Champions League Fantasy Football: Popular picks and potential differentials

As the UEFA Champions League round of 16 gets under way, UEFA.com casts a spotlight over some popular and differential options for Matchday 11 of #UCLfantasy, presented by Playstation.

GOALKEEPERS

Popular pick

Gregor Kobel (€5.0m) vs Lille (H)
One of just two goalkeepers to not concede in the knockout phase play-offs, Kobel heads into Matchday 11 as the joint-second most popular player in his position. The Swiss keeper kept two clean sheets as Dortmund overcame Sporting CP to reach the round of 16, where they will face Lille with home advantage on Matchday 11.
Owned by 17%

Potential differential

Gianluigi Donnarumma (€5.8m) vs Liverpool (H)
Donnarumma also went through both legs of Paris Saint-Germain's 10-0 aggregate win against Brest without letting in a goal, accumulating 13 Fantasy points in total. His premium price tag is a factor as to why his ownership remains small, but with Paris having shipped just three goals in their last five Champions League games, he goes into a testing meeting against Liverpool in good form.
Owned by 8%

DEFENDERS

Popular pick

Virgil van Dijk (€6.0m) vs Paris Saint-Germain (A)
A defender capable of Fantasy returns from multiple avenues, Van Dijk's popularity remains high with the Liverpool centre-back having picked up 49 points from seven league phase appearances, scoring less than seven points on just one occasion. The Dutchman has scored a goal and made 38 ball recoveries as part of a back line that has kept five clean sheets.
Owned by 27%

Potential differential

Stefan de Vrij (€5.0m) vs Feyenoord (A)
No team has had a stronger defence than Inter, who have conceded just one goal in eight matches ahead of their round of 16 tie against Feyenoord. De Vrij started all bar one of those fixtures, making 50 ball recoveries and claiming 52 Fantasy points. With that in mind, De Vrij's clean-sheet prospects on Matchday 11 make him the ideal differential defender.
Owned by 3%

MIDFIELDERS

Popular pick

Florian Wirtz (€7.9m) vs Bayern München (A)
Only one midfielder registered more points in the inaugural league phase than Wirtz, which has contributed heavily to the Leverkusen playmaker being owned by over 30% of Fantasy managers. Wirtz has been named Player of the Match on five occasions, more than any other player, and has six goals, an assist, 21 ball recoveries and 79 points.
Owned by 31%

Potential differential

Orkun Kökçü (€6.6m) vs Barcelona (H)
Kökçü's recent form makes him worth consideration for Fantasy managers searching for a point of difference in midfield, the Turkish international having scored in two of Benfica's last three Champions League games and earned 23 points. Kökçü was named Player of the Match on Matchday 10 after scoring the decisive goal against Monaco, and was also on the scoresheet in Benfica's subsequent league win against Boavista.
Owned by 4%

FORWARDS

Popular pick

Kylian Mbappé (€10.9m) vs Atlético de Madrid (H)
Mbappé's magnificent hat-trick on Matchday 10 – which produced 18 Fantasy points – helped knock out English champions Manchester City as Real Madrid progressed through the knockout phase play-offs 6-3 on aggregate. The Madrid derby awaits in the round of 16 and plenty of Fantasy managers are investing in Mbappé, who has six goals and 40 points in the last five matchdays.
Owned by 33%

Potential differential

Antoine Griezmann (€9.1m) vs Real Madrid (A)
While Mbappé will line up for Real Madrid on Matchday 11, on the opposite side will be his former international team-mate Griezmann, a key attacking figure and lucrative Fantasy asset in Atlético de Madrid's successful league phase campaign. The 33-year-old has recorded 60 points, including six goals, three assists and three Player of the Match awards among three double-figure scores already.
Owned by 7%