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
    11 months, 20 days ago

    Why are people taking Semenyo out?

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    1. el polako
      11 months, 20 days 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
        11 months, 20 days ago

        He is not going to Afcon

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    2. Pumpkinhead
      11 months, 20 days 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
        11 months, 20 days ago

        xG before the injury was a serious low

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        1. Pumpkinhead
          11 months, 20 days 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 months, 20 days 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
              11 months, 20 days ago

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

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    3. The Hunt
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 months, 20 days 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
    11 months, 20 days 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
      11 months, 20 days ago

      WC

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    2. Pumpkinhead
      11 months, 20 days 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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  3. z13
    11 months, 20 days 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
      11 months, 20 days ago

      Gameweek History

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  4. SKENG
    11 months, 20 days 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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  5. Malkmus
    11 months, 20 days 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
      11 months, 20 days ago

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

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      1. Malkmus
        11 months, 20 days ago

        Cheers !

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    2. Amartey Partey
      11 months, 20 days ago

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

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  6. -GK22-
    11 months, 20 days 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
      11 months, 20 days ago

      Would you be playing Stach?

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      1. -GK22-
        11 months, 20 days ago

        Not atm but may bench rice

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  7. Weasel51
    11 months, 20 days 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
      11 months, 20 days ago

      Hold and TC

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    2. Amartey Partey
      11 months, 20 days ago

      FH

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  8. Nightf0x
    11 months, 20 days 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
      11 months, 20 days ago

      A

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  9. waltzingmatildas
    11 months, 20 days 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-
      11 months, 20 days 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
      11 months, 20 days ago

      A. Need to sell gabriel.

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  10. Jokesy87
    11 months, 20 days 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
      11 months, 20 days ago

      FH

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  11. theshazly
    11 months, 20 days 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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  12. Stevie B
    11 months, 20 days 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
      11 months, 20 days ago

      B

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  13. Saka White Rice
    11 months, 20 days ago

    Who is a priority sell Ndiaye or Semenyo?

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    1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      11 months, 20 days ago

      Ndiaye if Semenyo is passed fit

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      1. Amartey Partey
        11 months, 20 days ago

        Agreed

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  14. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    11 months, 20 days ago

    Keep Pope or transfer out for Donnarumma?

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    1. Amartey Partey
      11 months, 20 days ago

      Probably keep

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  15. Amartey Partey
    11 months, 20 days ago

    Start Munoz (MUN) or VdV (FUL)?

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    1. FPL_Hazards
      11 months, 20 days ago

      Thats a tough one, I would go Munoz.

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  16. FPL_Hazards
    11 months, 20 days 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
      11 months, 20 days ago

      Yes. Yes.

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