Champions League Fantasy Football: What the numbers say

Ahead of Matchday 12 UEFA.com finds out which players are predicted for big points hauls on #UCLfantasy, presented by Playstation.

Predicting which Fantasy players are going to perform on any given matchday is a difficult task. Through crunching the numbers, a projected points total for each player has been calculated based on the player’s historical performance in the UEFA Champions League. Goals, assists, clean sheets and the likelihood of playing are the major parameters used in our projections.

The top projected players for each position for Matchday 12 are given below. As ever, check latest team news and possible line-ups before making your selection.

GOALKEEPERS

André Onana extended his lead at the top of the Fantasy point-scoring charts in his position when he kept the only clean sheet of Matchday 11. That is now three shut-outs in a row against Milan in all competitions, and the algorithm believes there is a strong chance of a fourth on Matchday 12.

Having kept clean sheets in his last three home appearances in the Champions League, Ederson is worthy of consideration for Wednesday’s fixture, although opposite number Thibaut Courtois outscored the Brazilian in the first leg thanks to five saves.

DEFENDERS

Federico Dimarco‘s ability to score Fantasy points at both ends of the pitch means he tops the projected defenders list for Matchday 12. The Italian has five clean sheets and five assists across Inter’s Champions League campaign despite sitting out two games. Team-mates Alessandro Bastoni and Francesco Acerbi also make the grade; the former has scored more Fantasy points than any other defender this season, while the latter is an excellent budget choice in the Inter back line.

Manchester City’s Rúben Dias has been a reliable Fantasy scorer this season with his ball recovery skills in particular ensuring that the points keep coming. Real Madrid defender Éder Militão has 32 Fantasy points in his last five appearances in the competition, and is available for selection after suspension.

MIDFIELDERS

Vinícius Júnior naturally retains his positions at the top of the midfielders list after yet another goalscoring performance against Manchester City in the first leg. The Real Madrid man is way out on his own at the top of the Fantasy points chart, and is the highest owned player in his position.

Team-mates Rodrygo and Federico Valverde – with 62 and 63 points respectively – also feature, while two Matchday 11 goalscorers make up the rest of the top five. Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne has been in superb form in the knockout stage while Inter’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan was on target against Milan in the first leg and is one of the leading midfielders when it comes to ball recoveries.

FORWARDS

There was disappointment for the two highest-owned forwards on Matchday 11, with Erling Haaland and Karim Benzema both failing to add to their respective Champions League tallies. The algorithm has a longer memory than that though, and keeps faith with the lethal pair ahead of the return legs.

Veteran striker Edin Džeko is a new entry having been the only Fantasy forward who found the net on Matchday 11. The Bosnian has four goals, an assist and a Player of the Match award this season. Hoping to spoil the Inter party on Matchday 12 is Olivier Giroud, who may well have to shoulder the goalscoring burden for Milan again if Rafael Leão is absent once more through injury, but the Frenchman has registered seven attacking returns in this season’s Champions League and holds significant differential appeal.