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. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Would you wc with Nyland, Vinagre, KDB, Mitchell, Soucek and Vardy in your team

    🙂

    1. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Asking for a casual friend, of course

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

      What’s wrong with Soucek?

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

      Need to see the rest of the team, but possibly.

      1. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Mc Carthy
        TAA Ayling
        Salah Son Stephens
        Wilson DCL

        Already took -4 early in the GW

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

          I probably would WC if you're already on a -4

    4. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Got 4 of them and used wc already 🙂

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

    Would u do -12 or freehit?

    Pls, dont need lecture :DD

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

      Neither

    2. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      If ranked good i would take the hit. If not it'll the trigger

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

      What are the transfers? Would avoid both and try do just a -4pts or -8pts at most

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

      Freehit better used on doublegameweek. Take the hit

    5. KDB4PREZ
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Depends on the hit. I took a -12 last year for augero captain and he banged but wouldn’t recommend unless you really feel they will work

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

      Free hit unless the players you ll drop are long term injured, then there is no point. If you take the free hit you can make an awesome team, enjoy!

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

    Final WC decision

    A) Saiss, Sterling (Brewster)
    B) Semedo, Kane (Bissouma)

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

      Tricky one, B for spurs fixtures

    2. KDB4PREZ
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I’m on B most likely on my W/C here

    3. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      B for me, good luck mate.

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

        Cheers - KDB injury has meant I’m now leaning towards no city and Kane instead.

        Hopefully the start of an improvement

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

      B easy

    5. LewanGOALski
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      B

  4. KDB4PREZ
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    A. Trossard/Kane
    B. Hamez/Jimmy

    1. KDB4PREZ
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Any1?

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

      A

    3. Von Lipwig
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A

      1. KDB4PREZ
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers guys

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

    KdB to Son for a -12 (already done -8). Currently Mitchell coming in...

    1. klopp4kop
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      yes

  6. SomeoneKnows
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    If on WC would you bring in Pulisic over Rodriguez?

    1. KDB4PREZ
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I am yeah

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

      I am

    3. TomSaints
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Hmm I’m thinking the same. Everton tough next 4 considering Rodriquez likes home fixtures. Big risk though

  7. TyroneGAA
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Bale.... discuss! Yes or no?

    1. KDB4PREZ
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Not yet for me

    2. Peteski29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Not yet

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

      Not yet. And probably not until after Xmas. £9.5m for an impact sub who doesn't take penalties.

  8. King Kohli
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Struggling with Captain this week.
    Who would you pick from this lot?

    A. Salah
    B. Sterling
    C. Ings
    D. DCL
    E. Maupay

    1. KDB4PREZ
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Is Maupay an option? I’d go salah

    2. Peteski29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Id go Salah of those

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

      A

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

    Worth a hit to replace Werner with either Kane, DCL or Vardy?

    1. KDB4PREZ
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Nope

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

      Nah, not for a hit.

    3. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      It is yes, Kane

  10. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Reguilon or Semedo?

    1. KDB4PREZ
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Semedo for me

    2. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Semedo for me.

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

    McCarthy
    TAA Robbo Taylor
    Salah KDB Rodriguez Podence
    Mitrovic Maupay Jimenez

    Steer Burke Lewis Ferguson

    1.9 ITB

    A KDB > Son -4
    B Hold and hope Burke plays against Fulham
    C Any other suggestions?

    1. klopp4kop
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      burke is out. he got injured in IB

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

        Wilder said a decision on Burke won't be made until after the final training session on Saturday.

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

    Got KdB red flagged.

    My bench is: Mitchell, Burke, KWP.

    Worth shipping KdB out for someone, for a hit?

    My midfield is: KdB Salah Son Podence (Burke)

    Thanks.

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Play Kwp

  13. Siva Mohan
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Lloris
    Robertson | Saiss | Mitchell
    KDB* | Foden | Son | Salah
    DCL | Mitro | Jimenez
    Forster | Justin | Lamptey | Bruke

    2 FT & 0.1 ITB

    A. KDB + Foden >> Grealish + Kai
    B. KDB + Mitro + Bruke >> Kane + Grealish + Stephens (-4)
    C. KDB + Mitro + Justin >> Kane + Grealish + Dallas (-4)

    choose one, thanks

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

      Probably C. Burke can sit on the bench.

      1. Siva Mohan
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        cheers PEGBOY

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

        Actually, scrap that. Hadn't noticed Justin > Dallas would be for a hit, so I'd probably just do

        KDB + Mitro > Kane + Grealish (play Lamptey)

        1. Siva Mohan
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          0.1 short .. so the hit

  14. AnfieldLad
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    KDB -> Son for free

    Lots of spare cash. I could do Podence -> 8.8m for a hit. Worth it? Thinking Pulisic

  15. ElliotJHP
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Think the Mendy out news is enough to stop me taking the Ings to Kane hit move

  16. klopp4kop
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Help me out and answer these 3 qstns:-
    A - do -4 and bring bruno in place of kdb?
    B- Play brewster ahead of kdb and not take the hit?
    C- Play brewster ahead of podence?

  17. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Thoughts on this WC?

    Martinez
    TAA Robbo Taylor
    Salah Son Pulisic ASM
    Jimenez Richarlison DCL

    Button Soucek Lewis Mitchell

    1. Peteski29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Grealish + Maupay
      Or
      Pulisic + Watkins

      1. Peteski29
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Oops. Bit of a different WC to what I've seen and I actually quite like it

        1. Pukki Party
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Cheers. This week is weird with double Liverpool defence and double Everton attack but after this week i think it works.

      2. Ritchies Magic Hat
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        A

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

      I prefer Hamez to Rich personally

      1. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers, problem is that would mean a 5.5 forward?

        1. Pukki Party
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Or a 352 but i like Soucek but not sure i like him so much that i want to play him every week.

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

            Exactly, would be more of a 352. You have Brewster as a great 4.5 forward for bench that would also give you some extra cash to spend elsewhere. Maybe try to upgrade ASM to Barkley, Foden or even Grealish?

            1. Pukki Party
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 5 months ago

              Could go:

              Martinez
              TAA Robbo Saiss
              Salah Son Puli James Soucek
              DCL Jimenez

              4.0 Brewster Taylor Lewis

              1. Pukki Party
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 5 months ago

                Or Mitchell, Barkley over Saiss, Soucek. Nice

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

    can't wait to get Aguero for Kane in a few weeks

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

    KDB > ...
    1) Raz
    2) Grealish
    3) + KDavis > Trossard, Kane (-4)
    4) + KDavis > Grealish, DCL (-4)

    McCarthy, Nyland**
    Trent, Saiss, Justin, KWP, Mitchell
    Salah, KDB**, Son, Soucek, Podence
    Ings, Jimenez, Davis

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

    KdB > Mane -4?

    If I don't do it I'm playing Ben White.

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

      Only if you are going to have him for a few games at least

    2. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Against Palace right? Print White would normally be ok but we don't know how long for KDB so I'd take that hit. Price going to plummet also

  21. EgyptianKing
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Do you think Saiss is a good WC option?

    1. Tree House
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I think so

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

        Safe to start?

    2. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Good option yes

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

        Thanks mate

    3. Peteski29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Yes

  22. Tree House
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Drop one:

    A) Mitchel (BHA)
    B) Lamptey (cry) (doubt)
    C) Saiss (lee)

    Thanks!

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

      B I think

  23. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Honestly don’t know who to get for kdb -4

    A) bale (have son)
    B) sterling
    C) Fernandes
    D) grealish
    E) puli (have Werner)

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

      B

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

      B.

  24. Peteski29
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Grealish + Maupay
    Or
    Pulisic + Watkins

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

      A as at least 1 and maybe both take pens

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

    Did Pep not mention Sterling’s fitness then?

    1. Traction Engine Foot
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      No. You'd imagine no news is good news...

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

    Hey fam! Which option is better?

    A. Kane, Son, TAA (Salah & Robbo) + 4 points

    B. Kane, Mane, Lamptey (Salah & Robbo)

  27. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    KDB firesale is hot already close to 700k

  28. Manani
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    got this front 8 with 1FT:
    KDB Salah Barnes Foden Podence
    DCL Jimenez Brewster

    KDB>Son seems like the obvious transfer right?
    I can also save, but if Podence/Brewster do not start I will be left with 10 possibly

  29. Garlana
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Slightly risky if sterling hauls but good long term moves I think:

    Kdb+sterling+brewster
    To
    Salah, Kane, bissouma
    -4

    Thoughts?

  30. Traction Engine Foot
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Not taking a hit seems like a huge differential this week!