Champions League Fantasy Football: Goalkeepers

With Matchday 1 of the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League in the books, UEFA.com analyses a number of goalkeepers on show, focusing on those who stand out as viable #UCLfantasy options for Matchday 2.

Despite conceding three goals in AC Milan's defeat at Liverpool, Mike Maignan (€5.0m) ended Matchday 1 as the top-scoring goalkeeper from a #UCLfantasy perspective after his penalty save helped him acquire eight points, with six saves also recorded. Maignan has already proved a shrewd acquisition for the Italian side on the domestic front having conceded just two goals across Milan's four Serie A games so far. Matchday 2 pits Milan against an Atlético side who failed to find the net at home to Porto in their first fixture, so a first clean sheet of this season's UEFA Champions League is certainly not out of the question for Maignan.

Atlético themselves are rarely easy to break down and the ever-reliable Jan Oblak (€6.5m) could justify his premium price tag once again with another healthy #UCLfantasy points return. The Slovenian international backed up his clean sheet against Porto with a second Liga shut-out of the season against Athletic Club on Saturday. Playing away from home against opponents such as Milan, Diego Simeone's side are expected to prioritise defensive stability on Matchday 2, which should play into the hands of those #UCLfantasy managers with Oblak in their team.

As the highest-owned goalkeeper on #UCLfantasy, the pressure was on Edouard Mendy (€6.0m) to deliver on Matchday 1. The Chelsea stopper did just that, picking up where he left off in last season's UEFA Champions League with a clean sheet and six Fantasy points as the Blues triumphed 1-0 at home to Zenit. However, his large ownership has cause for concern after the Senegalese keeper missed Chelsea's Premier League victory away to Tottenham on Sunday due to an injury suffered against Zenit.

With Mendy's fitness in doubt, it may be worth considering a goalkeeper from one of Chelsea's rival Premier League clubs on Matchday 2. Whilst Alisson Becker (€6.0m) accrued just a single Fantasy point on Matchday 1, the Brazilian has been in excellent form for the Reds on the domestic front having racked up four clean sheets in five Premier League games. Matchday 2 takes Liverpool to Porto, who were scoreless against Atlético in their opening group match and who have managed only three goals in eight previous games against their English opponents.

Another goalkeeper who has shone at domestic level is Wolfsburg captain Koen Casteels (€5.0m), who has conceded just two goals across his side's five Bundesliga matches this season. Casteels has translated this form into the UEFA Champions League, accumulating seven Fantasy points on Matchday 1 as his side held LOSC Lille to a 0-0 draw despite being reduced to ten men. Given the defensive solidity of Mark van Bommel's side, it would be no surprise to see Casteels among the #UCLfantasy points once again on Matchday 2 as Wolfsburg welcome Sevilla.