Champions League Fantasy Football: Popular picks and potential differentials

The league phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League draws to a close with all 36 clubs in action at the same time on Matchday 8. UEFA.com provides a selection of the most popular options plus a group of lower-owned players with point-scoring potential on #UCLfantasy, presented by PlayStation.

GOALKEEPERS

Popular pick

Gianluigi Donnarumma (€5.9m) vs Galatasaray (H)
Defeat at Bodø/Glimt leaves Manchester City outside the top eight in the table heading into their final league phase fixture against Galatasaray in Manchester. With the their fate in the balance, Donnarumma could have a big part to play. The second-highest owned Fantasy goalkeeper has conceded just one goal and recorded nine Fantasy points in two home appearances this season.
Owned by 22%

Potential differential

Kostas Tzolakis (€4.2m) vs Ajax (A)
Back-to-back victories have given Olympiacos a chance of qualification ahead of Matchday 8 and key to their recent success has been the form of Tzolakis. The Greek goalkeeper registered clean sheets in both of those games, with six saves and the Player of the Match award against Leverkusen last time out earning him 11 Fantasy points – the most in his position on Matchday 7.
Owned by 0%

DEFENDERS

Popular pick

Nuno Mendes (€6.3m) vs Newcastle (H)
Despite being on the losing side against Sporting CP on Matchday 7, Paris full-back Mendes still picked up five Fantasy points thanks largely to his 14 ball recoveries. No defender has a higher ownership than the Portugal international, who has 53 Fantasy points, the highest score in his position.
Owned by 47%

Potential differential

Cristian Romero (€5.0m) vs Frankfurt (A)
Despite only featuring in five of Tottenham's seven fixtures only five defenders have more Fantasy points than Romero, who has produced three double-figure returns in the last four games. The Argentinian centre-back opened the scoring in the home win against Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 7 and his small ownership could make further Fantasy gains against a Frankfurt side that have lost five of their last six league phase games.
Owned by 3%

MIDFIELDERS

Popular pick

Lamine Yamal (€9.9m) vs Copenhagen (H)
Almost a quarter of managers own Yamal and, after being suspended on Matchday 7, he could come straight back into the Barcelona starting line-up at home to Copenhagen. Yamal's last four Champions League appearances have brought two goals and two assists and with a 100% record from the spot this season, he could also be on penalty duty – a further boost to his Fantasy credentials.
Owned by 23%

Potential differential

Vinícius Júnior (€9.5m) vs Benfica (A)
After a 20-point Fantasy score on Matchday 7, the most of any player across all positions, Vinícius is likely to attract significant attention from those searching for a Matchday 8 differential. Real Madrid next visit Benfica after the Brazilian scored and provide a hat-trick of assists against Monaco last time out, making it five assists in his last three Champions League appearances.
Owned by 9%

FORWARDS

Popular pick

Erling Haaland (€10.7m) vs Galatasaray (H)
The third highest-owned Fantasy forward, Haaland has six goals in as many league phase starts this season. Despite being frustrated by Bodø/Glimt on Matchday 7, the Norwegian still has an incredible 55 goals in 55 Champions League appearances and, with 38 for club and country in 2025/26, Haaland is always worth considering.
Owned by 39%

Potential differential

Gabriel Jesus (€5.9m) vs Kairat Almaty (H)
With all 18 fixtures on Matchday 8 kicking off at the same time, Fantasy managers will have the benefit of seeing every team's starting line-up ahead of the deadline. A striker like Arsenal's Jesus could therefore prove a key differential with the leaders at home to 36th-placed Kairat Almaty. The Brazilian made the most of his first league phase start in 2025/26, earning 13 Fantasy points in the 3-1 win against Inter.
Owned by 0%