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. Kaneyonero
    • 9 Years
    1 day, 25 mins ago

    How's Enzo doing, brought him in for this gw

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 day, 22 mins ago

      Got a pen

      1. Kaneyonero
        • 9 Years
        1 day, 19 mins ago

        Nice, I'm at work so can't see.

  2. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    1 day, 25 mins ago

    Salah G
    Ekitike G+A
    VVD 2A + CS
    Wirtz G
    Enzo G
    Haaland G
    Cherki G
    JP G
    Palmer A

    FPL managers licking their lips for next GW 😎

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 day, 24 mins ago

      Is that a WC team?

    2. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      1 day, 21 mins ago

      20 points between them this weekend

  3. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    1 day, 25 mins ago

    Bodo at it again

    Macca brace

  4. Gizzachance
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 23 mins ago

    Follow players show up more in these m/week games !

  5. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    1 day, 21 mins ago

    Loving the TNT every goal as it goes in coverage. 44 goals so far, a few ruled out and a saved penalty.

  6. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    1 day, 20 mins ago

    Ekitike, Wirtz, Marmoush all early subs
    Haaland stays on for now

    1. fedolefan
      • 11 Years
      1 day, 12 mins ago

      City aren't guaranteed top 8 yet. RM, PSG, Che/New win and they are out of top 8.

  7. RICICLE
    • 3 Years
    1 day, 18 mins ago

    Hmmm, for exact money, just realised I could do Bruno G + Guiu > Enzo + Pedro

    I’m tempted.

    1. Bluetiger1
      • 3 Years
      1 day, 17 mins ago

      fixtures look good - GTG plus gives two players against the one

      1. RICICLE
        • 3 Years
        1 day, 8 mins ago

        Sure does! I may go for it, cheers BT!

        Oh! And great shout on the Mukiele over O’Reilly call a few GW’s back!you saved my skin a bit there haha! Much appreciated!

  8. OffsidePenalty
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    1 day, 18 mins ago

    1 ft. Best option?
    A) Wilson to Mbeumo
    B) Thiago to J. Pedro
    C) Ekitike to J. Pedro

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 day, 17 mins ago

      C

  9. Bluetiger1
    • 3 Years
    1 day, 18 mins ago

    come on Chelsea one goal go 7th

  10. NZREDS
    • 12 Years
    1 day, 16 mins ago

    Keeping up with all these games is harder than my university exams!

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      1 day, 14 mins ago

      You know what? I’m retired now and wouldn’t consider swapping for a minute 🙂

      1. TheBiffas
        • 5 Years
        1 day, 11 mins ago

        I'll be lucky if I retire in the next 40 years 😆

  11. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    1 day, 12 mins ago

    Noblanke

  12. BeaversWithAttitude
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 12 mins ago

    Lukaku! Get in, man!

  13. F4L
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 12 mins ago

    spurs get top 8

  14. Gudjohnsen
    • 9 Years
    1 day, 11 mins ago

    Palmer to Bruno Fernandes?

    1. iFash@FPL
      • 1 Year
      1 day, 10 mins ago

      Yes.

  15. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    1 day, 10 mins ago

    4 English teams in the top 6

    1. iFash@FPL
      • 1 Year
      1 day, 9 mins ago

      They may still miss out on the Champions League trophy. Fingers crossed!

      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        1 day, 6 mins ago

        Bitter Jock or Man U fan? 😆

  16. TheBiffas
    • 5 Years
    1 day, 10 mins ago

    Go on benfica

  17. fedolefan
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 8 mins ago

    Arsenal Bayern Liverpool Tottenham Barca safe now. Only 3 spots left.

  18. Deulofail
    • 10 Years
    1 day, 7 mins ago

    Play 2 (including at least one defender)

    A) Tarkowski (bha)
    B) Virgil (NEW)

    C) Welbeck (EVE)
    D) Ekitike (NEW)
    E) Bowen (che)

  19. FDMS All Starz
    • 10 Years
    1 day, 6 mins ago

    Have a bad feeling Enzo will be rested this weekend due to Arsenal mid week

    1. Bluetiger1
      • 3 Years
      1 day, 4 mins ago

      need to win game in front - I would play

    2. RICICLE
      • 3 Years
      1 day, 2 mins ago

      He’ll play, always does

    3. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      23 hours, 45 mins ago

      Enzo always starts if fit, manager has praised his fitness levels and desire to win.

      Early sub is a possibility tho

  20. F4L
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 6 mins ago

    pedro x2 g

    1. F4L
      • 11 Years
      1 day, 6 mins ago

      *palmer's second assist as well

      1. Bluetiger1
        • 3 Years
        1 day, 5 mins ago

        not bad for someone not 100%

  21. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    1 day, 6 mins ago

    Chelsea 3-2 up

    Decent finish

    Pedro again

    Avoids play off game as is

    1. Bluetiger1
      • 3 Years
      1 day, 5 mins ago

      up to 6th (fingers cross)

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      1 day, 4 mins ago

      He gave the defender the eye

      Slight deflection off the defenders heal by the looks

      Palmer little assist on the half way line

  22. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    1 day, 6 mins ago

    Eel come back to my team JP

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      1 day, 5 mins ago

      ?? welcome back

  23. Bluetiger1
    • 3 Years
    1 day, 5 mins ago

    yes - pedro again

    2 v 3 to Chelsea (come on)

  24. TheBiffas
    • 5 Years
    1 day, 5 mins ago

    Really bad Pedro fomo now

  25. F4L
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 5 mins ago

    just need a newcastle goal now for the full house...

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

      I'm listening to that one

      PSG in control but it's a bit flat

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      1 day, 2 mins ago

      Barnes had a chance

      Well saved

      Gordon did well to set it up

  26. fedolefan
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 4 mins ago

    Pedro Palmer owners in heaven.

  27. pundit of punts
    • 13 Years
    1 day, 3 mins ago

    Sitting with Pedro and Palmer in my team

    More of this on the weekend please

  28. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    1 day, 3 mins ago

    Pedro gonna be in everyone's team soon

  29. Gudjohnsen
    • 9 Years
    1 day, 2 mins ago

    Give Palmer the West Ham game or get Bruno Fernandes for Fulham?

  30. pundit of punts
    • 13 Years
    1 day, 2 mins ago

    I did Haaland + Gordon ➡ Pedro + Mbeumo 2 days ago. 🙄