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UEFA Champions League Fantasy – What’s not to like?

The UEFA Champions League kicks off this week with 32 of Europe’s best teams competing in the Group Stage of the competition.

For Fantasy Premier League managers, the UCL Fantasy game offers an intriguing fantasy football option outside the English Premier League. Just as the best teams play in Europe, the best fantasy managers should welcome the opportunity to test their mettle on the continental stage.

I’ve been playing Champions League Fantasy for the last 7 years and the game is hugely attractive for a number of reasons:

  • Massive Player Pool — The UEFA Champions League features 32 teams, providing UCL Fantasy managers with a limitless player pool from which to select a team of 15. While fantasy prospects in the EPL are comparatively limited and template teams prevalent, the Champions League offers a multitude of viable options for point returns.
  • Elite Players — UCL Fantasy is the only game (apart from World Cup Fantasy) that offers managers the opportunity to own football’s biggest superstars. Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, Eden Hazard, Robert Lewandowski just to name a few – they all live here.
  • Major Point Hauls — Forget the evenly balanced, low scoring affairs of domestic league football. The Champions League groups regularly produce uneven matchups and consequently the potential of goal fests. Shrewd managers can target specific fixtures in every Matchday for an avalanche of points.
  • A Puritan’s Dream — The glut of resources dedicated to EPL Fantasy means that there are few competitive advantages available. If you’re thinking of a player, chances are that he’s already been highlighted in a blog post, article or review and revealed to your mini league rivals. UCL Fantasy is completely different. The game favours managers that possess knowledge of the continental game as well as those willing to research a bit to find the diamonds in the rough. A bit like what Fantasy Football used to be!
  • Rule Variations – The UCL Fantasy game has a number of intriguing rule differences to traditional FPL that should appeal to fantasy managers:
    • Manager Substitutions – This feature gives managers much greater flexibility than standard FPL. At the end of each game day, you are allowed to change your captain to a player that hasn’t played yet, and you can substitute non-performing players with players from your bench who haven’t yet played.
    • Scoring – Most of the scoring is the same as FPL, however there are a few variations. For the first time this season, an extra point is awarded for goals scored from outside the box. Additionally, 1 point is awarded for every 3 balls recovered making defensive midfielders a viable option to consider.
    • Limitless Wildcard – Unlimited transfers with an unlimited budget for one matchday affords managers the opportunity to construct an all-star lineup. Who doesn’t like assembling a team of Avengers for one matchday?

 So what are you waiting on? Register at the UEFA Champions League Fantasy site and pick your team to get started.

43 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Rotation's Alter Ego
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Who's playing UCL Fantasy?

    Feel free to share your teams and questions here before group stage kicks off this evening. Would be great to know some of the key players and strategies you'll be deploying for those that are new to the game - more than happy for some people to write HTs on this if there's enough interest!

    Good luck all 🙂

    1. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Playing fantasy 5, it's much funnier
      My team for today's game :

      Lukaku
      Salah
      Tadic
      Dembele
      Pizzi

    2. Murder On Zidanesfloor
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Is there a ffs league? I'm playing

      1. Rotation's Alter Ego
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Good point! Not that I know of

    3. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Håland (c1) Lewandowski (c2) Martinez
      Mane Sensi Ziyech
      TAA Kimmich Süle Tagliafico
      Vlachodimos

      Lloris Lodi Mahrez KDB

  2. Murder On Zidanesfloor
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    First time playing. Some of the players I'm getting in are lewa, jesus, bale, coman, moura, Salah, de Jong, tagliafico and kimmich.

    1. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Seems about right.

    2. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I didn't really get time to offer much help about here. I played last year and came in top 200.

      Picking keepers who play on alternative days is a 101 strategy you should adopt.

      Limitless Wildcards are best used 2nd last week of groups (when there might still be something for big players to play for) or even saved for knockouts.

      Wildcards should be saved for fixture swings. E.g. Team A play the following teams: BCDDCB. Halfway stage is usually a good place to avail of back to back easy fixtures often.

      But after all you can find your own way and play your own game. There’s no right way of doing it! Enjoy!

  3. Rotation's Alter Ego
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Does somebody want to take the lead on organising a FFS League in UCL Fantasy? Don't believe there is an official one yet 🙂

    Drop me an email at ted@fantasyfootballscout.co.uk if you'd be able to help out with that.

  4. Rotation's Alter Ego
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Big thank you to Milanista for setting this up

    FFS UCL League code - 4934MOSIMB

  5. trini_omar
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    RMT:

    Vlachodimos

    Grimaldo, Tagliafico, Lodi, Ramalho

    KDB, Pizzi, Mane

    CR7, Lewandowski, Abraham

    Subs: Hradecky, Cisse, Havertz, Joao Felix

    I've gone with keepers playing either day so that I can use manager subs to swap them.

    1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Looks good to me, As a Chelsea fan I'm not entirely sure that Abraham starts though.

  6. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Here are my thoughts on some bargain UCL fantasy picks.

    Havertz@5.5 : Top scorer for Leverkusen last season.

    Halstenberg@4.5 : Attacking full back for the best defence in Bundesliga (Leipzig) last season.

    Orban@4.0 : Leipzig's rock at the back with decent goal threat.

    Vlachodimos@4.0 Starting keeper for Benfica, best 4.0 option by a mile.

    Renan Lodi@4.0 First-choice LB for Atletico who have a solid defence, decent attacking threat too, No-brainer imo.

    Erling Haland@4.5 : Salzburg wonderkid is their talisman, Favourable home fixture to begin with at Genk.

    1. WALOR
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Tousart?

  7. EmreCan Hustle
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Thoughts on this team?

    Vlachodimos

    TAA Halstenberg Orban

    Son Havertz Babel Sensi

    Aguero Lewandowski Firmino

    Bench: Hradecky Zinchenko Kimmich Dilva

    What are the chances that Aguero and Son get benched?

    Thanks.

    1. WALOR
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Neither uefa nor rotowire show kun or son starting, would reconsider.

      1. EmreCan Hustle
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Cheers. That's my fear. Back to the drawing board.

  8. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    How’s she looking?

    Onana (Vlachodimos)
    VVD Alderweireld Halstenburg (Oban Lodi)
    Mane Havertz DSilva Moura Ziyech
    Ronaldo Lewandowski(c) (Haland)

    1m ITB

    1. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Is that Orban on your bench? He plays tonight.

      1. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        So does Halstenburg.

        To reply to below as well, didn’t realize it was like the World Cup game in that respect - cheers!

    2. WALOR
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Better have GKs on different days so you can sub if nec

    3. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Harland should not be benched, he plays first night meaning if he blanks or returns low you can manually sub him out.

  9. FPL Take the Hit
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    For those who need help with their final UCL teams, FPL Take The Hit has two videos from a player who’s finished in the top 1% of Fantasy UCL on a few occasions. Enjoy!
    http://youtu.be/ALBZOqDcErA

  10. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Dzyuba cappers unite!!

  11. Zladan
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Håland (c) has been a nice start.

    This could be difficult making the switch to Lew tomorrow.

    Might keep captaincy on Håland if he bags another.

    1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Congrats

      1. Zladan
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Cheers! He bags goals for fun in his league and Genk are probably of that standard. Thought it was worth a gamble given Lewandowski was my preferred (c) this week and he plays tomorrow.

  12. Dananz
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Gaaah! No Haland = season over!!!

  13. Zladan
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Håland (c)(28) Lewandowski
    Ziyech (7) Sensi (5) KDB Mahrez
    Tagliafico (19) Kimmich Süle Lodi
    Lloris

    Looking good so far. Captaincy remaining firmly on Håland. Martinez, Mane, TAA, Vlach benched.

    1. Dananz
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Well done sir!

  14. Murder On Zidanesfloor
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Early thoughts for Matchday 2? Time to get CR7 in? Kimmich/VVD > Munier?

    1. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Keep VVD. Kimmich could be moved on, I might use him as an enabler to upgrade Martinez.

  15. Zladan
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    He’s only gone and topped the FFS league GW1!

    Not sure my team is in good shape for next week. I picked my players based on strongest sides in easiest groups - meaning excluding PSG, Madrid, Juve and Barca who all have favourable fixtures next week. Messi Neymar CR7 might be essential next week. Maybe it’s Limitless time...

    1. Dananz
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      My congratulations! See my reply fail below for more...

      1. Zladan
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks! I’m enjoying it while it lasts.

  16. Dananz
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Somebody has to congratulate you on your stellar performance. Guess that's my job! Well done!

    Yeah considering that start, and the match ups for a lot of your team on Match Day 2, I think you might as well make the most of it and play the limitless card, and try to put a bit of daylight between you and the chasing pack.

    I ended up with a middling 59, and made the unforgivable mistake of picking Bale over Haland, but considering their matchups for the next round, I think I'd better stick.

    1. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      That was the one fixture for Håland, he doesn’t have it easy now and I don’t expect many more returns.

      I’m thinking I just sell Lewandowski and Martinez for Benzema + _____. My team should do well enough if Bayern v Spurs is low scoring given I’ve 3 def/gk in total between them.

      My issue is not owning Messi v Inter (h). He will be the most captained by a long distance - I can only pray for a blank but Inter looked poor.

      59 points is decent. Most big guns (CR7, Messi, Salah, Mane, Firmino, Benzema, Cavani, Mbappe, Sterling, Neymar, Bale etc) blanked/didn’t feature. It was a week for the differentials. As long as you play the captaincies right and make sure you don’t have risky players on day 2, then you’ll make up ground in no time.

      Bale will be a nice Tuesday captain. Then Salah, Mane, Messi, Suarez, Griezmann for day 2 of Bale doesn’t have a hand in at least 2 goals at home to Brugge.

      1. Dananz
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Sorry, missed this! Hope you held onto Lewa and Martinez! But sounds like you got a pretty damn good score again this round nonetheless. I played my limitless card and ended up with 80-something, can't complain. But I'm curious to see how my round 1 team would have done. Fun times!

        1. Zladan
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          All I kept Lew and sold Martinez. I did KDB + Martinez to Aguero + Tousart.

          So wasn’t too bad. Everyone in my team returned at least 4 points (TAA my worst).

  17. Zladan
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Looks like I’ll be taking a -4.

    Current team:
    Håland* Lewandowski Martinez
    Mane* KDB* Mahrez Ziyech Sensi
    TAA Kimmich Süle Tagliafico Lodi
    Lloris Vlach

    Likely Transfers:
    KDB Mane Martinez out.

    a) Hazard Aguero Tousart in.
    b) Benzema Sterling De Jong in.

    1. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      FWIW, I did Martinez + KDB to Aguero + Tousart.

      It’s a shame Aguero didn’t get at least 2 of the 3 penalties City probably should have had, especially with VAR review. But hsit happens. Martinez our scores him.

  18. Dananz
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Alright, I am all set up to absolutely smash it this round:

    Messi, Ronaldo, Haaland
    Salah, KDB, Son, A.Davies Parejo
    Hakimi Bernat Aurier TAA Gosens
    Gollini Meret

    Boom.