After an action-packed start to the UEFA Champions League 2022/23 group stage, UEFA.com looks back on the top performers from matchday 1 in every position on #UCLfantasy presented by Playstation.
TIPPERS
It was a profitable Matchday 1 for goalkeepers, with a total of ten keeping a clean sheet. The very property Thibaut Courtois (€6.0 million) was one of three goalkeepers to score seven points thanks to his four saves in Real Madrid’s 0-3 win over Celtic, and #UCLfantasy managers expect another solid return on Day 2 as the reigning European champions welcome Leipzig. Goalkeepers of less ownership also impressed on Day 1, with both Dinamo Zagreb’s Dominik Livaković (€4.5 million) and Simon Mignolet (€4.5 million) of Club Brugge equals Courtois’ score despite a small part of the Belgian’s ownership. Livaković successfully ruled out Chelsea as Dinamo triumphed 1-0 in Croatia, while Mignolet kept Bayer at bay.
Of the four Premier League goalkeepers in action, three managed to score six points on match day 1. Ederson (€6.0 million) and Hugo Lloris (€5.5 million) both kept a clean sheet, while Manchester City and Tottenham emerged victorious against Sevilla and Marseille respectively, while Alisson Becker (€6.0 million) saved a penalty, bringing him forward with the same score despite Liverpool’s 4-1 defeat at Napoli. Manuel Neuer (€6.0 million) He also took six points when Bayern defeated Inter, but keeping a clean sheet on Day 2 will be a tall order for the German, who meets former team-mate Robert Lewandowski as Barcelona travels to Munich.
DEFENDERS
Defenders proved arguably the most lucrative #UCLfantasy assets in the opening round of group matches, with four of the top scorers at seven points. The man who stole all the headlines was from Benfica Alejandro Grimaldo (€5.0 million). The left-back sparkled ahead, scoring the opening goal against Maccabi Haifa, before scoring himself with a brilliant try from long range as Benfica won 2-0. Combined with four recoveries and a Player of the Match award, Grimaldo racked up 20 Fantasy Points, the most of any player on Day 1. Other Benfica defenders who benefited from a #UCLfantasy stance were Nicolas Otamendi (€4.5 million) and Antonio Silva (€4.0 million) earning nine points each while both racking up 11 ball recoveries.
Of the top four scoring defenders of Matchday 1, two came from Manchester City in the form of Joao Cancelo (€6.5 million) and Ruben Dias (€5.5 million). The former stood out from an attacking standpoint in the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League campaign and started this year’s group stage the same way, with two assists, one for Dias, as City won 4-0 over Sevilla. Pep Guardiola’s side have made four clean sheets from seven games in all competitions this season and are home to Dortmund on matchday 2.
MIDFIELDS
Napoli’s 4-1 defeat to Liverpool was arguably the result of the round and a key player was Poland international Piotr Zielinski (€7.0 million), which shone right behind the striker. Two goals and an assist, and the Player of the Match award, helped Zieliński gain 18 Fantasy Points and his fairly modest price tag is likely to spark a lot of interest from Fantasy managers ahead of a Matchday 2 trip to a Rangers who is beaten 4-0 by Ajax. Just behind Zieliński was an even cheaper #UCLfantasy asset in Shakhtar’s Marian Shved (€5.0 million), who took 17 points against Leipzig after scoring twice for the Ukrainian champions. Those #UCLfantasy managers snapping up a bargain should have some serious food for thought with Celtic next.
Despite being listed as a midfielder, Marcus Edwards (€7.0 million) was deployed in a forward role with great success on match day 1 by Sporting CP. The 23-year-old picked up a goal, an assist and 14 Fantasy points as the Portuguese side won 3-0 at Eintracht Frankfurt. Elsewhere it was a case of new season, ditto Leroy Sane (€9.0 million) in the UEFA Champions League. The Bayern winger finished 2021/22 as the top scoring midfielder from a #UCLfantasy point of view and started this season with a 13-point lead, scoring both a goal and an assist against Inter ahead of a ravishing Matchday 2 encounter with Barcelona .
FORWARD
Anyone who thought a change of club meant the goals would dry up for Robert Lewandowski (€11.0 million) in the UEFA Champions League were very mistaken. The 34-year-old continues to reward the #UCLfantasy managers who invest in him every season as he marked his European debut for Barcelona with a hat-trick. No attacker could match Lewandowski’s 18 Fantasy points and his return to old club Bayern on matchday 2 looks set to be an exciting opportunity.
Two other premium-priced forwards justified their costs on match day 1, with both Erling Haaland (€11.0 million) and Kylian Mbappe (€11.0 million) scored twice for Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain respectively, the latter receiving three additional #UCLfantasy points for being named Player of the Match against Juventus. Mbappe owners will be sure to return on matchday 2 at Maccabi Haifa, while Haaland, who has already scored 12 goals in eight games across all competitions for his new club, makes him a #UCLfantasy managers can’t help themselves afford to ignore ahead of a Matchday 2 reunion with Dortmund
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