Champions League Fantasy Football: Midfielders for every budget

UEFA.com assesses some of the most attractive midfield choices available across all price brackets on #UCLfantasy, presented by Playstation.

PREMIUM OPTIONS

Of all the Fantasy midfielders available ahead of Matchday 1, Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (€10.0m) commands the highest price, and has started the season at breakneck speed. The Egyptian already has three goals and three assists across the Reds' three fixtures so far.

Among other premium midfield options at English clubs, Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne (€9.5m) and Phil Foden (€9.0m) have each proved capable of goals and assists in the UEFA Champions League. Foden was a key part of City's attack in last season's competition, recording five goals and three assists as well as picking up three Player of the Match awards.

Bukayo Saka (€9.0m) produced seven attacking returns for Arsenal in last season's Champions League group stage, and has at least two more potential games this campaign in the newly-formed league phase. England team-mate Jude Bellingham (€9.0m) is by far the most popular premium midfield option as it stands. No midfielder scored higher than Bellingham's 72 points last season, but his ownership should note that injury could rule him out of Real Madrid's Matchday 1 meeting with Stuttgart.

MID-PRICED OPTIONS

No player in any position has a higher Fantasy ownership than Lamine Yamal (€7.5m), inspired by his performances for Spain at UEFA EURO 2024. Playing as part of a front three, Yamal was named Young Player of the Tournament and the 17-year-old will now look to light up the Champions League for Barcelona, beginning on Matchday 1 against Monaco.

Having rejoined Leipzig on another season-long loan, Xavi Simons (€7.5m) stands out as an enticing mid-priced pick considering his offensive impact in last season's Champions League. The Dutch international picked up four attacking returns across 598 minutes played in the competition, while Dortmund's Julian Brandt (€7.5m) returned 49 Fantasy points as the German side reached the final. Attacking midfielders such as Barcelona's Raphinha (€7.5m), who has already scored a hat-trick this season, and Florian Wirtz (€7.5m) of Leverkusen also offer good Fantasy value at the same price.

While plenty of Fantasy attention is drawn to the premium-priced Salah, Liverpool team-mate Luis Díaz (€7.5m) has matched his goal tally this season and is available at €2.5m cheaper, giving Fantasy bosses a differential opportunity. Paris's Vitinha (€7.0m) offers multiple routes towards points via attacking returns or ball recoveries, and a Matchday 1 fixture at home to debutants Girona could tempt managers into adding him to their squads.

BUDGET OPTIONS

The ball recovery points system can drastically increase the value of a cheaper asset who may play in a more defensive role. For example, Joshua Kimmich (€6.0m) made 56 ball recoveries for Bayern last season, boosting his overall Fantasy score to 57 points despite just three attacking returns in over 1,000 minutes. Federico Valverde (€6.5m) also managed 42 ball recoveries playing for champions Real Madrid.

However, there are plenty of eye-catching budget midfielders available who are capable of substantial attacking returns. Marcel Sabitzer (€6.0m) set up five Champions League goals for Dortmund in 2023/24, as well as scoring himself, while Samuel Lino (€6.5m) managed three goals and as many assists in Atlético de Madrid's run to the quarter-finals.

Having already found the net three times in the Austrian Bundesliga last month, Salzburg midfielder Oscar Gloukh (€6.0m) could prove a smart Fantasy purchase ahead of a Matchday 1 trip to Sparta Praha. Team-mate Maurits Kjærgaard (€6.0m), meanwhile, scored four goals in Champions League qualifying.