Champions League Fantasy Football: Popular picks and potential differentials

Matchday 5 of the UEFA Champions League begins the second half of this season's league phase and UEFA.com assesses a selection of popular players capable of big returns, alongside some differential options who warrant consideration on #UCLfantasy, presented by PlayStation.

GOALKEEPERS

Popular pick

Gianluigi Donnarumma (€6.0m) vs Leverkusen (H)
Arsenal's David Raya is the only goalkeeper with a higher ownership than Donnarumma, who has two clean sheets and nine saves for Manchester City in this season's Champions League and has shut out the opposition in four of his last seven club appearances in all competitions ahead of a home game against Leverkusen.
Owned by 23%

Potential differential

Philipp Köhn (€4.5m) vs Pafos (A)
The in-form Monaco keeper has recorded consecutive Champions League clean sheets against Tottenham and Bodø/Glimt, earning 13 Fantasy points. On Matchday 5 the French side take on a Pafos side who have scored just two league phase goals so far, making him a useful differential selection.
Owned by 0%

DEFENDERS

Popular pick

Virgil van Dijk (€6.1m) vs PSV (H)
Not only is the Liverpool centre-back among the top five highest point-scoring defenders after four fixtures, he is also one of the highest-owned picks in his position, no surprise after two goals and two Player of the Match awards this season. With 35 points already, including two double-figure returns, Van Dijk's ownership could rise further prior to Liverpool's home game against PSV.
Owned by 30%

Potential differential

Abdülkerim Bardakcı (€4.5m) vs Union SG (H)
Despite being forced to withdraw from international duty due to injury, Bardakcı is expected to be available against Union Saint-Gilloise and Fantasy managers will also have the benefit of seeing Galatasaray's starting line-up prior to the deadline. The Turkish champions have kept clean sheets in two of the league phase games that Bardakcı has started this season, the bargain-priced 31-year-old collecting 17 points.
Owned by 0%

MIDFIELDERS

Popular pick

Lamine Yamal (€9.9m) vs Chelsea (A)
Back in training after a groin injury forced him to miss the recent international break, Yamal is sure to attract plenty of Fantasy attention ahead of Barcelona's trip to Chelsea. His last two Champions League appearances have brought two goals, an assist and 16 points, making the 18-year-old one of just three midfielders to feature in over a quarter of Fantasy teams.
Owned by 26%

Potential differential

Phil Foden (€7.9m) vs Leverkusen (H)
Foden's performance in Manchester City's 4-1 win against Dortmund on Matchday 4 should have the Fantasy community on notice. Two goals from outside the box and the Player of the Match award led to 17 points for the England international, who faces German opposition in Manchester again on Matchday 5. Having recorded 26 points in City's last two home fixtures, Foden is one of the most exciting differentials across all positions.
Owned by 6%

FORWARDS

Popular pick

Harry Kane (€10.8m) vs Arsenal (A)
Kane has 15 goals in 21 appearances against Arsenal across his career, most scored during his time at Tottenham, but he has also struck in north London for current club Bayern München. The German side take on an Arsenal back line set to be without key centre-back Gabriel on Matchday 5, when Kane will look to add to the five goals he has already scored in this season's league phase.
Owned by 42%

Potential differential

Julián Alvarez (€9.1m) vs Inter (H)
While picking Alvarez carries an element of risk due to the quality of opposition, the Atlético de Madrid striker has registered either a goal or assist in three of his last four club appearances. The Argentina forward demonstrated his ability to score heavily in the Champions League on Matchday 2, two assists, a goal and the Player of the Match award against Eintracht Frankfurt earning a 15-point score.
Owned by 8%