Champions League Fantasy Football: Popular picks and potential differentials

Ahead of Matchday 2 UEFA.com runs through some of the more popular choices among #UCLfantasy managers, alongside a number of lower-profile players who could still spring a surprise.

GOALKEEPERS

Popular Pick

Manuel Neuer (€6.0m) vs Dynamo Kyiv (H)
It was the ideal start to the group stage for Neuer, who secured a clean sheet in Bayern's 3-0 win at Barcelona on Matchday 1 to pick up six Fantasy points. The experienced German keeper has since backed that up with another shut-out against Bochum in the Bundesliga and has reasons to be confident of keeping out Dynamo Kyiv on Matchday 2. Bayern boast home advantage against the Ukrainian champions and, given that they have conceded just one goal across their last five games in all competitions, it is no surprise to see their No1 currently the second highest-owned goalkeeper amongst #UCLfantasy managers behind only Chelsea's Edouard Mendy.
Selected by 13%

Potential Differential

Mike Maignan (€5.0m) vs Atlético (H)
The AC Milan goalkeeper was unfortunate to end up on the losing side in the first round of fixtures after an excellent performance against Liverpool. Despite saving a penalty and recording six saves, the Frenchman could not prevent his team from slipping to a 3-2 defeat at Anfield. However, Maignan was rewarded for his efforts from an #UCLfantasy perspective, accruing eight points which was the most of any goalkeeper on Matchday 1. A home fixture against an Atlético side who failed to find the net against Porto represents an opportunity for Maignan to record his first clean sheet in the group stage and his third in all competitions this season. Given his current low ownership, he is worthy of consideration.
Selected by 4%

DEFENDERS

Popular Pick

Joshua Kimmich (€6.5m) vs Dynamo Kyiv (H)
It's not just the clean potential of the versatile Kimmich that has led to a quarter of #UCLfantasy managers selecting the Bayern star in their squads, it's also his penchant for attacking returns. Having been fielded over the course of the season so far as a central midfielder, Kimmich has found himself in numerous advanced positions on the pitch and reaped the rewards, most notably scoring twice in Bayern's 7-0 league win against Bochum. A significant #UCLfantasy points return could therefore be on the horizon for the German international.
Selected by 25%

Potential Differential

Noussair Mazraoui (€4.5m) vs Beşiktaş (H)
Another defender who combines defensive stability with attacking potency, Mazraoui has established himself as a force down Ajax's right-hand side so far this season. Whilst Mazraoui's efforts were not rewarded with a clean sheet on Matchday 1, the Moroccan did manage an assist and three ball recoveries, which led to him gaining six Fantasy points in Ajax's 5-1 triumph at Sporting CP. Since then, Mazraoui has scored in successive Eredivisie fixtures, recording two clean sheets in the process. This bodes well for his #UCLfantasy prospects at home to Beşiktaş on Matchday 2 and when considering his slender ownership, the right-back may prove the perfect option for those looking for a boost over their mini-league rivals.
Selected by 3%

MIDFIELDERS

Popular Pick

Mohamed Salah (€10.5m) vs Porto (A)
Despite having a penalty saved in the first half of Liverpool's Matchday 1 encounter against Milan, Salah was not to be denied and recovered to find the net in the second half as the Premier League side emerged 3-2 winners at Anfield. The penalty save had an effect on Salah's overall #UCLfantasy score, the midfielder accumulating just five points, and his substantial ownership will be expecting the Egyptian to improve on that score on Matchday 2 as Liverpool travel to Porto. Fielded as part of a front three, Salah has scored in each of his last four starts for Jürgen Klopp's side in all competitions and found the net in Liverpool's wins at Porto in both 2018 and 2019, meaning it's no surprise to find him among top three highest-owned midfielders.
Selected by 23%

Potential Differential

Christopher Nkunku (€7.5m) vs Club Brugge (H)
Despite being part of a Leipzig side beaten 6-3 by Manchester City on Matchday 1, Nkunku was named Player of the Match and for good reason. The 23-year-old midfielder scored a memorable hat-trick against last season's UEFA Champions League finalists, which brought him a bumper total of 20 Fantasy points. Despite such a large return, Nkunku's #UCLfantasy ownership is still yet to significantly increase, with less than 5% of managers owning the Frenchman at the time of writing. In what is a crucial fixture for Leipzig at home to Club Brugge on Matchday 2, Nkunku could play a prominent role once again.
Selected by 3%

FORWARDS

Popular Pick

Cristiano Ronaldo (€11.0m) vs Villarreal (H)
After losing their opening group stage fixture away at Young Boys, a significant response is needed from Manchester United on Matchday 2 and central to that will be Ronaldo, who since returning to the club has scored four goals across his three appearances in all competitions. Ronaldo will be looking to mark his first UEFA Champions League match back at Old Trafford in style as United aim to overcome a Villarreal side who shipped two goals in their draw against Atalanta on Matchday 1. Half of the entire #UCLfantasy playerbase currently own the Portuguese star and they’ll be expecting big things on Matchday 2.
Selected by 50%

Potential Differential

Sébastien Haller (€8.5m) vs Beşiktaş (H)
An incredible four-goal haul for Haller in Ajax's thumping win at Sporting means the Ivory Coast international sits top of the #UCLfantasy scoring charts after Matchday 1, with 21 points to his name. As a striker for a side who have racked up 19 goals across their last three game in all competitions, Haller will surely get chances to continue his goalscoring exploits against Beşiktaş in Amsterdam. With many #UCLfantasy managers preferring to own more premium assets among their forward line, Haller's single-figure percentage ownership may be the ones to profit.
Selected by 5%