Champions League Fantasy Football: Differentials for Matchday 1

UEFA.com shines a spotlight on a number of lesser-owned players across all positions who are all capable of large points totals on Matchday 1 of UCL Fantasy, presented by PlayStation.

GOALKEEPERS

One of the standout Fantasy picks in last season's Champions League, Uğurcan Çakır (€5.0m) offers differential appeal with an ownership under 5%. The Galatasaray goalkeeper earned 54 points after four clean sheets and 48 saves, including two penalty stops; his side kick off at Sporting CP.

AEK Athens have started the season in excellent form defensively, conceding just one goal in their opening five games in all competitions. That includes their play-off round victory over Levski Sofia, in which Thomas Strakosha (€4.5m) kept a clean sheet in both legs. The Greek team are at home to debutants LASK in their first game.

Jean Butez (€4.5m) has been first choice for a Como side who had the strongest defence in Serie A last season, although the arrival of Robert Sánchez (€4.5m) could impact Butez's status as No1 for the home game against Leipzig. Premium Premier League pair Gianluigi Donnarumma (€6.0m), whose Manchester City side go to Porto on Matchday 1, and Alisson Becker (€6.0m) are both owned by less than 10% of Fantasy bosses, while Atlético de Madrid stalwart Jan Oblak (€5.5m) has been largely overlooked for the trip to Liverpool.

Other differential choices: Zion Suzuki (2%), Rui Silva (1%), Fabian Bredlow (1%)

DEFENDERS

PSV Eindhoven have attracted headlines for their attacking play this season and with USA international Sergiño Dest (€5.0m), they have a low-owned defender with a high Fantasy ceiling. Dest has started the campaign with a goal or an assist in each of his side's first four Eredivisie fixtures; Shakhtar Donetsk are PSV's Matchday 1 visitors.

Daniel Svensson (€4.5m) provided a goal and an assist in his first three Borussia Dortmund appearances; his side with a home game against Villarreal, while Real Madrid have plenty of choice at full-back. Trent Alexander-Arnold (€5.5m) picked up an assist and clean sheet in his first start of the season but Fantasy bosses attracted to his differential appeal should be aware that Denzel Dumfries (€5.5m) has started twice already this season and could be preferred at right back at home to former club Inter on Matchday 1.

Always a big attacking threat from set pieces, Manchester United centre back Harry Maguire (€5.0m) offers Fantasy points potential at both ends of the pitch as the Red Devils host Champions League debutants Sabah on Matchday 1. Stuttgart's Maximilian Mittelstädt (€4.5m) is an offensive threat from left-back and is likely to take penalties, making him an enticing option with an ownership of just 1% for the home game against another debutants, Viking.

Other differential choices: Gonçalo Inácio (4%), Ben White (3%), Saud Abdulhamid (0%)

MIDFIELDERS

While injury restricted him to just 688 minutes in last season's competition, the 3%-owned Bukayo Saka (€8.5m) could play a much more prominent role in 2026/27. Having scored in Arsenal's first two Premier League fixtures, it would be no surprise to see Saka put up Fantasy numbers similar to 2024/25, when he finished with six goals, two assists and 61 points; his side kick off at Napoli.

With many Fantasy bosses owning the likes of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Vitinha, Paris team-mate Désiré Doué (€8.5m) appears to have gone under the radar despite an appealing opening fixture at home to Slovan Bratislava. After nine attacking returns, two Player of the Match awards and 74 Fantasy points in Europe last season, Doué could feature even more prominently after the departure of positional rival Bradley Barcola (€7.0m) to Liverpool, who play Atleti at Anfield in their first match. Both are owned by just 5% of managers at the time of writing.

Other potential differentials among midfielders can be found in the Sporting CP squad, with both Maxi Araújo (€5.5m) and Rodrigo Zalazar (€4.5m) appealing for Galatasaray's visit to Lisbon. Each has a goal and an assist in domestic action and are owned by less than 5% of managers despite appearing to be regular starters.

Other differential choices: Phil Foden (2%), Hakan Çalhanoğlu (2%), Antonio Nusa (1%)

FORWARDS

Another consistently strong performer in Europe is Serhou Guirassy (€8.5m), the Dortmund striker managing seven goal involvements last season and 13 goals in 2024/25 – the joint most that season. Those who believe he can replicate those numbers should consider him ahead of Matchday 1 and the visit of Villarreal.

After a brilliant campaign that brought 38 goals across all competitions, Sporting CP forward Luis Suárez (€7.0m) has started this season in similar fashion, scoring three times in his last two appearances. He has a home fixture on Matchday 1, against Galatasaray, as does Ayase Ueda (€7.0m), who is looking to get off to a good start for Lille against Real Betis after finishing as Eredivisie top scorer at PSV last season.

Other differential choices: Bryan Mbeumo (6%), Donyell Malen (5%), Samuel Adeniran (0%)