Champions League
26 January 2026 338 comments
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Matchday 8 marks the final round of the league phase, and it could prove decisive for UCL Fantasy managers. In this article, our experts share their current team reveals and outline their early plans ahead of the deadline.

All drafts remain flexible, with strategies likely to change once full line-ups become available later this week.


@Big4FPL

 

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NOTES

  • Heading into the final fixtures of the league phase, I’ve slipped just outside the top 1k and will be aiming to climb back inside after this Matchday.
  • My planned moves currently involve moving on Scott McTominay and Estêvão, replacing them with two attacking punts – unless team news presents clearer or more appealing options once line-ups drop. Defensively, I’m hopeful the back line is already settled.
  • In midfield, my shortlist is likely to come from Arsenal, Liverpool or Barcelona, though final decisions will again depend on confirmed starting XIs.

@SilentBats

NOTES

  • After Matchday 7, I’m sitting on a solid green arrow, moving from 2.6k to 1.9k overall.
  • At this stage, I’m leaning towards activating the Wildcard, though there’s still a chance I hold it back if my free transfers allow me to put together a strong starting XI.
  • This is my current draft, should I decide to use the chip once line-ups are confirmed tomorrow.
  • Good luck to everyone – may your arrows stay green.

@Super__Saud

NOTES

  • Team news will play a major role in shaping my decisions this week.
  • If Harry Kane starts, I’ll keep him and look to move Michael Olise on for Gabriel Martinelli. Should Kane be benched, I’ll sell him instead and bring Kenan Yıldız into the XI in place of Olise.
  • At the back, I’m planning to replace Dayot Upamecano, with Nuno Mendes and Alejandro Grimaldo currently the leading options.
  • Captaincy remains wide open, though the armband is provisionally on Raphinha.

@FplRossoneri

NOTES

  • For the final matchday of the UCL Fantasy group stage, I’ll be holding all transfers until full line-ups are confirmed.
  • My current thinking is to target the starting Arsenal assets. As it stands, Viktor Gyökeres and Myles Lewis-Skelly come in for Serhou Guirassy and Jurrien Timber, who appears to be carrying an injury concern.
  • Several other players remain on my radar, including Lamine Yamal, Mohamed Salah, Julián Álvarez, Fermín López and Alejandro Grimaldo.
  • Captaincy is still up in the air, but it will likely come down to Harry Kane or Raphinha.

@TheCrisk

NOTES

  • This is the final week of the league phase, and I planned to use the Limitless chip here from the start – just like last season. The chance to dead-end my squad while seeing every confirmed line-up before making key decisions is too strong to ignore.
  • The current draft does not represent my final team. Instead, it shows the clubs and roles I want to target once team news lands.
  • Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid all stand out for fixtures. I am happy to triple up on the Gunners, as I expect their rotated side to have too much for Kairat at home. In attack, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé feel close to essential if they start. I will include Erling Haaland if either forward misses out on the starting XI.
  • Barcelona also appeal. They need a result, so I fully expect to triple up once line-ups confirm.
  • In goal, I want a strong home fixture. Gianluigi Donnarumma fits that brief. I do not expect Galatasaray to score heavily in Manchester, even with Victor Osimhen involved. At the same time, no Manchester City defender tempts me this week.
  • Building the rest of the squad became much easier once I remembered that Matchday 8 only requires an XI, not the usual 15 players. That allowed room for a couple of punts.
  • Oscar Gloukh makes the shortlist after two consecutive double-digit hauls. Ajax host Olympiacos and arrive in strong European form. Derrick Luckassen also interests me. Pafos look more solid defensively than expected, and their match against Slavia could easily end 1-0 or 0-0.
  • I am still monitoring options from Tottenham, Atalanta and Paris Saint-Germain. For now, I do not plan to start any of them.

@hichemillo

NOTES

  • I scored 73 points last week but dropped to 4.6k overall. That makes it two disappointing Matchdays following a poor Matchday 5 Wildcard.
  • I still hold the Limitless chip and plan to activate it for Matchday 8. The fixtures look too good to ignore, with strong opportunities for Arsenal, Liverpool and Barcelona, alongside Manchester City and Bayer Leverkusen.
  • With only 11 players required, the chip feels closer to a Free Hit than a traditional Limitless.
  • In goal, I’ll go with David Raya alongside a budget option.
  • At the back, Alejandro Grimaldo, Gabriel Magalhães and Virgil van Dijk form the core, with two defenders covering the bench.
  • In midfield, I plan to select five from a strong pool that includes Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, Fermín López, Phil Foden, Vinícius Júnior, Mohamed Salah, Michael Olise, Mikel Merino, and Gabriel Martinelli.
  • Up front, I want all three premiums: Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane.
  • I will wait for confirmed line-ups before activating the chip. Formation will likely be either 3-5-2 or 3-4-3.
  • Captaincy will be difficult to call, but I’m currently leaning towards an Arsenal defender or a Barcelona midfielder.

338 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Gyokeres G

  2. Sandy Ravage
    • 9 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Nick Pope

  3. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Kairat equaliser

    Another penalty

    They were 41-1 to win before kick off

  4. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    No Gabriel no CS

  5. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Haaland GOAL

    Flying in tonight

    1. F4L
      • 11 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      brilliant from doku

  6. fedolefan
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    PSG are going to ravage Newcastle tonight.

    1. RedJive79
      • 6 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      Certainly will with this ref.

    2. RedJive79
      • 6 Years
      23 hours, 47 mins ago

      Hell of a ravaging.

  7. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    TNT1 showing all the goals as they go in. Hard to keep up!

  8. tutankamun
    • 16 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Frimpong off with hamstring injury

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      You’re joking? Another one!

  9. JBG
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    People who took out Haaland on their WC draft watching wide eyed and with nervousness

    1. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      Haaland = Differential

  10. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    56 CL goals in 56 appearances
    thats pretty good?

    1. JBG
      • 7 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      That's nothing, My Player on PES 2013 had 104 goals in his first 60 CL matches. On Superstar difficulty

  11. g40steve
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Pen Chelsea

    1. g40steve
      • 7 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      Enzo G

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        1 day, 1 hour ago

        Is Palmer playing?

        1. Freshy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          1 day, 1 hour ago

          Spot on the bench

        2. JBG
          • 7 Years
          1 day, 1 hour ago

          Nope, bench

  12. F4L
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    enzo g

  13. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Chelsea score

    Top 8 is going to change all night

    This part of the format is alright

  14. F4L
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    wirtz g

    1. tutankamun
      • 16 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      Ekitike A

  15. JBG
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Liverpool found their level

    1. Pep Roulette
      • 8 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      Hahahaha

  16. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Ekitike & Wirtz connection is really good. Slot has to stop playing Gakpo.

  17. fedolefan
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    What are you scoring now for Wirtz.

  18. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    That Ekitike to Wirtz combo that never happens when you own them

  19. Prinzhorn
    • 5 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    I might want Wirtz on my WC

  20. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Gakpo is garbage

    1. Prinzhorn
      • 5 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      I can’t stand watching him

    2. JBG
      • 7 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      Genuinely such a weird players. Personally thought for a moment there, think around the start of the season, that he will become pretty good and important for Pool. But he proved me wrong

      1. JBG
        • 7 Years
        1 day, 1 hour ago

        Player*

  21. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Tempted to keep Ekitike and VVD now lol

  22. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Wirtz G, Ekitike A, Enzo G, Cherki G, Haaland G
    My FPL team looking good for next GW 😎

    1. Prinzhorn
      • 5 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      You don’t need the WC!

  23. Prinzhorn
    • 5 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Cherki g
    Doku a

  24. Qaiss
    • 10 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Why oh why did we only get 2 points in the last 3 games, with that man now breathing down our neck

    1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 9 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      Super nervous

  25. JBG
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Now he scores

  26. F4L
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    odobert is playing really well right now

    1. JBG
      • 7 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      CL and PL way too different to judge players for FPL, imo.

      1. Prinzhorn
        • 5 Years
        1 day, 1 hour ago

        Havertz essential

  27. Qaiss
    • 10 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Napoli what a goal

  28. JBG
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Bodø/Glimt drawing away to At.Madrid. Something about those northern Norwegians XD. First it was Rosenborg during the 90s/early 00s and now these players. Funny and interesting.

  29. fedolefan
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Hojlund

    1. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      Sanchez's near post...

  30. Nightcrawler
    • 6 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    madueke is so bad its painful to watch. gyokeres not doing any better

    havertz back could be pivotal for the run in though