Champions League Fantasy Football: Popular Picks for Matchday 1

UEFA.com picks out a selection of players in all four positions who are currently drawing the most interest on #UCLfantasy, presented by Playstation, with Lamine Yamal, Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior three players with significant ownership percentages on Matchday 1.

GOALKEEPERS

Having conceded just one goal in three games for Arsenal so far this season, David Raya (€5.5m) is attracting significant Fantasy attention. The Spaniard is currently one of the top three highest-owned goalkeeper heading into Matchday 1, when the Gunners travel to 2023/24 UEFA Europa League winners Atalanta.

As it stands, only two keepers boast ownerships of 20% or more – the two who started last season's UEFA Champions League final. Thibaut Courtois (€6.0m) and Real Madrid came out on top against Borussia Dortmund's Gregor Kobel (€5.0m), but the latter who is the highest-owned custodian ahead of Matchday 1. Kobel recorded six clean sheets, 46 saves and 60 Fantasy points last season, by far the most of any goalkeeper, and offered excellent value with Dortmund away to Club Brugge first up, while Courtois and Real Madrid host Stuttgart.

Experienced Bayern München No1 Manuel Neuer (€6.0m) is the only other goalkeeper with a double-figure ownership percentage at the time of writing, and has two shut-outs to his name already this season.

Other popular choices: Ederson (9%), Marc-André ter Stegen (8%), Gianluigi Donnarumma (8%)

DEFENDERS

Defenders from English clubs are in favour in the build-up to Matchday 1, with Arsenal centre-back William Saliba (€5.5m) the most sought-after asset right now. The Frenchman already features in 29% of Fantasy squads after four clean sheets and 50 ball recoveries across last season’s Champions League.

Virgil van Dijk (€6.0m) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (€6.0m) are owned by 22% and 19% of Fantasy bosses respectively and the latter in particular is given plenty of freedom offensively from full-back. The Liverpool pair face a Matchday 1 trip to Milan.

A quarter of Fantasy managers have already moved to acquire Real Madrid's Antonio Rüdiger (€6.0m) ahead of their match against Stuttgart, while Paris Saint-Germain full-back Achraf Hakimi (€5.5m) is also proving popular after 56 points last season.

Other popular choices: Nico Schlotterbeck (17%), Alphonso Davies (16%), Rúben Dias (15%)

MIDFIELDERS

Fast approaching an ownership of 50%, managers are hugely excited about the Fantasy potential of Lamine Yamal (€7.5m). The EURO 2024 Young Player of the Tournament has already picked up a goal and four assists for Barcelona since the start this campaign and Fantasy bosses will be looking for the 17-year-old winger to transfer that form to the Champions League, starting at Monaco.

One of the highest owned midfield Fantasy assets throughout the competition in 2023/24, Jude Bellingham (€9.0m) is once again being bought in bulk, only Yamal boasting a higher ownership in his position. The England international's 72 points last season included nine attacking returns alongside three Player of the Match awards, although Fantasy managers should be aware that injury could keep Bellingham out of Matchday 1.

Making his return to the Champions League on the back of a brilliant start to the new domestic campaign, over 20% of Fantasy bosses have not been put off by the premium cost of Mohamed Salah (€10.0m), the Egyptian already having three goals and as many assists in three Premier League games. Manchester City duo Kevin De Bruyne (€9.5m) and Rodri (€7.0m) are also highly sought-after, the latter for his ability to accumulate ball recoveries.

Other popular choices: Florian Wirtz (17%), Jamal Musiala (16%), Bukayo Saka (14%)

FORWARDS

Fantasy managers are spoiled for choice on Matchday 1 when it comes to selecting three forwards, with two of the most prized assets playing for the same club. Vinícius Júnior (€11.0m) has been joined at Real Madrid by Kylian Mbappé (€11.0m) with both having already opened their 2024/25 accounts. Mbappé finished joint-top scorer in last year's Champions League, whilst Vinícius Júnior recorded 11 attacking returns and 65 Fantasy points.

After consecutive Premier League hat-tricks, Erling Haaland (€11.0m) is attracting huge Fantasy attention with 45% of managers already owning the Norwegian. Haaland, who was the competition's top scorer in 2022/23, is looking to add to his 41 Champions League goals in 39 games on Matchday 1.

Harry Kane (€10.5m) matched Mbappé's tally of eight goals in his first Champions League campaign at Bayern and was the highest points scorer among forwards last season. Available at slightly less than the three aforementioned forwards, Kane is sure to be a popular Fantasy asset throughout the league phase.

Other popular choices: Julián Álvarez (14%), Robert Lewandowski (10%), Kai Havertz (9%)