Champions League

UCL Fantasy Matchday 5: Reigning champion’s team reveal

25 November 2025 44 comments
So VAR So Bad So VAR So Bad
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The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League (UCL) campaign resumes on Tuesday – and so does the competition’s official Fantasy game.

Here, last year’s overall winner, Joaquín Roth (aka So VAR So Bad), shares his thoughts and reveals his Matchday 5 team.

Matchday 5 arrives with a rare blend of opportunity and volatility. It marks the halfway point of the League Phase, and managers are facing one of the most significant injury pile-ups of the season.

Highly-owned assets such as Gabriel Magalhaes (€5.6m), Achraf Hakimi (€6.0m), Denzel Dumfries (€6.2m), Pedri (€7.5m), Ousmane Dembélé (€10.0m) and Victor Osimhen (€7.7m) have thrown squads off balance and pushed many managers into making early chip decisions.

The key to this week is not perfection, but flexibility. UCL Fantasy is a game that rewards the ability to adapt when plans fall apart. With rotation looming in Matchdays 6 and 8, and some fixture swings approaching, managers must prioritise structure over rigid plans.

Forced into a Wildcard

Coming into the season, I had always planned to use my Wildcard chip in Matchday 6. But UCL Fantasy rarely allows plans to survive.

Owning several of the above injuries, I’ve found myself forced into an early activation.

And this is exactly where the game tests you. A Wildcard is not about sticking to the date you dreamed about; it’s about recognising when your structure is no longer aligned with the next three Matchdays.

Undeniably, my squad needs more than bandages. It needs rebuilding. Therefore, a well-constructed Matchday 5 Wildcard that mirrors the planned structure of Matchday 6’s remains optimal.

Plans are useful; flexibility is essential.

My Wildcard team

FPL Team News + Predicted Line-ups 1
44 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Defcons are for Kinnear
    • 12 Years
    17 days, 21 hours ago

    Why are people taking Semenyo out?

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    1. el polako
      • 8 Years
      17 days, 21 hours ago

      Missed penalty.
      Dip in form.
      Injury.
      Shiny new toys in Eze & Rodgers.
      Less informed may think he’s going AFCON soon.

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      1. Nibbs
          17 days, 20 hours ago

          He is not going to Afcon

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      2. Pumpkinhead
        • 11 Years
        17 days, 20 hours ago

        Free Hitters I understand given the injury otherwise I think he's a hold. I get his fixture aren't the greatest but he's such a good player I don't think it matters.

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        1. z13
            17 days, 20 hours ago

            xG before the injury was a serious low

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            1. Pumpkinhead
              • 11 Years
              17 days, 20 hours ago

              He passed the eye test + was getting chances/points. In the past we've known him to be streaky but seems to have found a little bit more consistency.

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              1. Pumpkinhead
                • 11 Years
                17 days, 20 hours ago

                Or do you just mean the last three? If he scored that pen, I doubt many would be removing.

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                1. z13
                    17 days, 20 hours ago

                    yes, npxG since GW8 is 0.13, 0.03, 0.03, 0.03

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          • The Hunt
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 16 Years
            17 days, 18 hours ago

            Because he's doing his best to prove to us that GWs 1 - 7 won't be repeated.

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        2. Sz21
          • 14 Years
          17 days, 21 hours ago

          Would you..
          1. WC this week or
          2. FH or
          3. Just make a couple of transfers..

          Not sure on the best path with so much uncertainty in teams. Not too long left to use the chips either.
          Was supposed to be an easy transition to the likes of Liverpool/City for their runs but not so obvious now.

          Dubravka.
          Timber, Virgil, James.
          Semenyo, Anderson, Saka, Reijnders.
          Haaland, Mateta, Woltemade.
          Sanchez, Ndiaye, Andersen, Esteve.
          2ft's, 0.9m ITB.

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          1. z13
              17 days, 20 hours ago

              WC

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            • Pumpkinhead
              • 11 Years
              17 days, 20 hours ago

              Since you have your FH and WC left I think you should play one - like you said their aren't many weeks left.

              This is over simplifying it BUT if you want Liverpool long term WC if not, FH. Personally, I like Liverpool fixture against West Ham better. They've given up a ton of xg and though pool aren't firing, I think you'd be hard pressed to say they won't find away in gw 13.

              If I was wildcarding I'd remove Woltemade, Reijnders, Ndiaye (fixtures turn though I think he's a good player), James, and maybe Virgil.

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          2. z13
              17 days, 20 hours ago

              Does anyone know where I can find my OR since a given GW? I played WC in GW7 when ranked 5m, and I'm now up to 2m. I just want to know what my OR without that start is. Thanks

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              1. The Hunt
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 16 Years
                17 days, 18 hours ago

                Gameweek History

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            • SKENG
              • 9 Years
              17 days, 20 hours ago

              Raya
              Timber Munoz Senesi
              Saka Bruno Semenyo Sarr KDH
              Haaland Mateta

              Dubravka Kroupi Tarkowski Rodon - 1 FT, 0.0 ITB

              Is this an easy Save FT?

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            • Malkmus
              • 14 Years
              17 days, 20 hours ago

              A'noon all. Would you FH this? 1FT, 2.3 ITB

              Dub (4.0)
              Timber - Senesi - Lacroix (Gab - Gudmundsson)
              Saka - Semenyo - Mbeumo - Enzo (King)
              Haaland - Mateta - Thiago

              Or just Gab out, to maybe Dias?

              Ta

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              1. waltzingmatildas
                • 15 Years
                17 days, 18 hours ago

                I've got a similar ish team and don't think I'll FH

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                1. Malkmus
                  • 14 Years
                  17 days, 18 hours ago

                  Cheers !

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              2. Amartey Partey
                • 6 Years
                17 days, 17 hours ago

                Yeah. I’ve got a similar team and I’m using my FH.

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            • -GK22-
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              17 days, 19 hours ago

              Hold Semenyo and do (rest of mid is Mbuemo, rice, Sarr)

              Stach to

              a) Cherki
              B) Rogers
              C) Minteh
              D) Barnes

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              1. waltzingmatildas
                • 15 Years
                17 days, 18 hours ago

                Would you be playing Stach?

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                1. -GK22-
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 13 Years
                  17 days, 18 hours ago

                  Not atm but may bench rice

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            • Weasel51
              • 9 Years
              17 days, 19 hours ago

              Is this worth a free hit? Or just TC Haaland with the first team below?

              Raya
              Senesi VVD Munoz
              Semenyo Mbeumo Sarr Saka
              Thiago Mateta Haaland

              >>>

              Donnaruma
              Cash VVD VDV
              Foden Rogers Dango Salah
              Haaland Thiago Watkins

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              1. Conners
                • 6 Years
                17 days, 18 hours ago

                Hold and TC

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              2. Amartey Partey
                • 6 Years
                17 days, 17 hours ago

                FH

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            • Nightf0x
              • 10 Years
              17 days, 19 hours ago

              Alison (dub)
              Cala oreily trufert (richards reinldo)
              Gakpo saka neto mbeumo (buendia)
              Haland thiago mateta

              Which ?

              A) g2g, foll ft, probably FH gw15
              B) neto to doku
              C) FH

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              1. waltzingmatildas
                • 15 Years
                17 days, 18 hours ago

                A

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            • waltzingmatildas
              • 15 Years
              17 days, 18 hours ago

              Got 2fts, 2.9itb
              Lammens
              Timber Lacroix Senesi
              Mbeumo Semenyo Rice Sarr
              Haaland Mateta Woltemade
              (Dubravka Esteve King Gabriel)

              A) Gabriel to Cash
              B) King to Rogers/Minteh/Gakpo (bench Sarr?!)
              C) Roll

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              1. -GK22-
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 13 Years
                17 days, 18 hours ago

                B) Similar to my midfield I’m looking replace Stach for one of the same and bench rice

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              2. jacob1989
                • 3 Years
                17 days, 18 hours ago

                A. Need to sell gabriel.

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            • Jokesy87
              • 11 Years
              17 days, 18 hours ago

              Hold or FH

              Raya
              VVD Senesi VDV
              Enzo Saka semenyo ndiaye
              Haaland Pedro Mateta

              Subs: Dubravka, burn, mukiele, xhaka

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              1. Amartey Partey
                • 6 Years
                17 days, 17 hours ago

                FH

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            • theshazly
              • 2 Years
              17 days, 18 hours ago

              Pope ( Dub )
              Virgil Guehi Timber ( Diouf / Mukiele )
              Saka ISarr Neto Mbeumo Semenyo*
              Haaland Thiago ( DCL )

              2 FT / 0.1 ITB

              Do :

              A ) Diouf > Pau and play Pau instead of Guehi and roll a FT
              B ) FH
              C ) Something else ?

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            • Stevie B
              • 15 Years
              17 days, 18 hours ago

              Which transfer is the best?

              A) Semenyo -> Trossard
              B) Woltemade -> Thiago
              C) Alderete and Mateta -> Munoz and Thiago for - 4

              Thank you and good luck!

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              1. Amartey Partey
                • 6 Years
                17 days, 17 hours ago

                B

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            • Saka White Rice
              • 11 Years
              17 days, 18 hours ago

              Who is a priority sell Ndiaye or Semenyo?

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              1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
                • 9 Years
                17 days, 17 hours ago

                Ndiaye if Semenyo is passed fit

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                1. Amartey Partey
                  • 6 Years
                  17 days, 17 hours ago

                  Agreed

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            • DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
              • 9 Years
              17 days, 17 hours ago

              Keep Pope or transfer out for Donnarumma?

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              1. Amartey Partey
                • 6 Years
                17 days, 17 hours ago

                Probably keep

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            • Amartey Partey
              • 6 Years
              17 days, 17 hours ago

              Start Munoz (MUN) or VdV (FUL)?

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              1. FPL_Hazards
                • 13 Years
                17 days, 17 hours ago

                Thats a tough one, I would go Munoz.

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            • FPL_Hazards
              • 13 Years
              17 days, 17 hours ago

              Lads I have 4 FT but thinking of using FH.

              1. If i FH do i have 4 FT next week?
              2. Can i do some transfers during the week to catch price rises then activate the FH before the deadline?

              Thanks

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              1. BradBB
                • 3 Years
                17 days, 17 hours ago

                Yes. Yes.

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