Atalanta (H)
Those seeking a lesser-owned option may want to consider the Club Brugge midfielder, who scored, provided an assist and won a Player of the Match award during the league phase and has two goals and two assists in his last two league outings. With home advantage against Atalanta in the first leg, Vanaken represents a differential selection with the form to provide attacking returns.
Owned by 0%

FORWARDS

Popular pick

Kylian Mbappé (€10.9m) vs Man City (A)
As Manchester City are without a clean sheet in Europe since Matchday 3, Fantasy managers may well be tempted to invest in Real Madrid's attack for their tie. Over a quarter of Fantasy teams currently include Mbappé, the Frenchman having gained an attacking return in each of his last three Champions League appearances.
Owned by 28%

Potential differential

Charles De Ketelaere (€5.8m) vs Club Brugge (A)
Of the top five point-scoring forwards available for selection on Matchday 9, only De Ketelaere has a single-figure ownership percentage, despite the Belgian producing four goals, five assists and 44 points in Atalanta's last five league phase fixtures. De Ketelaere is also by far the cheapest of those five forwards, only increasing his differential appeal.
Owned by 4%