What are the Champions League Fantasy Football rules for Matchday 9 and the knockout phase play-offs?

With the league phase of the UEFA Champions League now complete, attention turns to the knockout phase play-offs. For your UCL Fantasy side, this brings fresh budgets, unlimited transfers and new tactical opportunities – meaning it's the perfect time to reset and start climbing the rankings.

Ahead of the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-offs, there are a number of key changes to the rules in UCL Fantasy, presented by PlayStation. UEFA.com summarises the key elements of the game Fantasy managers need to remember.

What you need to know: Matchday 9 changes at a glance

• €5m added to your budget
• Unlimited free transfers
• 4 players per club (up from 3)
• No Wildcard or Limitless available
• Transfers do NOT roll over

UCL Fantasy Football Knockout phase rules: The breakdown

How many players are in a Fantasy Football squad? 

Just like the league phase, Fantasy squads feature 15 players:

• 2 goalkeepers
• 5 defenders
• 5 midfielders
• 3 forwards

You need to select 11 starting players from your 15-player squad.

All your matchday points will be scored by the players in your team – the 11 players who finish the matchday in your line-up.

Your captain scores double points and you also have the chance to make substitutions within your squad over the course of the matchday to maximise your Fantasy points – see below for more details.

Can you change formation in UCL Fantasy Football? 

Yes! As a UCL Fantasy manager, you are in total control. This includes selecting your chosen formation. You can choose from the following:

• 3-4-3
• 3-5-2
• 4-3-3
• 4-4-2
• 4-5-1
• 5-2-3
• 5-3-2
• 5-4-1

Your team must include 1 goalkeeper, at least 3 defenders, 2 midfielders and 1 forward – which allows you to use any of the formations listed above.

What is the knockout budget for Champions League Fantasy managers? 

UCL Fantasy managers are allocated an additional €5m to pick their squads for the knockout rounds. For example, if your squad value was €100m at the end of the league phase, it increases to €105m for Matchday 9.

How many players per club can be selected in a UCL Fantasy squad? 

For the knockout phase play-offs, Fantasy managers can pick 4 players per club – an increase on the 3 during the league phase.

How many free transfers do managers get in UCL Fantasy? 

Ahead of the knockout phase play-off first legs on Matchday 9, UCL Fantasy managers are allocated unlimited free transfers, allowing them to make as many changes to their squad as they like. This means you can completely rebuild your squad for the knockout phase with no points deductions.

The same applies for the round of 16, when managers are again given unlimited free transfers before the Matchday 11 deadline.

UCL Fantasy managers also receive a set number of free transfers per matchday – any additional transfers cost 4 points each.

Unlike the league phase, transfers cannot be rolled over during the knockout stages. If you choose not to make any transfers for a matchday, this does not affect the number of free transfers you are allocated for the next round.

What is a wildcard in UCL Fantasy?

A wildcard is a special chip that lets you make unlimited player transfers for a particular matchday without losing points for extra moves. Any players you bring in with the wildcard will stay in your squad afterwards, and you can only use the wildcard once per season.

When can Fantasy managers play their Wildcard or Limitless chips? 

With unlimited free transfers on Matchday 9 and Matchday 11, Fantasy managers cannot use their Wildcard on either of these matchdays.

The same applies to the Limitless chip, which allows unlimited transfers with no budget restrictions for one matchday before your squad reverts to its previous line-up. As with the Wildcard, the Limitless chip cannot be played on Matchday 9 or 11.

When are the UCL Fantasy deadlines? 

Every matchday, teams lock as soon as the first match kicks off. Fantasy managers must save any changes before the deadline for them to take effect. If changes are made after matches have already started, they will not apply for that matchday.

Are matchdays still played on Tuesday and Wednesday? 

Yes. Throughout the Champions League season, matchdays are played across Tuesday and Wednesday, giving Fantasy managers the opportunity to make substitutions and change their captain between matchdays. The only exception is Matchday 17, the Champions League final, which takes place on a Saturday.

Can I still change my captain? 

Yes. Your captain scores double points for that matchday. If your chosen captain doesn't deliver on Tuesday, you can switch the armband to a player whose team features on Wednesday.

However, once you change your captain, you cannot switch back, and you cannot select a player as captain once they have already played on that matchday.

TOP TIP 
When picking your initial team, select a captain who will be playing on Tuesday. That way, you have the chance to switch the captaincy to a player in action on Wednesday if you need to. It's best to ensure you have strong captaincy options for both days when picking your squad at the start of each matchday.

Can I still make subs in my team during a matchday? 

Yes. You can make up to four substitutions within your squad after all games on one day have finished and before the next day’s matches kick off.

As with captain changes, you can replace any players in your starting XI with substitutes whose teams are yet to play in that matchday.

TOP TIP 
When setting up your team, start players who play on Tuesday and place the Wednesday players on your bench. This gives you the flexibility to sub them in later if needed to maximise your score.

How do players score points in UCL Fantasy? 

UCL Fantasy players score points based on their real-life performances. Some actions earn the same number of points regardless of position, while others vary depending on whether a player is a goalkeeper, defender, midfielder or forward.

Here are some of the key ways in which players can score points:

Seize the knockout phase advantage

The Champions League knockout phase is often where the biggest Fantasy ranking swings happen. With an increased budget and unlimited transfers, Matchday 9 offers the perfect opportunity to refresh your squad, take calculated risks and make up ground on rivals. Whether you're chasing mini-league glory or climbing the overall rankings, this is your moment to relaunch your campaign. Build your Matchday 9 squad now and get ready for the knockout phase.

Any more questions? 

You can find the full list of UCL Fantasy rules here.

If you need any further support, email fantasy@support.uefa.com and the team will be happy to help.