#UCLfantasy: What the numbers say

Predicting which Fantasy players are going to perform on a given matchday is a difficult task. Through crunching the numbers, a projected points total for each player has been calculated based on the player's historical performance in the UEFA Champions League. Goals, assists, clean sheets and the likelihood of playing are the major parameters used in our projections.

The top projected players for each position for matchday eight are given below. As ever, check team news before making your final selections.

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GOALKEEPERS

The top projected goalkeeper is Ederson, whose Manchester City side face a Schalke team who have scored just two away goals in this season's competition. Paris's Gianluigi Buffon kept a clean sheet in the first leg where the French champions nullified Manchester United's attacking talents, while Roman Bürki and Dortmund's defensive credentials are clearly apparent with the German side yet to concede at home in the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League.

Marc-André ter Stegen's Barcelona have kept nine clean sheets and conceded just four goals in their last 13 home UEFA Champions League matches. Bayern's Manuel Neuer welcomes a Liverpool side who have failed to score in two of their three away UEFA Champions League matches this season.

DEFENDERS

All of the top five projected defenders play at home on matchday eight, with all five of their club predicted to keep a clean sheet. With multiple teams projected to register a shut-out in the second leg, it is a defender's attacking potential that separates the top five from the rest; top of the list is Jordi Alba. The Barcelona left-back delivers on both counts having registered three clean sheets, one goal and three assists in this season's competition.

Dortmund left-back Raphaël Guerreiro has already collected two double-digit hauls in Fantasy this season and with the German side yet to concede at home, is projected to score heavily. Paris defender Juan Bernat has scored twice in this season's competition, while Barcelona centre-back Gerard Piqué has found the net once and Bayern's David Alaba has two assists.

MIDFIELDERS

Three of the top five projected midfielders represent the same club. Manchester City trio Raheem Sterling, David Silva and Leroy Sané all face Schalke, against whom both Sterling and Sané scored in the reverse fixture with Silva registering an assist. With the German side 3-2 down from the first leg, they will need to attack, potentially leaving space to be exploited.

Paris playmaker Ángel Di María splits the City players having recorded three goals and two assists in this season's competition, including a goal in the first leg against Manchester United.

FORWARDS

Premium options top the projected forwards board, with not a single one of the top five costing less than €10.0m. Top choice Barcelona's Lionel Messi has six goals and one assist in this season's competition and faces Lyon, who have yet to keep a clean sheet away from home in the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League.

UEFA Champions League all-time record goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo has a goal and assist in his last two home matches while Edin Džeko provided two assists in the first leg against Porto, who have conceded in two of their three home UEFA Champions League matches this season.

Robert Lewandowski has already scored eight goals in the competition this season and recorded double-digit hauls in three of his last four matches, while Kylian Mbappé scored at Manchester United and his Paris side have gone 14 home UEFA Champions League matches since they last failed to find the net.