The 2023/24 UEFA Champions League (UCL) continues on Tuesday – which means it’s also time for the competition’s official Fantasy game to resume. With plenty of UCL Fantasy articles coming throughout the season, our in-house expert FPL Reactions picks out the most appealing assets for those activating a chip in Matchday 5.
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The Wildcard is exactly the same as its FPL namesake, where unlimited squad surgery can occur at no cost. Whereas Limitless is a one-week chip like Free Hit but, this time, without any budget restrictions.
These team selections were originally featured on our sister site, Fantasy Football Community, where there is lots of UCL Fantasy content every Matchday, from budget picks to differentials.
UCL FANTASY MATCHDAY 5: BEST WILDCARD TEAM
GOALKEEPERS
- Dmytro Riznyk (€4.0m) – The lack of clean sheets during the group stage is a concern. However, it also indicates that we should spend as little as possible on goalkeepers. Riznyk kept a clean sheet for Shakhtar Donetsk against Barcelona in the previous game. The Ukrainians play in Tuesday’s early kick-off, so we can see their line-up before the deadline and swap Riznyk out on Wednesday if he fails to return. It’s Antwerp next, with Matchday 6 against Porto.
- Yann Sommer (€4.5m) – Finding a safe way into the strong Inter backline could be key due to how much they rotate their team. But Sommer is very likely to start the next two matches as they chase Real Sociedad for to spot. Before these two face off, Inter travel to Benfica.
DEFENDERS
- Jules Kounde (€5.0m) – Barcelona bagged two clean sheets in their opening pair of games and their next two are the reverse fixtures. So opportunities are there for the Catalan side’s defence and one of the cheapest, most reliable routes into it is Kounde.
- Aihen Munoz (€4.7m) – Real Sociedad have been very impressive this campaign. They’re joint-top of Group D with two clean sheets from four matches. Up next is a poor Salzburg and then a rotation-rife Inter in Matchday 6. Left-back Munoz managed an assist in his most recent match – securing a third return on the bounce. He also made 23 ball recoveries in those three.
- William Saliba (€5.5m) – Arsenal have kept the most clean sheets in the Premier League so far. This can continue versus Lens and PSV and one player avoiding rotation at the back is Saliba. He also netted in a recent league match.
- Denzel Dumfries (€5.5m) – Guessing Inter’s line-up is frustrating but they have one of the most effective attacking defenders in Europe. In fact, the Dutchman has amassed a huge nine attacking returns over this campaign. He has the potential to bag a clean sheet and goal contribution in any given game.
- Giovanni Di Lorenzo (€5.5m) – Napoli look much better with the return of star forward Victor Osimhen and key defenders from injury. They face a Real Madrid side who have lost both Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham, preceding a Matchday 6 meeting with Braga.
MIDFIELDERS
- Calvin Stengs (€6.2m) – Feyenoord are locked in a tight battle for qualification, meaning their best players will start for the final two matches. They have a home match against Atletico and then a clash with rock-bottom Celtic. Playing just behind the striker for the Rotterdam side, Stengs has managed an impressive seven goals and eight assists for club and country this season.
- Wilfried Zaha (€7.5m) – Also in a tight group is Galatasaray. The Turkish side needs results from both of their next matches to guarantee qualification. They also come up against two poor defences in Manchester United and Copenhagen. So Zaha could be a fantastic option, knowing he has bagged four goals and one assist in his last four matches.
- Bukayo Saka (€9.6m) – There are multiple factors backing Saka. For example, his penalty-taking duties and home fixture, where he has already managed two double-digit hauls in two matches. One of the most consistent players in Europe right now, it would be unwise to go without him.
- Leroy Sane (€9.1m) – Sane hasn’t exactly pulled up trees during this group stage but leaving him out could be extremely risky considering he plays for Bayern, who are maintaining three or more goals scored per game. He’s one of the most effective midfielders in Europe, collecting eight goals and six assists in just 12 Bundesliga matches.
- Ander Barrenetxea (€4.5m) – The enabler for this very expensive team. We have already seen how good Real Sociedad are, making them fully worth some investment. UCL Fantasy has provided us with a gem in Barrenetxea. He has started every group game from the wing, grabbing a return in both of the last two.
FORWARDS
- Harry Kane (€10.0m) – Bayern have scored between two and four goals throughout their quartet of UCL matches. The main reason for them having Europe’s best scoring average per game is none other than Kane. England’s captain has already racked up a jaw-dropping 18 goals in the Bundesliga, plus two attacking returns in three of his four Champions League matches. Kane could be a very could captaincy option.
- Erling Haaland (€11.5m) – Similarly, Manchester City are very efficiently finding the net, with one player spearheading their lethal attack. Haaland comes into this with back-to-back double-digit hauls in UCL, alongside six goals and two assists from his last five league matches. Another very good armband option.
- Alvaro Morata (€7.8m) – Atletico Madrid have been an exciting watch this season. With an average of over 2.5 goals per game, investing in their frontline makes sense. One half of it is Morata, who has banked seven goals in 12 league matches and five from the last three Champions League outings.
UCL FANTASY MATCHDAY 5: BEST LIMITLESS TEAM
GOALKEEPERS
- Ivan Provedel (€5.0m) – Lazio have a great-looking home match versus Celtic. Interestingly, the Italians have managed three clean sheets in their last four and all came at home. So Provedel has solid shut-out potential against the last-placed Scots.
- David Raya (€5.0m) – Just in case Provedel fails to return, Raya plays on Wednesday. Both Arsenal’s UCL clean sheets have come at home.
DEFENDERS
- Achraf Hakimi (€6.1m) – Another strong home record belongs to PSG. Hakimi is level with Denzel Dumfries for having the most attacking returns amongst European defenders this season (nine) and upcoming opponents Newcastle United are yet to score away from home in this competition.
- Joao Cancelo (€6.0m) – As well as hoping to repeat Matchday 2’s clean sheet versus Porto, Cancelo is Barcelona’ most successful defender for goal contributions this season (five).
- William Saliba (€5.5m) – Arsenal are at home to Lens, a side without a goal in any of their last three away matches.
- Denzel Dumfries (€5.5m) – As mentioned earlier, Dumfries is one of Europe’s most dangerous defenders when it comes to offensive play. Not only that, Inter face Benfica – goalless in three of four Champions League matches.
- Giovanni Di Lorenzo (€5.5m) – Already on seven goal contributions.
MIDFIELDERS
- Calvin Stengs (€6.2m) – Feyenoord have netted at least twice in three of their four UCL matches. 18 of Stengs’ 21 UCL Fantasy points have come at home, with the added bonus of playing on Tuesday and balancing the squad.
- Bukayo Saka (€9.6m) – Arsenal have scored six goals in their first two home matches.
- Bruno Fernandes (€9.5m) – Manchester United aren’t the most convincing side but they face a Galatasaray side who have conceded at least two goals in each match so far. On penalties and in great recent form, Fernandes could do well in UCL Fantasy Matchday 5.
- Leroy Sane (€9.1m) – Owning Bayern’s attack feels like a must and Sane’s productive season is a great way in.
- Marcus Thuram (€6.5m) – As Inter are competing for the top spot, there’s a chance that Thuram starts up front, out of position. This season, he’s on six goals and five assists for club and country.
FORWARDS
- Kylian Mbappe (€11.5m) – PSG have scored at least twice in both UCL home matches. They play defensively-depleted Newcastle next, giving Mbappe massive potential going into Tuesday’s game. This penalty-taker has collected 16 goals and two assists during 16 domestic and Champions League games.
- Erling Haaland (€11.5m) – The current champions have netted three times in all four group games. Haaland is another individual on penalties, also reaching nine goals and two assists in his last six club appearances.
- Harry Kane (€10.0m) – Not only are Bayern lethal, they’re about to face Copenhagen’s poor defence.
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