Champions League Fantasy Football: Popular Picks and Potential Differentials

As we look ahead to the two UEFA Champions League semi-final second legs, UEFA.com assesses the players who have been courting the most interest and some lesser-owned options who could steal the show on Matchday 12 of #UCLfantasy, presented by Playstation.

GOALKEEPERS

Popular Pick

Thibaut Courtois (€5.9m) vs Manchester City (A)
Despite not recording the highest score among the four goalkeepers on Matchday 11, Courtois remains the go-to option for Fantasy managers. The Belgian has conceded just one goal in his last four Champions League fixtures, picking up 25 Fantasy points in the process. Although adding another at Manchester City will be a challenge, there are other ways for Courtois to gain points, most notably through the number of saves.
Owned by 42%

Potential Differential

André Onana (€5.0m) vs Milan (H)
Onana owners will have been delighted by his return on Matchday 11, especially considering the fact two goalkeepers have a higher ownership than the 27-year-old. The Inter keeper now has four clean sheets in the knockout stage and no goalkeeper has more points than Onana's 27 points from Matchday 7 onwards. As the third most owned goalkeeper of four as it stands, Fantasy managers may look to capitalise on Onana's differential status.
Owned by 14%

DEFENDERS

Popular Pick

Theo Hernández (€5.9m) vs Inter (A)
Whilst Milan were beaten in the first leg, that seemingly hasn’t dampened the enthusiasm for Hernández within the Fantasy community. The French defender should once again get plenty of oppoturnity to attack from full-back and recently proved his potency by scoring against Lazio in Serie A. With Milan needing to overturn a two-goal deficit, plenty of Fantasy bosses will be hoping that Hernández can justify being the second-highest owned defender.
Owned by 19%

Potential Differential

Manuel Akanji (€5.1m) vs Real Madrid (H)
Manchester City's home performances across the knockout stage have helpdd their defensive players profit from a Fantasy perspective. Centre-back Akanji has 19 points from City's last two home Champions League fixtures, his side keeping a clean sheet in both. Akanji also averages five ball recoveries per game across his last four outings.
Owned by 6%

MIDFIELDERS

Popular Pick

Kevin De Bruyne (€10.5m) vs Real Madrid (H)
So often Manchester City's Champions League talisman, De Bruyne again delivered away to Real Madrid on Matchday 11. With his side trailing 1-0, the Belgian levelled with a superb strike from outside the box, helping him to a fourth Player of the Match award in 2022/23. Over a quarter of Fantasy managers own De Bruyne leading into Matchday 12, with Vinícius Júnior the only midfielder with a higher ownership, and no surprise considering the City man has 33 Fantasy points over the last four matchdays.
Owned by 28%

Potential Differential

Henrikh Mkhitaryan (€7.0m) vs Milan (H)
De Bruyne's haul of 11 Fantasy points on Matchday 11 was matched only by Mkhitaryan, but unlike the Belgian, the Inter midfielder's ownership is extremely small, making him the ultimate differential ahead of the second legs. Mkhitaryan scored Inter's second goal in a 2-0 away triumph against Milan and, with their opponents needing to push forward to try and force their way back into this semi-final, could well profit offensively again on Matchday 12.
Owned by 1%

FORWARDS

Popular Pick

Karim Benzema (€10.9m) vs Manchester City (A)
Not only is Benzema the second highest-owned Fantasy forward, he is also in the top five most-owned players in all positions heading into Matchday 12, where he could play a decisive role for Real Madrid with their tie against Manchester City in the balance. Benzema scored twice at City in last season's semi-final first leg, and across this season's knockout stage so far, has four goals, one assist and 36 Fantasy points. Owned by 29%

Potential Differential

Olivier Giroud (€8.3m) vs Inter (A)
Despite a total Fantasy score of 48 points, the second highest total among forwards remaining in the competition, this has yet to translate into a sizeable ownership for Giroud. The Milan striker is not even the highest-owned forward in his own team, but France's all-time record goalscorer will lead the line on Matchday 12, with Stefano Pioli's men needing to overhaul a two-goal deficit. The inevitable attacking approach as a result could well work in Giroud's favour.
Owned by 6%