Champions League

UCL Fantasy Matchday 5 team reveal: Yamal out, Pulisic in?

The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League (UCL) campaign returns today – and so does the competition’s official Fantasy game.

Here, our resident European football expert Louis/FPL Reactions – who co-hosts the official UCL Fantasy podcast – gives us his Matchday 5 team reveal.


Before we get into my Matchday 5 squad, it’s worth mentioning my long-term plans. Both the Wildcard and Limitless chips remain, which I’ll use to attack the latter stages of the league phase.

Wildcard will be in Matchday 6, for the positive fixture swings of Milan, Arsenal, Atletico, Bayern, Liverpool, Stuttgart, Real Madrid and Sporting. It also helps that teams like Dortmund, Manchester City, Barcelona, Leverkusen and Juventus will begin a tougher period. The chip will reshape my entire squad.

As for now, I have two free transfers for Matchday 5, without needing to worry about future fixtures.

CURRENT TEAM

UCL Fantasy Matchday 5 team reveal:

GOALKEEPERS

Currently between the sticks is Janis Blaswich (€4.3m) but, with Alexander Schlager (€3.9m) back from his ban, I don’t think he’ll start. This would leave me with one Matchday 5 stopper – Juventus’ Michele Di Gregorio (€4.3m). He’s away to Aston Villa, so I’m not convinced I’ll get a goalkeeping return this week.

DEFENDERS

I’m also not massively convinced by my backline, like most of the campaign so far. Not that I think there are many good options around, even if I decided to switch.

There’s uncertainty that Dortmund’s Emre Can (€5.3m) or Man City’s Rico Lewis (€4.8m) will start, based on recent performances and team-mates returning from injury. I have been in limbo with both for a long time.

Then again, I expect returns from Milan’s Theo Hernandez (€5.5m) and Leverkusen wing-back Alejandro Grimaldo (€5.6m), as both have great fixtures. However, Barcelona have been unconvincing at the back, so I have question marks over what Pau Cubarsi (€4.5m) can do.

MIDFIELDERS

Leverkusen talisman Florian Wirtz (€7.7m) and in-form Liverpool attacker Mohamed Salah (€10.1m) should do well, or at least pick up a return. Similar can be said for Barcelona’s explosive Raphinha (€7.6m), who could continue his form at home to Brest.

My Matchday 4 purchase was Dortmund attacker Jamie Gittens (€5.3m), who failed to do anything significant against Sturm Graz but has a fixture against GNK Dinamo to repay the faith. Midfielder five is Lamine Yamal (€7.5m), an individual been ruled out due to injury.

FORWARDS

Up front, things feel okay. Bayern’s Harry Kane (€10.7m) is at home to Paris Saint-Germain, penalty-taking Erling Haaland (€11.0m) hosts Feyenoord and they’re joined by Atalanta’s Matteo Retegui (€5.3m).

TRANSFER PLANS

 1
65 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Tonyawesome69
    • 5 Years
    13 days, 6 hours ago

    Unai on injuries: "In the squad, we include Konsa and Boubacar Kamara for tomorrow but not Onana or Ramsey."

    https://x.com/AVFCOfficial/status/1861407621166571775?t=g4zbDLqkXrupjEzcCmlYOQ&s=19

  2. Eightball
    • 4 Years
    13 days, 6 hours ago

    A) Wissa + Son
    B) Joao Pedro + Saka (-4)

    Which scores more this week. I could do B next week for free but I only have a 0.1m price buffer to do those moves.

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 7 Years
      13 days, 6 hours ago

      A

      1. Gazwaz80
        • 5 Years
        13 days, 6 hours ago

        Really 😀

    2. Atimis
      • 8 Years
      13 days, 6 hours ago

      Should be B but maybe less obvious due to the hit

    3. BobbyDoesNotLook
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      13 days, 6 hours ago

      Wissa and JP predictions are equal IMO. Son plays Fulham and Saka West Ham. West Ham has looked better and Fulham slightly worse than in the start of the season. I would lean avoiding hit although Saka is good long term move.

    4. Amartey Partey
      • 5 Years
      13 days, 5 hours ago

      Why not just do Pedro for Wissa?

  3. Atimis
    • 8 Years
    13 days, 6 hours ago

    One out (Second to be benched):
    1) Rogers
    2) Semenyo

    One in (Second to come next week):
    A) Saka
    B) Palmer

    1. HelmutCool
      • 2 Years
      13 days, 5 hours ago

      Semenyo already out because 5 yc ban this week.

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      13 days, 5 hours ago

      - Rogers v Semenyo depends on rotation or set and forget (after suspension) in your team
      - depends who you want to captain

  4. Dazzler
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    13 days, 6 hours ago

    2 (Semenyo banned)
    A

  5. marcus2704
    • 14 Years
    13 days, 6 hours ago

    Really looking forward to Sundays late match with Salah (C) and Haaland both ready to go. Hoping for a lot of goals!

  6. Pub Crawl to the Townsend
    • 10 Years
    13 days, 5 hours ago

    Any early captain consensus? Captained Salah 3 in a row but it's more open this week I think. Feeling a Palmer (c) ATM. Already done Johnson to Saka 0 ITB

    Sanchez (Ward)
    Hall Gabriel Davis (Mykolenko Lewis)
    Palmer (c) Mbuemo Saka Salah (vc)
    Wood Cunha Isak

    1. Pub Crawl to the Townsend
      • 10 Years
      13 days, 5 hours ago

      Semenyo last sub

    2. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      13 days, 5 hours ago

      I am on C Palmer also. At least he is explosive on his day and Madueke is hardly going to block his shot again, so I count that as almost a goal in last game. Mbeumo is playing too wide, MCI will try to bounce back, but even though I expect Salah to score, it's prolly not easy fixture.

  7. Pornchef
      13 days, 5 hours ago

      Is Saka worth a -4 this week having second thoughts after how west ham did yesterday

      1. Tonyawesome69
        • 5 Years
        13 days, 5 hours ago

        Depends who you're selling and playing instead

      2. Studs Up
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        13 days, 5 hours ago

        Probably not worth a hit given his away record

        1. Mother Farke
            13 days, 5 hours ago

            Saka has played 5 of the current top 10 away so far. The other was Bournemouth who are decent at home. West Ham is his first real "crack of the whip" imo.

      3. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        13 days, 5 hours ago

        For the long-term, would you prefer:

        A) Pope + Calafiori
        B) Verbruggen + Gabriel (-4)

        Second GK is Fabianski in both cases

        1. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          13 days, 5 hours ago

          Verbruggen could be any 4.9m GK

          1. Deulofail
            • 8 Years
            13 days, 5 hours ago

            Do I move down to Areola for a bargain GK duo? Hmmm

            1. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              13 days, 4 hours ago

              As a West Ham fan I would strongly advise against double WHU keeper....Flappy great back up Keeper. Have you thought of having Reya instead of Arse defender and add Konate or Van Heke

              1. Deulofail
                • 8 Years
                13 days, 4 hours ago

                Why would you advise against it? Dirt cheap with a guaranteed starter even if one is injured, and GK position is unpredictable anyway, with save points closing the gap between cheaper and more expensive options. Are you expecting to sign a GK in January?

                Raya for me is to expensive for the GK position, given the relatively small gain in points the extra money will get you compared to money spent in other positions and the flexibility to make better outfield transfers. I wish I didn't have Pope, actually. I only own him because I bought a bunch of rising players at the start of my GW4 WC and then missed the deadline. I would usually only go for GKs at 4.5 or less.

                Unlike Raya, I think the Arsenal defenders are much better than alternative options, and could potentially be even better than expected, Konate and Van Hecke are kinda filler options; can't get excited about those lol. If I didn't double on Arsenal defenders then it would be attack for sure. No way I'd waste a spot on a GK.

        2. rvp786
          • 13 Years
          13 days, 5 hours ago

          B due to gabby

          1. Deulofail
            • 8 Years
            13 days, 5 hours ago

            Thanks RVP, I'm thinking Calafiori is at least as much as a goal threat as Gabriel, and looks like more of a baps monster, rivalling Saliba. Just gotta deal with Calafiori's minutes probably being reduce through rotation more than Gabriel's.

            If I keep Pope for now, I can have that downgrade in my back pocket for when I need it, and use Flappy to cover his GW14 fixture against Liverpool.

            Why do you think Gabby is the superior pick, beyond minutes? Or is it all about the mins? Cala has a higher chance of a CS when he starts, I reckon, since he's more likely to be taken off before FT (but not likely before 60 because Arteta likes to maintain consistency)

        3. Tonyawesome69
          • 5 Years
          13 days, 5 hours ago

          Stick with Pope, Timber over Calafiori

          1. Deulofail
            • 8 Years
            13 days, 5 hours ago

            I have Timber already

            1. Tonyawesome69
              • 5 Years
              13 days, 5 hours ago

              Ah ok. Not a huge fan of the hit unless you're struggling to have 3 starting defenders. Any spare transfers next GW to make the moves for free?

              1. Deulofail
                • 8 Years
                13 days, 5 hours ago

                Not struggling, but I want to make the move(s) now so I can start building up FTs again, with or without a hit. Next week is Wood > Jackson (or the following week in the unlikely event that he is suspended). I will be considering a transfer (free or hit) to sell Mbeumo next week too, so there's no wiggle room. This is the fixture swing period, and then I'll be patient again once these positions are sorted out. Don't really want to wait till GW15 or 16 to get the second Arsenal defender, and I've chosen to go that triple-up route instead of Odegaard for Mbeumo

                1. Deulofail
                  • 8 Years
                  13 days, 5 hours ago

                  Unless anything changes that before the deadline, of course, like whatever we see in tonight's game.

                  1. Tonyawesome69
                    • 5 Years
                    13 days, 4 hours ago

                    Probably lean towards Gabriel (-4) over Calafiori just for the comfort of nailed mins. Sure you could say early subs means locking the CS but I don't think you can necessarily rule out pre-60 min sub as it feels game state dependent

                    1. Deulofail
                      • 8 Years
                      13 days, 4 hours ago

                      Cheers, I'm leaning the other way at the moment, but maybe I'm just a bit excited about the newness of Calafiori. I wouldn't (and didn't) rule out pre-60 min subs either.

          2. Crunchie
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            13 days, 5 hours ago

            this is my dilema timber (partney risk), or calafiori, stats are great SOT almost once a game, recovering from injury during heavy shedule. or -4 for Gabriel.

            I shouldnt have gone fomoon Isak, cost me -8 in transfers and 15 points

      4. Saka White Rice
        • 10 Years
        13 days, 5 hours ago

        Is RAN still attacking? Didn't notice much the last 2 games

        1. Crunchie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          13 days, 5 hours ago

          yes, but was forced to play in back 4 this week

      5. Bobby Digital
        • 7 Years
        13 days, 5 hours ago

        Team GTG?

        Raya
        Davis RAN VdB
        Salah Saka Mbeumo Palmer(c)
        Cunha Wissa Pedro

        Fab Myko Faes Dibling

        5.9m itb, 0ft

        Starting to regret my early Saka move after going through the fixtures. He seems to score a lot better in home games.

        1. Bobby Digital
          • 7 Years
          13 days, 5 hours ago

          Next home games are MUN EVE IPS TOT AVL

        2. Crunchie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          13 days, 5 hours ago

          which arsenal defender are you getting if you are going for a double up?

          1. Bobby Digital
            • 7 Years
            13 days, 5 hours ago

            Probably Gabriel because of his goal threat.

            I'd rank them Gabriel, Saliba and Timber.

      6. Freshy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        13 days, 5 hours ago

        ?UCL?
        Need to switch out a keeper
        Kobel to Sommer
        or
        DeGregorio to Carnesesshi

        Dortmond seem to be lacking as of late

      7. mookie
        • 11 Years
        13 days, 4 hours ago

        Which 3 forwards do you think will play the most minutes in the PL between now an GW20(Jan. 4-5-6)?

        Methinks:
        Haaland - sold him in GW12
        Solanke - sold him in GW13
        Cunha - don't own

        Worrying decision making on my part. 😕

        1. Boss Hogg
          • 15 Years
          13 days, 4 hours ago

          Also Evanilson, Wood, Joao Pedro, Watkins.

          1. mookie
            • 11 Years
            13 days, 3 hours ago

            Agreed on Wood and Evanilson, but not confident at all on the other two.

      8. Letsgo!
        • 8 Years
        13 days, 4 hours ago

        Start hall or digne?

        1. mookie
          • 11 Years
          13 days, 4 hours ago

          Hall

      9. Letsgo!
        • 8 Years
        13 days, 4 hours ago

        Capt saka or palmer?

        1. Bobby Digital
          • 7 Years
          13 days, 4 hours ago

          Palmer

        2. mookie
          • 11 Years
          13 days, 4 hours ago

          Both good options. Palmer has higher ceiling imo.

        3. GreennRed
          • 13 Years
          13 days, 4 hours ago

          Saka.

        4. David Parkinson
          • 2 Years
          13 days, 3 hours ago

          Palmer.

      10. NJ MetroStars
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        13 days, 4 hours ago

        you guys think van den berg starts against Leicester this week?

        1. mookie
          • 11 Years
          13 days, 4 hours ago

          I think so and will start him.

        2. Bobby Digital
          • 7 Years
          13 days, 4 hours ago

          Yeah and I'm starting him too

        3. Bob.
          • 14 Years
          13 days, 4 hours ago

          Hope so I have to start him

        4. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          13 days, 4 hours ago

          Aha.....see my question only a few minutes ago.....what would you recommend...
          Who would you start.....
          Konate ( H) V Man City.....
          Or.
          Van de Berg ( H ) v Leicester
          ??????

      11. Bob.
        • 14 Years
        13 days, 4 hours ago

        How do I sign up for the free trial there's no separate option? Just sign up for a membership with my card and cancel after 7 days? Thanks

        1. GreennRed
          • 13 Years
          13 days, 4 hours ago

          Should be able to subscribe, then cancel and your trial stays valid for 1 week.

          1. Bob.
            • 14 Years
            13 days, 4 hours ago

            Okay thank you

      12. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        13 days, 4 hours ago

        Afternoon everyone. Who would you start.....
        Konate ( H) V Man City.....
        Or.
        Van de Berg ( H ) v Leicester
        ??????

        1. Bob.
          • 14 Years
          13 days, 4 hours ago

          VDB

      13. Jet5605
        • 10 Years
        13 days, 4 hours ago

        Is Haaland dropping tonight? He's on -99 on price change predictor

      14. Jet5605
        • 10 Years
        13 days, 4 hours ago

        2 FT and 0.9 ITB. Konsa gets benched for options B/C

        A - Haaland & Jimi > Cunha & Pedro
        B - Haaland, Jimi & Winks > Cunha, Pedro & Saka for -4
        C - Haaland, Jimi & Winks > Cunha, Pedro & Mitoma for -4D - Other suggestion?

        Henderson
        Gvardiol - RAN - Myko - Konsa
        Salah - Palmer - Mbeumo 
        Haaland - Wood - Raul

        Valdi - Semenyo - Winks - Mosquero

        1. David Parkinson
          • 2 Years
          13 days, 3 hours ago

          B

      15. Westeros Wildlings
        • 10 Years
        13 days, 2 hours ago

        Could really use some advice please guys this is my current team:

        Raya
        Robertson RAN Colwill
        Salah Saka Mbeumo Palmer(c)
        Isak Solanke Raul

        Fab Lewis Winks Harwood-Bellis
        0.4m itb, 1ft

        What should I do from the following:
        A) Raul -> Pedro
        B) Robertson -> Gabriel
        C) Both A&B (-4)
        D) Roll
        E) Something else?