Champions League Fantasy Football: Popular picks and potential differentials

Ahead of the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off second legs, UEFA.com focuses on some of the most popular players on UCL Fantasy, presented by PlayStation, along with those lesser-owned differentials who could secure big returns on Matchday 10.

GOALKEEPERS

Popular pick

Thibaut Courtois (€6.1m) vs Benfica (H)
Courtois, comfortably the highest-owned goalkeeper among the play-off teams, came away from Matchday 9 with seven points, making three saves and securing a clean sheet in a 1-0 win for Real Madrid away to Benfica. Another shut-out in the return would guarantee victory on aggregate, so plenty of eyes will be on Courtois, who has conceded just once in his last three appearances across all competitions.
Owned by 26%

Potential differential

Janis Blaswich (€4.0m) vs Olympiacos (H)
Consecutive Champions League clean sheets and six-point scores have established Blaswich as one of the biggest Fantasy goalkeeping bargains. The 34-year-old was assured between the posts for Leverkusen as they won at Olympiacos to put themselves in pole position to reach the round of 16. Blaswich has recorded three clean sheets in Leverkusen's last four fixtures in all competitions.
Owned by 1%

DEFENDERS

Popular pick

Nuno Mendes (€6.3m) vs Monaco (H)
While owners may have been disappointed at Mendes' two-point Fantasy return on Matchday 9, that is unlikely to lessen the popularity of the Paris Saint-Germain left-back. The Portuguese international remains the highest-owned Fantasy defender and the second most popular pick across all positions ahead of Matchday 10, when Luis Enrique's European champions take a 3-2 advantage into the home second leg against Monaco.
Owned by 56%

Potential differential

Kieran Trippier (€4.9m) vs Qarabağ (H)
Owned by just 3% of Fantasy managers, Trippier has now started in each of Newcastle's last six matches since being left on the bench against Paris in the final round of league phase fixtures. On Matchday 9, he provided the assist for the second of the Magpies' six goals in their win at Qarabağ. Trippier's delivery from set pieces marks him out as an attacking threat, and he is averaging seven points per game from his six Champions League appearances this season.
Owned by 3%

MIDFIELDERS

Popular pick

Anthony Gordon (€7.1m) vs Qarabağ (H)
On the back of a four-goal haul and season-best 27 UCL Fantasy points, Gordon's ownership is likely to increase further before the second leg of Newcastle's tie against Qarabağ. While there is the concern of Matchday 10 rotation with the Magpie leading 6-1 on aggregate, it could be a risk to go without Gordon, now the top Fantasy points scorer this season.
Owned by 21%

Potential differential

Désiré Doué (€7.9m) vs Monaco (H)
After sparking Paris' comeback away to Monaco with two goals, an assist and 19 points off the bench in a Player of Match performance, Fantasy bosses would be wise to give Doué serious consideration ahead of the second leg. Only Gordon scored more Matchday 9 points than the 20-year-old, who has a real chance of starting on Matchday 10 given Ousmane Dembélé's first-leg injury.
Owned by 3%

FORWARDS

Popular pick

Julián Alvarez (€9.1m) vs Club Brugge (H)
Alvarez, one of the highest-owned forwards among the knockout phase play-off teams, recorded his seventh attacking return of this season's Champions League with a goal and seven points in Atlético de Madrid's 3-3 draw at Club Brugge. With the tie firmly in the balance, Alvarez may well play a big part in determining the outcome as he averages six Fantasy points per appearance in this campaign.
Owned by 18%

Potential differential

Pio Esposito (€5.0m) vs Bodø/Glimt (H)
Having come off the bench to score against Juventus in Serie A recently, Esposito started on Matchday 9 and was once more on the scoresheet. However, Inter were beaten 3-1 by Bodø/Glimt, leaving the Italian champions with plenty to do as the tie shifts to Milan. With fellow striker Lautaro Martínez having suffered a calf strain in Norway, Esposito could start once more on Matchday 10 and offers significant differential potential as Inter look to overturn a two-goal deficit.
Owned by 0%