Champions League Fantasy Football: Top performers on Matchday 1

With the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League group stage now under way, UEFA.com looks back at the top performers in each position on Matchday 1 of #UCLfantasy, presented by Playstation.

GOALKEEPERS

There is only once place to start among goalkeepers, Lazio's Ivan Provedel (€5.0m) having become only the fourth in Champions League history to find the net, his dramatic stoppage-time header rescuing a point at home to Atlético de Madrid. Combined with his three saves, the 29-year-old finished on nine Fantasy points – more than any other goalkeeper.

It was an excellent Champions League debut for Nick Pope (€5.5m), who made eight saves in Newcastle's goalless draw at AC Milan, while Salzburg's Alexander Schlager (€4.5m) matched Pope's total of eight Fantasy points as a fine display prevented Benfica from scoring. However, no one could match the 13 saves made by Crvena zvezda's Omri Glazer (€4.5m), who finished on five points despite conceding three times at Manchester City.

The highly-owned Marc-André ter Stegen (€5.5m) and Kepa (€5.0m) came through for their owners with shut-outs for Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively, while there were also clean sheets for David Raya (£5.0m), Timon Wellenreuther (€4.5m), Gianluigi Donnarumma (€6.0m) and Mike Maignan (€6.0m). Celtic's Joe Hart (€4.5m) returned seven points despite conceding twice at Feyenoord thanks to a penalty save.

DEFENDERS

Star of the show among defenders on Matchday 1 was Achraf Hakimi (€6.0m), who returned a goal and a clean sheet against former club Dortmund. Together with his ten ball recoveries, the Paris full-back amassed 15 Fantasy points – the only defender to reach double figures.

A whole host of defenders scored nine points, the highest-owned being Giovanni Di Lorenzo (€5.5m). The Napoli full-back registered four attacking returns in the Champions League last season, and opened his account for 2023/24 with a fine strike against Braga. Galatasaray's Sacha Boey (€5.5m) and Leipzig's Mohamed Simakan (€5.5m) were the other defenders who found the net in the opening round of fixtures, against Copenhagen and Young Boys respectively.

Those on the lookout for defenders capable of accumulating a high number of ball recoveries in future matchdays should take note of Milan Škriniar (€5.5m), Aleksa Terzić (€4.5m), Mats Hummels (€5.0m) and Nicolás Otamendi (€5.0m), who all achieved a Matchday 1 high of 11 ball recoveries – good enough for an extra three Fantasy points.

MIDFIELDERS

The highest single score of the entire matchday belonged to Galeno (€6.0m), who was involved in all three goals (two goals and an assist) in Porto's 3-1 victory against Shakhtar Donetsk. A Player of the Match award followed, which took the Brazilian's total to 19 points – not bad for a player owned by only 3% of Fantasy managers. Martin Ødegaard (€9.0m) was not far behind with 15 points in Arsenal's 4-0 victory over PSV, while team-mates Bukayo Saka (€9.5m) and Leandro Trossard (€7.5m) also registered double-figure scores.

Popular picks Jude Bellingham (€7.5m) and Leroy Sané (€9.0m) both justified the faith of Fantasy managers with 11-point returns each, and Manchester City's Rodri (€6.5m) also performed well for his sizeable ownership with a goal and a Player of the Match performance.

Casemiro (€6.0m) has been a strong-performing Fantasy asset in the past and was quickly back in the groove, the Brazilian scoring twice against Bayern. Assist specialist Bruno Fernandes (€9.5m) set up one those goals, with both Manchester United assets owned by just 4% of Fantasy managers. Those looking for Matchday 2 differentials may also want to look at Brais Méndez (€6.5m), Calvin Stengs (€6.0m) and Tetê (€5.5m), who all performed strongly.

FORWARDS

Premium options Erling Haaland (€11.5m), Kylian Mbappé (€11.5m), Harry Kane (€10.0m) and Robert Lewandowski (€10.5m) all achieved credible returns on Matchday 1, but each of them were outscored by the considerably cheaper Julián Álvarez (€7.0m), whose 11 points was the joint second-highest Matchday 1 Fantasy score in his position.

The highest score among forwards belonged to João Félix (€8.0m) with 16 points, the Barcelona loanee putting in a Player of the Match performance in the 5-0 victory over Antwerp. The Portuguese international scored twice in addition to an assist, and his ownership is sure to increase ahead of Matchday 2. Salzburg's Roko Šimić (€6.0m) is another forward who picked up the Player of the Match award thanks to a goal and assist against Benfica.

Plenty of other affordable forwards were among the points, with Lucas Ocampos (€7.5m), Bruma (€7.5m), Rasmus Højlund (€7.0m), Meschack Elia (€6.0m), Kevin Kelsey (€6.0m) and Alireza Jahanbakhsh (€6.0m) on the scoresheet, but none come cheaper than Mathys Tel (€5.5m), who made an instant impact off the bench for Bayern.