Champions League

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

The UEFA Champions League (UCL) begins 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

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217 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Udogie-style
    • 1 Year
    1 year, 15 days ago

    Captain Bellingham or Osimhen?

    1. The Red Devil
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 15 days ago

      Same doubt, going with Jude the dude!

      1. Udogie-style
        • 1 Year
        1 year, 15 days ago

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

        1. Lord1904
          • 1 Year
          1 year, 15 days ago

          Kane???

          1. Inter Me Gran
            • 9 Years
            14 days, 23 hours ago

            B

  2. C_G
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 15 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.
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 15 days ago

      GTG

  3. lugs
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 15 days ago

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

  4. Ibralicious
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 15 days ago

    Best move?

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

    Cheers!

    1. Sure You Did
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 15 days ago

      A or B.

    2. R.C.
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 15 days ago

      A

  5. R.C.
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 15 days ago

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

  6. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 15 days ago

    Who doing captain tonight:

    Kane
    Bellingham

    1. R.C.
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 15 days ago

      Bellingham

      1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 15 days ago

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

        1. R.C.
          • 7 Years
          1 year, 15 days ago

          They're playing Union Berlin.

          1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
            • 8 Years
            1 year, 15 days ago

            And Bayern are playing United.

            1. Sure You Did
              • 1 Year
              1 year, 15 days ago

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

            2. Lord1904
              • 1 Year
              1 year, 15 days ago

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

          2. Sure You Did
            • 1 Year
            1 year, 15 days ago

            Who are probably better than Man U.

            1. Sure You Did
              • 1 Year
              1 year, 15 days ago

              Which doesn't take much tbh.

  7. have you seen cyan
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 15 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
      1 year, 15 days ago

      Agreed, Man U are garbage.

    2. x.jim.x
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 15 days ago

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

      Probably still get pumped like.

  8. R.C.
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 15 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
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 15 days ago

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

      1. Tonyawesome69
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 15 days ago

        Agree with this. Also better for any spurs counter attacks

      2. R.C.
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 15 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
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 15 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
      1 year, 15 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
        • 4 Years
        1 year, 15 days ago

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

  10. Gazzpfc
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 15 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
    1 year, 15 days ago

    Bellingham or Saka for captain in UCL?

    1. R.C.
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 15 days ago

      Bellingham

  12. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 15 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
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 15 days ago

      Sancho is that you?

  13. Tonyawesome69
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 15 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
      1 year, 15 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
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 15 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
      1 year, 15 days ago

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

  14. GreennRed
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 15 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
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 15 days ago

    Best options for Sterling? 7.4m itb

    1. Wobbles
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 15 days ago

      7.4 itb??
      Sterling to Salah in that case.

      1. Kimmich
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 15 days ago

        my bad haha already have Salah. 7.4 total for replacement

  16. CoracAld2831
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 15 days ago

    UCL: (5 until deadline)

    Sub X. Simons to?

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

    1. GreennRed
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 15 days ago

      A.

    2. nerd_is_the_werd
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 15 days ago

      B

    3. CoracAld2831
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 15 days ago

      Subbed both of them in the end.

      Thank you.

    4. Lord1904
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 15 days ago

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

  17. nerd_is_the_werd
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 15 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
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 15 days ago

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

    1. Sure You Did
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 15 days ago

      Botman, cheaper.

  19. Gazza2000
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 15 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. Lallana_
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 15 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
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 15 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
      1 year, 15 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
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 15 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
      1 year, 15 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
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 15 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
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 15 days ago

      Fingers crossed then.
      Thank you guys!