Champions League Fantasy Football: Popular picks for Matchday 1

Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, Nuno Mendes and David Raya are some of the most popular selections leading up to Matchday 1 of #UCLfantasy, presented by PlayStation.

GOALKEEPERS

Still to concede from open play this season, Arsenal's David Raya (€5.5m) is proving a popular acquisition. The Spaniard registered six clean sheets in the UEFA Champions League last season, saving two penalties and accumulating 63 Fantasy points. Raya is the only player in his position with an ownership over 30%.

Always a well-owned goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois (€6.0m) is attracting significant attention once again. Real Madrid begin their campaign at home to Marseille, with Courtois having two clean sheets from three La Liga fixtures to date.

The highest-scoring Fantasy goalkeeper in 2024/25 was Yann Sommer (€6.0m) and the Inter No1 is again popular after seven clean sheets in last season's competition. Just behind Sommer in ownership percentage is Gianluigi Donnarumma (€6.0m), a Champions League winner with Paris Saint-Germain in 2024/25 who could could make his European debut for Manchester City against Napoli.

Other popular choices: Joan García (13%), Lucas Chevalier (10%), Alisson Becker (9%)

DEFENDERS

One of the top Fantasy defenders last season, Nuno Mendes (€6.0m) registered six goal involvements, seven clean sheets, 87 ball recoveries and 108 points, making him one of just two defenders to reach triple figures in 2024/25. The other was Paris team-mate Achraf Hakimi (€6.0m), who is the only higher-owned defender this time round.

Another full-back renowned for his attacking prowess is Denzel Dumfries (€6.0m), who scored twice in last season's Champions League with three assists during Inter's run to the final. Dumfries has already opened his account this season in Serie A and is owned by just under a quarter of Fantasy bosses.

Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk (€6.0m) is one of three defenders with a Fantasy ownership over 25% and provides both clean sheet potential and an attacking threat from set pieces. William Saliba (€6.0m) rounds off the top five most-owned defenders, but managers should be aware the Frenchman was forced off early through injury in Arsenal's last Premier League fixture on 31 August.

Other popular choices: Dean Huijsen (16%), Jules Koundé (15%), Alessandro Bastoni (14%)

MIDFIELDERS

After a blistering start to the new campaign, Fantasy managers are picking up Lamine Yamal (€10.0m); no less than 53% already own the 18-year-old, who already has two goals and six assists this season for Barcelona and Spain.

Yamal's club-mate Raphinha (€9.5m) was the top Fantasy scorer in 2024/25, amassing a record 137 points including 13 goals (four from outside the box) and nine assists. Only Yamal has a higher midfield ownership percentage than Raphinha for Barça's Matchday 1 trip to Newcastle.

Two other midfielders have an ownership exceeding 25%. Paris' Vitinha (€7.0m) registered 80 points last season, including three Player of the Match awards, while Michael Olise (€8.0m) hit five goals. The France international has scored at least once in three of his four fixtures this season for Bayern München, who welcome Chelsea in the opening round.

Other popular choices: Pedri (24%), João Neves (21%), Declan Rice (16%)

FORWARDS

Only Yamal can match Kylian Mbappé (€10.5m) for Fantasy popularity, 53% of managers having already brought in the Real Madrid forward, who found the net 44 times in all competitions during his first season in Spain. Mbappé already has five goals in as many appearances for club and country in 2025/26.

Having enjoyed a Champions League debut campaign to remember in 2024/25, Fantasy bosses are backing Dortmund forward Serhou Guirassy (€8.0m) to repeat those exploits on Matchday 1 against Juventus. Guirassy delivered 103 points last year, thanks largely to 13 goals, and has begun the new season with four from three games in all competitions.

The ownership of Harry Kane (€10.5m) is second only to Mbappé among forwards. The England captain has already scored six times for Bayern, including a hat-trick against Leipzig, and was on the scoresheet during the international break. Erling Haaland (€10.5m) scored five goals for Norway against Moldova on 9 September, which could lead to an increase in the Manchester City striker's ownership ahead of Matchday 1.

Other popular choices: Luis Díaz (15%), João Pedro (15%), Viktor Gyökeres (12%)