With the UEFA Champions League group stage just around the corner, UEFA.com is judging a number of players in all four positions who have shown strong managerial interest in #UCLfantasy presented by Playstation.
TIPPERS
Thibaut Courtois (€6.0 million) was the standout keeper during last season’s competition, so it’s no surprise to see him not only the keeper with the highest ownership, but also the second most popular player across all positions (44%). The Belgian keeper recorded 69 Fantasy points in 2021/22, including five clean sheets and 61 saves.
Led by Diego Simeone, Atlético has always been seen as a team capable of shutting out their opponents and giving #UCLfantasy managers a clean sheet. Jan Oblak (€5.5 million) has already cleared two sheets from three Liga matches this season and boasts a ownership percentage only improved by Courtois.
The only other keeper whose ownership currently exceeds 10% at the time of writing is the ever-reliable Manuel Neuer (€6.0 million). The veteran German kept four clean sheets in last season’s group stage for Bayern and a similar story would earn plenty of Fantasy points here, although Neuer, with Bayern in a tough group, is likely to be a busy man.
Other Popular Picks: Gianluigi Donnarumma (9%), Alisson Becker (8%), Marc-André ten Stegen (8%)
DEFENDERS
Given the offensive threat of João Cancelo (€6.5 million) for Manchester City, not to mention his numbers in the UEFA Champions League last season, many managers have acted quickly to bring in the premium-priced fullback, with a whopping 41% owning the Portugal international in his current form. Cancelo’s 65 points were the most for a defender in last year’s competition and this was largely due to the 28-year-old’s offensive potential, combined with his defensive prowess. Cancelo not only scored two goals and three assists, but he also racked up 55 ball recoveries.
Another flying fullback, Trent Alexander-Arnold (€6.5 million) also proves to be very popular. Like Cancelo, Alexander-Arnold’s license to attack makes him the ideal Fantasy defender, despite his expensive price tag. Expect the Liverpool star to be a regular as his 33% ownership looks to him for an increase in his four assists in the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League campaign.
Alexander-Arnold isn’t the only Liverpool defender getting a lot of #UCLfantasy attention, with 29% ownership Virgil van Dijk (€5.5 million) currently the third most popular player in this position. The towering centre-back was priced cheaper in 2022/23 compared to previous seasons, which is probably the main factor in his current popularity. Van Dijk offers several ways to Fantasy points: clean sheets, ball recovery or offensive return due to his air threat from set pieces.
Other Popular Picks: Reinildo (23%), Alphonso Davies (20%), Achraf Hakimi (14%)
MIDFIELDS
Jorginho (€5.5 million) that he is the most popular midfielder at the time of writing may surprise a few people, but he has proven to be a useful Fantasy asset over the years. His price tag is extremely cheap for a midfielder who is likely to play for Chelsea regularly over the course of the group stage, and he is expected to once again be the regular penalty taker for Thomas Tuchel’s side. Two goals and two assists last season prove the Italy international is more than capable of attacking the return leg and he is certainly able to justify his 28% ownership.
Behind Jorginho on the property front is a fellow central midfielder Luka Modrić (€7.0 million), fresh off lifting his fifth UEFA Champions League trophy last season with Real Madrid. The ageless 36-year-old – currently on 26% of the teams – continues to show why he remains one of the best players in Europe and Fantasy managers feel a bargain. In 2021/22, Modrić provided four assists, but also picked up 39 recoveries and two Player of the Match awards.
A new addition to the #UCLfantasy midfielders is Vinicius Junior (€10.0 million). The UEFA Champions League Young Player of the Season 2021/22 played a key role in Real Madrid’s European triumph, scoring four goals and six assists, most notably scoring the winner in the final against Liverpool. After being listed as a forward last season, #UCLfantasy managers have acted swiftly following his move to midfield, with 23% already capturing the 22-year-old.
Other Popular Picks: Joshua Kimmich (20%), Kevin De Bruyne (18%), Mohamed Salah (16%)
FORWARD
After a great UEFA Champions League campaign last time, more than half of active #UCLfantasy managers are counting on Karim Benzema (€11.0 million) to repeat his remarkable 2021/22 goalscoring performance. The veteran French striker is the only player in all positions to claim more than 50% ownership en route to this season’s group stage, having contributed 15 goals last season and also achieving a fantasy triple score of 102 points. , unmatched by anyone. other player. With the domestic season off to a good start, it would take a brave #UCLfantasy manager to ignore Benzema.
He may not be at Bayern anymore, but Robert Lewandowski (€11.0 million) has continued to score goals with almost monotonous regularity. The Barcelona striker will want to make a big impact in the UEFA Champions League at his new club, and as the joint third-highest goalscorer of all time in the history of the league, it should come as no surprise to see Lewandowski earn significant Fantasy points. collects. once again. With 25% current ownership, a quarter of executives agree.
Also owned by a quarter of the Fantasy bosses Erling Haaland (€11.0 million)who has emphatically started the new campaign at new club Manchester City, already regularly finds the net. Kylian Mbappe (€11.0 million) sits in 23% of teams at the time of writing, thanks to four goals in his first three Ligue 1 matches in 2022/23 – and five goals in his last four UEFA Champions League appearances.
Other Popular Picks: Lionel Messi (14%), Neymar (14%), Darwin Núñez (14%)
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