Champions League Fantasy Football: Popular picks and potential differentials

The UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-offs begin on Matchday 9 with eight first legs and with unlimited transfers on UCL Fantasy, presented by PlayStation, UEFA.com highlights some of the most highly-selected players along with some lower-owned options capable of big returns.

GOALKEEPERS

Popular pick

Yann Sommer (€6.0m) vs Bodø/Glimt (A)
Of all the goalkeepers available for selection on Matchday 9, only Thibaut Courtois has a higher ownership than Sommer, who is expected to start at Bodø/Glimt for an Inter side who are traditionally defensively strong. The experienced Swiss international recorded four clean sheets during the league phase and has shut out his opponents in his last three appearances in all competitions.
Owned by 13% 

Potential differential

Uğurcan Çakır (€5.0m) vs Juventus (H)
After consecutive clean sheets in the Turkish league, Galatasaray's first-choice goalkeeper has already proved himself to Fantasy managers heading into Matchday 9. Çakır has registered clean sheets against Liverpool, Ajax and Monaco, also saving a penalty against the latter, and has home advantage for the first leg against Juventus, who failed to find the net in their last Champions League fixture.
Owned by 1%

DEFENDERS

Popular pick

Alejandro Grimaldo (€6.2m) vs Olympiacos (A)
No defender has scored more times in this season's Champions League than Grimaldo, who has three clean sheets, 32 ball recoveries and 47 Fantasy points since the start of Matchday 4. The Leverkusen left-back is therefore one of the highest-owned defenders set to feature in the knockout phase play-offs with the German side travelling to Olympiacos looking to turn the tables on their hosts after their league phase defeat in Greece.
Owned by 15% 

Potential differential

Rodinei (€4.0m) vs Leverkusen (H)
Key to Olympiacos' 2-0 victory over Leverkusen on Matchday 7 was Brazilian full-back Rodinei, who set up both goals. That was also one of two clean sheets for the Greek champions in their last three Champions League games, Rodinei averaging eight points per match over that period.
Owned by 1%

MIDFIELDERS

Popular pick

Vitinha (€7.3m) vs Monaco (A)
Comfortably the most popular midfielder available to Fantasy managers on Matchday 9, plenty of focus will be on Paris Saint-Germain's Vitinha in an all-French showdown against Monaco. The top Fantasy scorer in his position with 65 points, the Portuguese international hit five goals – three from outside the box – and provided an assist during the league phase, also making 46 ball recoveries.
Owned by 39%

Potential differential

Aleksandar Stanković (€5.0m) vs Atlético de Madrid (H)
While Club Brugge face a tough first leg at Atleti, Stanković's recent form makes him hard to ignore, a low price tag only enhancing his differential appeal. He has recorded consecutive double-figure Fantasy hauls, the Serbian central midfielder scoring a goal and making ten ball recoveries against Kairat Almaty and following that with three more goal involvements in Club Brugge's Matchday 8 win against Marseille.
Owned by 1%

FORWARDS

Popular pick

Kylian Mbappé (€11.0m) vs Benfica (A)
Mbappé continues to find the net with regularity in this season's Champions League, the Real Madrid striker scoring 13 goals in seven games in the league phase, form that has made him the highest-owned Fantasy player across all positions. Mbappé's last two goals came against Benfica in Lisbon, which is where Madrid will return on Matchday 9.
Owned by 71%

Potential differential

Lautaro Martínez (€9.5m) vs Bodø/Glimt (A)
Although the Inter striker has not found the net in the Champions League since Matchday 4, smart Fantasy bosses could well capitalise on the Argentinian's low ownership and back him to rediscover his scoring touch on Matchday 9 in the first leg at Bodø/Glimt, who conceded in all eight of their league phase fixtures, shipping two or more goals in five. Martínez has also struck in four successive Serie A appearances, making it 14 league goals for the season.
Owned by 4%