Champions League Fantasy Football: Popular Picks and Potential Differentials

After another thrilling UEFA Champions League campaign, Dortmund and Real Madrid are set to compete in the final. UEFA.com picks out a selection of the highest owned assets who could play a defining role on Matchday 13 of #UCLfantasy, presented by Playstation, as well as those differentials capable of stealing the show at Wembley.

GOALKEEPERS

Popular Pick

Gregor Kobel (€5.0m)
Clean sheets in both legs of Dortmund's semi-final triumph against Paris Saint-Germain earned successive Fantasy scores of seven points for Kobel, who has recorded 24 saves, three clean sheets and 26 Fantasy points in the knockout stage. His overall total of 58 points is comfortably the most of the remaining goalkeepers and means he could still score well in the final even if he concedes.
Owned by 15%

Potential Differential

Thibaut Courtois (€6.0m)
Recently described as the "best in the world" by his head coach Carlo Ancelotti, Courtois is yet to feature in the 2023/24 Champions League due to injury but recorded clean sheets in all four of his La Liga appearances since returning to fitness. Ancelotti has remained loyal to Andriy Lunin in European competition since Courtois returned although the Belgian has final pedigree having been Player of the Match in 2022. His possible selection would open up a potentially huge differential avenue for Fantasy managers.
Owned by 4%

DEFENDERS

Popular Pick

Antonio Rüdiger (€5.4m)
A key figure in Real Madrid's back line, the centre-back played a defining role in their semi-final turnaround at home to Bayern, setting up the decisive second goal in second-half stoppage time. That attacking return earned him a score of six points, his highest of the knockout stage so far. Although other defenders have scored more points over the course of the season, none are as highly owned as Rüdiger, who has the potential to deliver at both ends of the pitch on Matchday 13.
Owned by 22%

Potential Differential

Julian Ryerson (€4.7m)
Part of the Dortmund defence who shut out Paris across both legs of their semi-final tie, Ryerson offers an enticing differential option. Expected to start at right-back, the 26-year-old managed 15 ball recoveries across the semi-finals, ten coming in the first leg, and is also likely to have opportunities to push forward down the wing.
Owned by 3%

MIDFIELDERS

Popular Pick

Jude Bellingham (€8.0m)
Comfortably the highest-owned Fantasy player in any position, Bellingham is set to face former club Dortmund in his native England. His magnificent run of attacking returns across the group stage in particular explains his vast ownership, the England international producing four goals, three assists, three Player of the Match awards and 50 Fantasy points across his five group appearances. Although he has yet to find the net in the knockout stage, it would be no surprise if the midfielder was to save his biggest performance for Wembley.
Owned by 73%

Potential Differential

Marcel Sabitzer (€5.8m)
With plenty of attractive midfield options available on both sides, this is an ideal area to explore a differential selection. Sabitzer could well fit the bill, having shown his attacking prowess in the knockout stage already on Matchday 10, when he recorded a goal, two assists and 14 Fantasy points in Dortmund's home win against Atlético de Madrid. No midfielder set to feature in the final has picked up more points across the knockout stage than the Austrian's 31.
Owned by 6%

FORWARDS

Popular Pick

Vinícius Júnior (€11.2m)
Real Madrid's outfield players are proving the most popular among the Fantasy community with the highest-owned defender, midfielder and forward all playing for the Spanish side. Vinícius Júnior's appeal is understandable given his brilliant showing over the course of Real Madrid's semi-final, with the Brazilian named Player of the Match in both legs against Bayern, scoring his side's two goals on Matchday 11, assisting their equaliser on Matchday 12 and picking up 21 Fantasy points overall.
Owned by 26%

Potential Differential

Niclas Füllkrug (€7.6m)
The Dortmund forward has been responsible for some crucial attacking returns on the way to Wembley Stadium, with three goals, two assists and 41 Fantasy points from his debut Champions League campaign. Strikes against Atlético de Madrid and Paris demonstrates his ability to perform in the biggest matches, and Füllkrug now faces a Madrid team without a clean sheet in their last five Champions League games.
Owned by 2%