Champions League

UCL Fantasy Matchday 5: Reigning champion’s team reveal

25 November 2025 44 comments
So VAR So Bad So VAR So Bad
Share:

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
    6 months, 9 days ago

    Why are people taking Semenyo out?

    Open Controls
    1. el polako
      • 8 Years
      6 months, 9 days ago

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

      Open Controls
      1. Nibbs
          6 months, 9 days ago

          He is not going to Afcon

          Open Controls
      2. Pumpkinhead
        • 11 Years
        6 months, 9 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.

        Open Controls
        1. z13
          • 1 Year
          6 months, 9 days ago

          xG before the injury was a serious low

          Open Controls
          1. Pumpkinhead
            • 11 Years
            6 months, 9 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.

            Open Controls
            1. Pumpkinhead
              • 11 Years
              6 months, 9 days ago

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

              Open Controls
              1. z13
                • 1 Year
                6 months, 9 days ago

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

                Open Controls
      3. The Hunt
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        6 months, 9 days ago

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

        Open Controls
    2. Sz21
      • 14 Years
      6 months, 9 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.

      Open Controls
      1. z13
        • 1 Year
        6 months, 9 days ago

        WC

        Open Controls
      2. Pumpkinhead
        • 11 Years
        6 months, 9 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.

        Open Controls
    3. z13
      • 1 Year
      6 months, 9 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

      Open Controls
      1. The Hunt
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        6 months, 9 days ago

        Gameweek History

        Open Controls
    4. SKENG
      • 10 Years
      6 months, 9 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?

      Open Controls
    5. Malkmus
      • 14 Years
      6 months, 9 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

      Open Controls
      1. waltzingmatildas
        • 15 Years
        6 months, 9 days ago

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

        Open Controls
        1. Malkmus
          • 14 Years
          6 months, 9 days ago

          Cheers !

          Open Controls
      2. Amartey Partey
        • 6 Years
        6 months, 9 days ago

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

        Open Controls
    6. -GK22-
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 months, 9 days ago

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

      Stach to

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

      Open Controls
      1. waltzingmatildas
        • 15 Years
        6 months, 9 days ago

        Would you be playing Stach?

        Open Controls
        1. -GK22-
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          6 months, 9 days ago

          Not atm but may bench rice

          Open Controls
    7. Weasel51
      • 10 Years
      6 months, 9 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

      Open Controls
      1. Conners
        • 7 Years
        6 months, 9 days ago

        Hold and TC

        Open Controls
      2. Amartey Partey
        • 6 Years
        6 months, 9 days ago

        FH

        Open Controls
    8. Nightf0x
      • 10 Years
      6 months, 9 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

      Open Controls
      1. waltzingmatildas
        • 15 Years
        6 months, 9 days ago

        A

        Open Controls
    9. waltzingmatildas
      • 15 Years
      6 months, 9 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

      Open Controls
      1. -GK22-
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        6 months, 9 days ago

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

        Open Controls
      2. jacob1989
        • 4 Years
        6 months, 9 days ago

        A. Need to sell gabriel.

        Open Controls
    10. Jokesy87
      • 11 Years
      6 months, 9 days ago

      Hold or FH

      Raya
      VVD Senesi VDV
      Enzo Saka semenyo ndiaye
      Haaland Pedro Mateta

      Subs: Dubravka, burn, mukiele, xhaka

      Open Controls
      1. Amartey Partey
        • 6 Years
        6 months, 9 days ago

        FH

        Open Controls
    11. theshazly
      • 3 Years
      6 months, 9 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 ?

      Open Controls
    12. Stevie B
      • 15 Years
      6 months, 9 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!

      Open Controls
      1. Amartey Partey
        • 6 Years
        6 months, 9 days ago

        B

        Open Controls
    13. Saka White Rice
      • 11 Years
      6 months, 9 days ago

      Who is a priority sell Ndiaye or Semenyo?

      Open Controls
      1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
        • 9 Years
        6 months, 9 days ago

        Ndiaye if Semenyo is passed fit

        Open Controls
        1. Amartey Partey
          • 6 Years
          6 months, 9 days ago

          Agreed

          Open Controls
    14. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 9 Years
      6 months, 9 days ago

      Keep Pope or transfer out for Donnarumma?

      Open Controls
      1. Amartey Partey
        • 6 Years
        6 months, 9 days ago

        Probably keep

        Open Controls
    15. Amartey Partey
      • 6 Years
      6 months, 9 days ago

      Start Munoz (MUN) or VdV (FUL)?

      Open Controls
      1. FPL_Hazards
        • 13 Years
        6 months, 9 days ago

        Thats a tough one, I would go Munoz.

        Open Controls
    16. FPL_Hazards
      • 13 Years
      6 months, 9 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

      Open Controls
      1. BradBB
        • 4 Years
        6 months, 9 days ago

        Yes. Yes.

        Open Controls

    You need to be logged in to post a comment.