Champions League

The best forwards for UEFA Champions League Fantasy

The start of the UEFA Champions League group stage is less than a week away and the competition’s official, free-to-play Fantasy game is now live.

Champions League match tickets, Playstation 5 consoles and cash in the UEFA store are up for grabs, while Premium Memberships will also be dished out to the leaders in our Fantasy Football Scout mini-league (PIN: 65KAB8EHX307).

The final of these three introductory articles for UEFA Champions League Fantasy focuses on the forwards. The scoring for forwards is again very similar to Fantasy Premier League, with the balls recovered statistic rarely benefitting them.

READ MORE: The best Champions League goalkeepers and defenders
READ MORE: The best Champions League midfielders
READ MORE: How to play Champions League Fantasy

SIGN UP TO PLAY UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FANTASY HERE

Premium Forwards (€9.5m-€12m)

When the world’s strongest sides come together, it brings with it an inevitable saturation of top-quality players. This is most clearly shown in the premium forwards category. These players can score big any or every week and having a couple in your team appears to be a necessity. 

Picking a starting point in this category was tough but I’ve gone for Bayern’s newly crowned UEFA Men’s Player of the Year, Robert Lewandowski (€12.0m). He top-scored in last season’s competition with 15 goals in just 11 games, is on penalties, and is nailed in the best side in world football at the moment. Fresh off the back of his four-goal haul against Hoffenheim, Lewandowski looks like the most secure forward pick for the group stages.

That means Lionel Messi (€12.0m) is second on this list. Although he’s only scored once in his first three games this season, he has two assists to his name and has a home banker against Ferencváros on Matchday 1 – so could be the perfect captain to fire your season off to a great start.

Next up is Erling Haaland (€11.0m). He has four goals and an assist in his first three league games and faces three questionable defences in the group stage. Last season he scored two or more goals a whopping 12 times. Playing in a better side for the group stages this year, Haaland could run riot.

Another young star costing €11.0m, Kylian Mbappe is only getting better. He has two goals and four assists from three games this term and PSG are looking better after a shaky league start. Both Mbappe and Neymar (€11.5m) will be in and around the goals every week as PSG look to go one better than last year. Their games against a dysfunctional Manchester United defence and Turkish relegation-strugglers Istanbul Başakşehir could produce big scorelines for the duo.

Two Serie A forwards complete this section. Inter’s Romelu Lukaku (€11.0m) has penalties and is in incredible form, making him a slightly better option than his strike partner Lautaro Martinez (€10.5m). Atalanta’s 13 goals in their first three games has fired them to the top of Serie A and Duvan Zapata (€9.5m) has got a goal and two assists. After 19 goals and nine assists through 33 games last season, Zapata could be a slightly less popular gem to fire you up the ranks with his opening games against Midtjylland and Ajax.

It’s of course worth keeping an eye on a few players unavailable for Matchday 1, especially Cristiano Ronaldo (€12.0m). He should return for Matchday 3, where he then plays Ferencváros home and away. The fitness of Manchester City’s two main strikers, Gabriel Jesus (€9.5m) and Sergio Aguero (€10.0m) should also be high on your watchlist.

Mid-Priced Forwards (€7m-€9m)

The best forwards for UEFA Champions League Fantasy

The choices in this section are few and far between, but what there is, is of very high quality. Atalanta’s captain and darling Alejandro ‘Papu’ Gomez (€8.5m) has started the season with four goals and two assists in just three games and has a place in this author’s team firmly secured with his kind opening fixtures and “nailed-ness”. Ronaldo’s absence paves the way for Paulo Dybala (€9.0m) to return to the starting XI alongside Alvaro Morata (€9.0m) . Named Serie A’s MVP last season, he could be a shrewd early differential,

Jesse Marsch’s Red Bull Salzburg play flowing, attacking football which helped Haaland to eight goals in six group stage games last season. Patson Daka (€7.5m) has scored seven goals and four assists through 10 games so far in the Austrian Bundesliga, as well as a couple against Liverpool in pre-season. Playing against Lokomotiv Moscow and Bayern’s high line, which has been shaky in their early games, he could feast like Haaland. 

Finishing off this section are two established goalscorers from middling Champions League teams. Zenit’s Artem Dzyuba (€8.0m) has been a staple of UCL scoresheets for a decade now and, like Daka, has seven goals and four assists through his first 10 games of this season. With Club Brugge up first and Lazio in Matchdays 3 and 4, he could be another smart differential.

Olympiacos’ Youssef El-Arabi (€8.0m) scored three goals in his three Champions League starts last season, 17 goals in 25 starts in the league and has scored in his last two for the Greek giants. Starting out against Marseille and Porto could bring goals for the Moroccan talisman.

Budget Forwards (€4.5m-€6.5m)

The best forwards for UEFA Champions League Fantasy 1

These options really are quite sparse in both quantity and quality. The best is clearly Rennes‘ new signing Serhou Guirassy (€6.5m). The Frenchman has three goals and an assist in five league games for the French league leaders. If he takes advantage of matches against Chelsea’s dire defence and Russian mid-tablers Krasnodar, Guirassy should turn out to be the best budget forward in the game. 

Dynamo Kyiv’s Vladislav Supryaha (€6.5m) got a goal and two assists through their three qualifying games for the UCL, but games against Juventus and Barcelona definitely suggest there are better options elsewhere.

Ajax’s Antony (€6.0m) has two goals in the four games he’s started this season but was subbed off for his likely replacement David Neres (€8.5m) in the last game.

Any of the cheaper options are either unsure starters, or simply poor picks.

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For further Champions League Fantasy reading and discussion, head over to our Community article page.

861 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Emiliano Sala
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Pulisic(C) or Salah(C) ?

    1. The Road to Turfdom
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Salah

    2. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      neither

      1. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        how's your team looking, tina?

        1. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Need to sell kdb for Son(owned him, sold last wk, buying back this wk)
          might get Pulisic for a -4 as well

      2. Emiliano Sala
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Hey buddy. How you doin? Haven't seen you here recently
        I'm on WC btw.

        1. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          yeah, been busy and some health issues this week.

          getting there.

          1. Emiliano Sala
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Sorry to hear that
            Hope you are well now.
            Thoughts on this?

            Guaita
            TAA Robbo Chilwell
            Salah Son Pulisic James Grealish
            Richarlison Watkins

            4.0 Brewster Lamptey 3.9

            May start brewster this gw.

            1. Christina.
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 5 months ago

              Im not a Rich fan, but thats personal.
              2 x villa a bit much for me
              Not many (c) options.
              Still think a City attacker is a must
              Prefer just one Livp def
              A matter of time before Ings/Jimenez start scoring again I reckon(hope)

              1. Emiliano Sala
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 5 months ago

                They are too cheap and fixtures are great long long term
                Wanted to get kdb. But now it has messed up. Think they will struggle without him. Will get him once he is back.
                Had planned to get reguilon instead of robbo. But with kdb out, I got extra money so did the switch. Robbo is much more attacking tbh.
                I like ings. But their fixtures are not the easiest anymore. A bit expensive

    3. lilmessipran
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Mo

    4. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Salah - Pulisic too risky given he has played 7 mins since the FA cup final in August

    5. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Pulisic.

      I really don't like Salah (c) this week.

    6. Joey Tribbiani
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Salisic

    7. The Mandalorian
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Sal

  2. TheDragon
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Sterling or Kane?

    Life is so much easier going Kane short term but then it’s a nightmare to get KDB or Sterling in

    1. lilmessipran
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Kane

    2. The Road to Turfdom
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Kane

    3. Villan
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      2ft will be able to do it

    4. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Kane

    5. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Kane

    6. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      2 FTs is a nightmare?

  3. lilmessipran
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Start one -

    A coady
    B lamptey
    C Mitchell

    1. The Road to Turfdom
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Mitchell

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      B

    3. Villan
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      B

  4. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Rank 4m. 6.1mitb. Anything for a hit?

    Martinez
    Taa saiss james (lamptey Mitchell)
    Salah son foden podence (burke)
    Jiminez dcl watkins

    A.....podence to pulisic - 4
    B.....podence to sterling - 4
    C....hold

    Not sure podence starts this weekend...thanks

    1. Villan
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      C

    2. AuFeld
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I have my doubts re Podence. Take the hit for Sterling.

  5. Villan
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Grealish is so tempting with all the Leicester injuries. Still probably going to be dull and do KDB to Son though

  6. Lignja
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    A. Taa, Havertz, Brewster*
    B. Lamptey, Bissouma*, Kane
    C. Lamptey, Sterling, Brewster*

    *Bench

  7. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    KDB & Adams to Son & Kane(C) for free?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Easy

    2. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Wow! similar moves as mine below. Certainly yes for free.

  8. sunzip14
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    KDB+Ings>Son+Kane (-4). Yay or Nay?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Just KDB to Son

    2. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Yay

  9. Jullepuu
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    KDB to Son or??

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Son

      1. Jullepuu
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers. Is there even anyone else to really consider?

        1. Holding Matip
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Pulisic potentially, or Grealish against a depleted Leicester (both CBs out)

        2. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Salah/Mane, Pulisic/Havertz, Bale, Rodriguez, Grealish, Trossard

    2. AuFeld
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      WHU defense looks water-tight. Maybe Sterling at home vs ARS, who have the second-highest xGC from OP. The counter argument is that they'll lack creativity and won't be able to create chances.

    3. Jullepuu
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Thank you everyone!

  10. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone know how Havertz looked in the international games?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Good, goal and an assist vs Switzerland

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      His usual languid self. Scored a well taken goal. I'm happy to have him anyway.

  11. Tonyawesome69
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Which two would you start?
    1. Taylor
    2. Ayling
    3. Justin
    4. Bissouma

  12. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Incoming Bale brace. Home game vs West Ham seems pretty juicy.

    1. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Man I'm so tempted... he was my immediate thought when KDB confirmed out, but just dunno if he starts!

    2. seanie3
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      do we know he defo starts?

      1. seanie3
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        by Jose saying "probably" doesn't mean anything, he lied before about Son I feel..

      2. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        We do not. Mourinho refused to say whether he'll start or not but he'd 'probably play'.

        This is so prime right here. Amazing fixtures for Spurs. This is a really interesting opportunity.

        1. seanie3
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Agreed, will be watching closely as a Son and Kane owner..

  13. NKDB
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Kun to start?

    1. ArseneAllTheWay
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      doubt it

    2. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Would like to know too.

      1. NKDB
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Think imah make a punt on him

  14. Silecro
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Which option is better?

    A) Grealish, Jimenez, Lamptey
    B) Bruno, Watkins, Lewis (or any other 4.4 def)

    1. ArseneAllTheWay
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A

    2. @fpl_phenom
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      a

  15. ArseneAllTheWay
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    A) Keep
    B) WC team (below)

    McCarthy (Steer)
    TAA, Coady, Justin (Mitchell, Taylor)
    Salah, Kdb*, Rodriguez, Soucek (Reed)
    DCL, Jimi, Wilson
    (2.9itb)

    WC

    Martinez (Steer)
    Robbo, Chilwell, Lamptey (Dallas, Taylor)
    Salah, Pulisic, Rodriguez, Son, Grealish
    DCL, Ings (Brewster)
    0.4(itb)

  16. The Alli Way
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Sterling, Son & Podence or Son, Havertz and Foden?

    1. ilikewud
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Podence and Sterling or Havertz and Foden? Seems easy enough that.

  17. Captain_Shirokov
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    0.1m short of my WC team.

    Is Lamptey to White an acceptable downgrade? Literally nowhere else to scrape 0.1m.

    1. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      What’s your team?

      1. Captain_Shirokov
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Martinez, 4m
        Robbo, Chilwell, KWP, Lamptey, 3.9m
        Salah, Son, Pulisic, Grealish, 4.4m
        Kane, DCL, Maupay

        1. TheDragon
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Lamptey -> Dallas or similar I guess. Potentially McCarthy and a 4.5 Villa defender instead of Martinez & KWP

          It’s either that or Chilwell goes

        2. Pegboy
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          He's rarely going to play, so yes.

    2. Jullepuu
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Yes imo

    3. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      No

    4. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      3.9 def?

      1. Captain_Shirokov
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        already on it

  18. Dwotle
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Best Mitchell replacement on WC? 2-3 bench fodder most weeks.

  19. The Mandalorian
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    KDB Strategy

    I plan to keep KDB and use Podence instead. Not taking a - 4 hit. I can then use the next two transfers to bring in Antonio and Grealish for KDBs return.
    Podence has two good fixtures his points could possibly cover my KDB replacement plus the minus 4 hit.
    Anyone else keeping KDB.

    1. AuFeld
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      As a Podence owner, I've been reading he may not start.

      1. The Mandalorian
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        True but he can still get points from the bench

  20. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Best mid under 6.8?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Trossard

    2. Dwotle
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Trossard or Barkley

    3. Pegboy
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Controversially, I still think it might be Foden.

  21. sunzip14
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Start one please:

    A) Justin
    B) Mitchell
    C) Lamptey

  22. mixology
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Any confirmation Bruno will start? I'd back him to lead a response from United....or to at least have a solid performance after all the rumours

    1. @fpl_phenom
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      he came out publicly backing the manager and rubbishing any reports of a bust up... I think he starts... id be 95%

      1. mixology
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        cheers

  23. skodaole2
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Have Dier in all leagues, PL and draft. After Mou comments once again confused. Would you take a hit to replace a defender here, maybe Reece -> Saiss?

    Martinez
    Dier* Castagne Justin
    Son Pereira James R. Salah
    Kane Mitrovic Jimenez

    McCarthy Reece J.* Reed* Targett

    0 FT 2.6 itb

  24. Evasivo
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Gtg?

    McCarthy
    Saiss TAA VVD
    Salah(C) Trossard Bissouma Klich
    DCL Ings Jimenez(vc)

    Nyland Mitchell Bedna KDB

    £0.1 itb 0FT

  25. EmreCan Hustle
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Nuno presser done?
    What did he say?

    Anyone at risk or quarantined?

    1. The Mandalorian
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Only the club mascot

  26. Boomerang V
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Damn early transfers! I bought Son for Mahrez and now I have Kdb red flagged.

    A) Kdb -> Hamez -4
    B) Kdb -> Bruno -4
    C) Kdb -> Grealish -4
    D) Keep Kdb and play Ayling (WOL)

    Martinez
    Digne - Saiss - Justin - Ayling
    Salah - Son - Podence
    Jimenez - Ings - DCL

    Steer - Kdb* - Mitchell - Bissouma

    1. ArseneAllTheWay
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      C out of those for me.

      The ones I'm weighing up are:

      Grealish, Pulisic and Bale.

      1. Boomerang V
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Yeah I am also considering Pulisic

      2. Eat my goal!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Same for a hit

        I’ve got Brewster who can come in so in two minds but I see myself taking a hit next week anyhow so figure this could save that

  27. @fpl_phenom
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Too many players selected from Aston Villa !!

    Any one seeing this glitch ?

    1. The Mighty I
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Are you selecting the correct Taylor?

      1. The Mighty I
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Did this a few times myself, accidentally selecting Neil rather than Charlie Taylor.

        1. @fpl_phenom
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          no iv got steel and martinez... never thought id want more than 3 villa players.... was trying to bring in Grealish and Watkins

  28. leonickroberts
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Martinez
    Robbo Saiss Justin
    Salah Sterling KdB Podence
    DCL Brewster Jimi

    (Nyland, Mitchell, Burke, Bellerín).

    Have already taken an 8pt hit this week to fix major problems, but worth another -4 on KdB > Son, or let Mitchell come in?

  29. MarcusAurelius
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    KDB > Bale who’s with me??

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Too risky

    2. Pegboy
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      He'll be used off the bench Sunday, and I reckon will be an impact sub for a while. Doubt he does 90mins until December.

  30. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    A) Mitchell, Bissouma
    B) 3.9, Soucek

    Defender is a 5th defender and Mid will be benched this week at least

    1. Holding Matip
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      B

      1. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers

    2. @fpl_phenom
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      B

      1. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks mate