Champions League

UEFA Champions League Fantasy: A guide to subs + captain changes

The UEFA Champions League (UCL) began on Tuesday night, with the competition’s official Fantasy game also getting underway.

Unlike in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), where it’s hands-off management after the deadline passes, there are changes UCL Fantasy managers can make midway through a Matchday (aka Gameweek).

If you’re new to the game or are just in need of a refresher, here’s what you need to know.



MANUAL SUBSTITUTIONS

While there are FPL-style autosubs that replace non-playing names in your starting XI, UCL Fantasy also allows manual substitutions within a Matchday.

Between the end of one night (eg Tuesday) and the start of another (eg Wednesday), a maximum of four players can be switched for ones on your bench who are yet to play – unless the original starter has been sent off.

You still have to line up in a valid formation, of course, ie with one goalkeeper, at least three defenders, at least two midfielders and at least one forward.

HOW TO DO IT

On the ‘My Team’ page, click on the player you want to remove and then select ‘Sub out’ (as seen above).

You can then select a player who you want to play in his stead, providing it complies with the formation rules.

SWITCHING CAPTAINS

Similarly, a poor choice of captain can easily be remedied by changing it to someone who hasn’t yet played.

This new captain will be the only one whose points get doubled.

HOW TO DO IT

On the My Team page, click on the player who is yet to play who you want to hand the armband to and select ‘Make captain’ from the options (see above).

WHEN TO MAKE SUBS AND CHANGE CAPTAINS

We asked our resident UCL Fantasy expert, FPL Reactions, for some advice on when you should consider making manual substitutions and captaincy changes.

Here’s what he said…

  • If your player has four points or less then I would swap him with a bench player
  • If it’s five points, it’s more of a tougher decision – but I would usually swap out a player’s five points if a substitute has real haul potential
  • Try not to make your substitutions until the line-ups for the early kick-offs are out
  • If you picked up 8-10 points or fewer for your captain, I’d consider captaining someone else

SIGN UP TO PLAY UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FANTASY HERE

To join our Fantasy Football Scout mini-league, head to this link. The league code, should you need it, is 16GX4Y4802.

Haaland Foden


214 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Udogie-style
      7 months, 9 days ago

      Captain Bellingham or Osimhen?

      1. The Red Devil
        • 9 Years
        7 months, 9 days ago

        Same doubt, going with Jude the dude!

        1. Udogie-style
            7 months, 9 days ago

            Good call. Think I'm gonna do the same!

            1. Lord1904
              • 1 Year
              7 months, 9 days ago

              Kane???

      2. C_G
        • 8 Years
        7 months, 9 days ago

        is this gtg? no FTs left, 2.3 ITB

        Sanchez

        Digne Estu Botman

        Son Mbeumo Salah Foden

        Ferguson Alvarez Haaland

        Turner Udogie Sarr Kabore

        1. R.C
          • 6 Years
          7 months, 9 days ago

          GTG

      3. lugs
        • 6 Years
        7 months, 9 days ago

        Garcia not playing for Madrid so i subbed in Reguilion instead for Akangi's 1 point, c'mon Utd 😆

      4. Ibralicious
        • 9 Years
        7 months, 9 days ago

        Best move?

        A) Martinelli —> Maddison
        B) Martinelli —> Mbuemo
        C) Chilwell —> Botman/Tripper

        Cheers!

        1. Sure You Did
          • 1 Year
          7 months, 9 days ago

          A or B.

        2. R.C
          • 6 Years
          7 months, 9 days ago

          A

      5. R.C
        • 6 Years
        7 months, 9 days ago

        We all know what happens to the most transferred in player!

      6. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
        • 7 Years
        7 months, 9 days ago

        Who doing captain tonight:

        Kane
        Bellingham

        1. R.C
          • 6 Years
          7 months, 9 days ago

          Bellingham

          1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
            • 7 Years
            7 months, 9 days ago

            Coming from a United fan, should I ignore the suggestion!?

            1. R.C
              • 6 Years
              7 months, 9 days ago

              They're playing Union Berlin.

              1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
                • 7 Years
                7 months, 9 days ago

                And Bayern are playing United.

                1. Sure You Did
                  • 1 Year
                  7 months, 9 days ago

                  United are a worse team than UB. I would captain Kane, personally.

                2. Lord1904
                  • 1 Year
                  7 months, 9 days ago

                  I've Kane, Bellingham and Thuran... which one??

              2. Sure You Did
                • 1 Year
                7 months, 9 days ago

                Who are probably better than Man U.

                1. Sure You Did
                  • 1 Year
                  7 months, 9 days ago

                  Which doesn't take much tbh.

      7. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        7 months, 9 days ago

        This Man U game is going one of two ways:
        - Man U manage a decent performance and only lose by 1 goal
        - Man U lose 8-0

        1. Sure You Did
          • 1 Year
          7 months, 9 days ago

          Agreed, Man U are garbage.

        2. x.jim.x
          • 9 Years
          7 months, 9 days ago

          Heard it in recent times about PSG (twice), Juve, Barca…

          Probably still get pumped like.

      8. R.C
        • 6 Years
        7 months, 9 days ago

        Rate my team (not on WC) - is the bench correct or is there anyone who you'd swap?

        Sanchez
        Schar Botman Reguilon
        Saka Maddison Rashford Diaz
        Alvarez Haaland Nunez

        Areola Son Gabriel Gusto

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          7 months, 9 days ago

          Probably Son over Maddison as he's the (supposed?) penalty taker. Tricky 50/50.

          1. Tonyawesome69
            • 5 Years
            7 months, 9 days ago

            Agree with this. Also better for any spurs counter attacks

          2. R.C
            • 6 Years
            7 months, 9 days ago

            Only reason I've benched Son is I feel he will probably move back to LW. Ange might favour Richarlison as the CF after his previous display.

            Maddison can return assists pretty much to any of the front three and score sometimes.

            But yeah it's probably 50/50. Will leave this decision till the end.

      9. HadiSLIM
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        7 months, 9 days ago

        WC looking good?
        Leno/Areola
        Cash Andersen Botman Udogi Kabore
        Saka Eze Salah Rash Sarr
        Edouard Haaland Alvarez

        Leaves me with 1.4 ITB to do Eze--> Bowen soon.
        Gtg? Or do the move now?

        1. Tonyawesome69
          • 5 Years
          7 months, 9 days ago

          Any plans for Maddison/Son/
          Rich? Sarr will block you if you are interested in Spurs double attack

          1. HadiSLIM
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 3 Years
            7 months, 9 days ago

            plan could easily be rash or Saka to Bowen, and then upscale Sarr to a spurs attacker.

      10. Gazzpfc
        • 7 Years
        7 months, 9 days ago

        Flekken
        Estupinian Botman Chillwell
        Rashford Son Maddison Saka Mbembo
        Haaland Alvarez

        Turner Udogie Archer Gabriel

        GW 7 Chillwell to Schar
        GW 8 Saka to Diaby
        GW 9 Son/Rashford to Salah

        All in hand???

      11. Jebiga
        • 12 Years
        7 months, 9 days ago

        Bellingham or Saka for captain in UCL?

        1. R.C
          • 6 Years
          7 months, 9 days ago

          Bellingham

      12. Drop Dead Tsimikas
        • 12 Years
        7 months, 9 days ago

        "They have very attractive players, very skillful, you can't be unfocused for one second, one split second because there is so much individual class that they have," added the Dutchman.

        We're going to get demolished tonight, aren't we...

        1. Critical Observer
          • 7 Years
          7 months, 9 days ago

          Sancho is that you?

      13. Tonyawesome69
        • 5 Years
        7 months, 9 days ago

        Anyone finding it difficult on who to sell between Saliba and Chilwell?

        Saliba:
        Nailed but fixtures short term are not great and low ceiling.

        Chilwell:
        Higher ceiling and good short term fixtures but not nailed at either LB or LW. Also a bit expensive for a defender that is not nailed.

        1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
          • 12 Years
          7 months, 9 days ago

          Not at all. Sold Chilwell to be able to afford Salah and keeping Saliba (benching when fixtures turn poor). Am going to try to resist owning Chilwell again. Biggest troll ever.

        2. lugs
          • 6 Years
          7 months, 9 days ago

          not difficult at all, i have Gust so Chilwell is gone for me after the next update, Saliba is as nailed as can be and since he's not hugely attacking he can sit on my bench when i don't fancy his cs odds (like this week)

        3. Gazza2000
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          7 months, 9 days ago

          I would sell Chilwell over a nailed Saliba playing for a better team.

      14. GreennRed
        • 12 Years
        7 months, 9 days ago

        10 mins to UCL subs deadline. Real v Union and Galatasaray v Copenhagen lineups are out.

        https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/

      15. Kimmich
        • 7 Years
        7 months, 9 days ago

        Best options for Sterling? 7.4m itb

        1. Wobbles
          • 3 Years
          7 months, 9 days ago

          7.4 itb??
          Sterling to Salah in that case.

          1. Kimmich
            • 7 Years
            7 months, 9 days ago

            my bad haha already have Salah. 7.4 total for replacement

      16. CoracAld2831
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        7 months, 9 days ago

        UCL: (5 until deadline)

        Sub X. Simons to?

        A: Di Lorenzo
        B: Dumfries
        C: Keep (4pts.)

        1. GreennRed
          • 12 Years
          7 months, 9 days ago

          A.

        2. nerd_is_the_werd
          • 4 Years
          7 months, 9 days ago

          B

        3. CoracAld2831
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 3 Years
          7 months, 9 days ago

          Subbed both of them in the end.

          Thank you.

        4. Lord1904
          • 1 Year
          7 months, 9 days ago

          Do Lorenzo good option, but dumpfries food as sociedad should not score

      17. nerd_is_the_werd
        • 4 Years
        7 months, 9 days ago

        What a disaster.

        Fran Garcia and Valverde on the bench.
        This is on top of having Akanji and Doku, who also started on the bench.

        Bellingham(c) has to deliver!!!

      18. HadiSLIM
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        7 months, 9 days ago

        Schar or botman? What are the pros and cons of each?

        1. Sure You Did
          • 1 Year
          7 months, 9 days ago

          Botman, cheaper.

      19. Gazza2000
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        7 months, 9 days ago

        Thoughts on this WC draft? 0.0 ITB 🙁
        Would you go with Andersen over Udogie and start him over Cash?

        Flekken Areola
        Botman Burn Cash Udogie Kabore
        Salah Rashford Saka Diaby Mbeumo
        Haaland Alvarez Archer

      20. Klopp's Kids
        • 10 Years
        7 months, 9 days ago

        Which one?

        a. Start Chilwell
        b. Start Kabore
        c. Chilwell>Botman (-4)
        d. Chilwell>Dias (-4)

        Think Botman long-term is good even for a hit but City only conceding 3 goals and having a lower xGC peaks my interest. Just don't like owning Dias due to that occasional rotation.

      21. Pep Roulette
        • 6 Years
        7 months, 9 days ago

        Areola Turner
        Chilwell Estu Udogie Botman Kabore
        Salah Son Foden Mbeumo Sarr
        Haaland Jackson Alvarez

        1 ITB 2 FTs

        Best replacement for Chilwell & Jackson?

        1. Shultan
          • 8 Years
          7 months, 9 days ago

          Id prefer to downgrade Jackson to a 4.5 (maybe archer) & upgrade sarr to mitoma or diaby

      22. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 7 Years
        7 months, 9 days ago

        Can my GK combo of Johnstone/Turner survive another GW?

        Also have Henry who I'd like to replace with Botman.

        1. Shultan
          • 8 Years
          7 months, 9 days ago

          Would be unfortunate for both GKs to lose their spot in same week.Plus neither were terrible last GW

          I'd stick for another GW & sort out henry who needs surgery

        2. GreennRed
          • 12 Years
          7 months, 9 days ago

          I have same. Not many cleansheets this early in season, 4 keepers on 2, No clear cut better alternatives for their price right now.

        3. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
          • 7 Years
          7 months, 9 days ago

          Fingers crossed then.
          Thank you guys!