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. Binny
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Doesn’t seem much love for KDB - Sterling? Understand City will miss KDB creativity but still expect plenty of chances for Sterling given our frail defence. Looks an obvious switch if you already own Son and a potential C ?

    1. Big Chris Wood
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      This is what I just did, still think Son is the best captain choice...

  2. Uncle John from Jamaica
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Is Mane back in play? Thanks

    1. Firmino
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Yes

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

      Yes and training.

      1. Uncle John from Jamaica
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        thanks chaps

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

      Seems so

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

    Right, so Aurier is Spurs highest scoring defender despite playing 1 game away to United

    Their defence is perhaps being overlooked for those on WC with their next 4 fixtures but seems no stand out option

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

      Problem with Aurier is that surely he’ll rotate with Doh

    2. F_Ivanovic
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      You shouldn't just be looking at next 4 fixtures on a WC when deciding your defenders because most of the time you'd rather not be spending transfers on defenders.

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

    Is Zouma nailed ?

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

      will be rotated now and then but will definitely start this weekend

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

        Especially since Silva is out

  5. john25
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Hey guys, how nailed on is Semedo? Any chance Wolves puts Traore in for him or change formation that could cause Semedo to get rotated?

    Cheers

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

      Pretty nailed. They need Traore more forward and I believe that Nuno recognizes that.

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

    Seems to me like its Pulisic v Grealish (if you own Salah+Son) i like them both. Pulisic is tempting

    1. Firmino
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Pulisic will be rotated more

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

      I have both on WC currently

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

    Vardy to Kane for a hit?

    Thanks!

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

      Considering the same but my bench is alright so if Vardy misses out I'm not in terrible shape

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

    Chilwell or Semedo?

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

      Chilwell for me

    2. HurriKane
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Semedo

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

      Had the same dilemma.

      Went with Semedo.

    4. cravencottage
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      or Reguilon?

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

      Chilwell imo

  9. Threat Level Midnight
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Make my drunkenly activated free hit team for me please

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

      Even drunk, that's got to be a shockingly bad move.

      1. Threat Level Midnight
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Imagine taking the time out of your time to type an already known statement. Sheesh

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

          So you know the Free Hit is a bad move?

          1. Threat Level Midnight
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Yes. Clearly but cannot change it now. It was 12 days ago and i opened my team for the first time today.

            So go ahead and give me your team for the week now that we have established that

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

              Well, seeing as you asked so nicely.

              I haven't a clue, it's a shitfest of fixtures with the complications of International break and injuries with UCL starting midweek.
              Sterling & Mahrez/Foden from Citeh,
              Barnes & Vardy
              Son or Kane
              I'd punt on Werner
              Couple of Sheff Utd
              That's where I'd be starting.

              1. Threat Level Midnight
                • 5 Years
                3 years, 5 months ago

                Yeah that's where I am at right now pretty much.

                My team prior was not bad at all either. Absolutely terrible move

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

                  Take it on the chin and move on.

                  Squeeze in a couple of left-field differentials if you can but it is a tough week to call.

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

              Kane, DCL, Son, Salah/Mane, Pulisic/Havertz, Grealish...Zouma, SHU defender, TOT defender or keeper...fill in the rest

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

          Can it be reversed?

          1. Threat Level Midnight
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            No

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

              That was a bad move, guessing you must've been drunk...

    2. Big Hippo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Pope
      Chilwell, Stevens,

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

        That went well

    3. Gomolon
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Bale Captain

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

    Two Q's

    1. Would you play Lamptey or Mitchell ahead of Justin?
    2. Vardy injury doubt would you transfer (-4) to Kane and C? already have Son as C.

  11. JY84
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    My current team is
    TAA Justin Mitchell
    Salah KDB Rashford ASM
    Adams Jimenez Wilson

    With KDB injured, I am buying Son in..... Do u think its wise for me to minus 4 n buy a striker to replace Adams?

    (A) Keep Adams n dun minus 4
    (B) -4 and buy DCL to replace Adams
    (C) -4 and buy Maupay to replace Adams

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

      B. Definetly B

  12. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    For this gw?

    A. Foden, Mahrez
    B. Zaha, Grealish

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

      For this GW only?

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

        Yes

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

          B

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

      It's hard to know what to expect from City against Arteta w/o KBD and w/o a striker perhaps.

      I like B personally but I've actually had Foden and Mahrez since GW 3

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

    BOTTOMED

    Hey fam! Which option is better?

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

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

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

      A

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

      A imo

    3. Dexters Laboratory
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Definitely A

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

      A

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

      Cheers everyone

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

    A. Taa/Trossard (no city cover)
    B. Robo/Foden

    1. Dexters Laboratory
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A

  15. SHOOTER MCGINN
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Dallas or Lamptey?

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

      Both on W/C for me but if only 1 would be Lamptey

      1. SHOOTER MCGINN
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Interesting. Had both then had the cash to upgrade 1 of them 2 Chilwell now he's fit and wasn't sure which to lose.

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

          Who’s you’re 4th defender? Lamptey and Dallas rotate nicely for my 3rd spot beside Taa&Seamdo/Chillwll

          1. SHOOTER MCGINN
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Robbo Saiss Chilwell then it's one of these guys as #4. Pretty much just a backup spot as playing 3-4-3 most weeks anyway.

    2. Dexters Laboratory
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Lamptey for attacking threat

    3. Andre W
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Prefer Lamptey

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

      Lamptey imo

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

    on WC:

    Is Grealish > Sterling worth doing this?

    Jimenez > Watkins
    Chilwell > Taylor
    Lamptey > White

    Yay or nay?

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

      I don’t fink so

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

        Caveat I hate sterling 🙂

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

          I'm leaning also to no, just want to hear other opinions 🙂 Jimenez probably wont outscore Grealish by that much as much as Chilwell & Jimenez will outscore Taylor & Watkins...thats my current thinking

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

            sterling*

    2. Dexters Laboratory
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Nope

  17. French Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    thoughts on these moves with 2 FTs?

    A) KDB > Son
    B) KDB + Werner > Pulisic + Kane

    Salah / KDB* / Hamez / Podence / Burke
    Werner* / Jimenez / DCL

  18. Wılly
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    1. Kane & Jack Robinson
    2. Rashford & Chilwell
    3. Grealish & TAA

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

      2 feels exciting for some reason

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

      3 for sure

  19. Eightball
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    A) Sterling, Bamford
    B) Kane, 6.9 mid (Thinking Mount/Foden)

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

      B and if you stretch to Grealish somehow?

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

        Already got Grealish. My Other mids Are Salah, Son, Jrod, Grealish.

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

          I like Trossard of any sub 7mill mid bar Grealish

  20. bring back diop
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    On a WC
    Martinez - (4)
    TAA - Rob - KWP - (Lamptey) - (3.9)
    Salah - Fernandes - Son - James - Foden
    Calvert - Watkins - (Brewster)

    A) Foden + Brewster
    B) Maupay + Bissouma

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

      B

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

    would you start Mitchell ahead of James?

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

      Nope

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

    As KDB is red flagged does that mean he’s price protected? And for how long?

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

      No it's protected when red flag is removed, takes more transfers to get a drop.

  23. sublimesalty
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    trossard or barnes or ASM?
    semedo or lamptey or cresswell?
    let me know the reason why as well

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

      Trossard
      Semedo
      Just seems super obv this one

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

        i have saiss and maupay in my team already, it will be like people in the same boat. should I start saiss or semedo?

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

          I mean obv the wing back?

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

    What to do about KDB? Selling seems sensible, but could also move to 343 with KDB at the end of the bench (see #1). Already have Son (see #3).

    1) KDavis > Watkins
    2) KDB > Sterling
    3) KDB > Grealish
    4) KDB, KDavis > Trossard, Kane (-4)
    5) KDB, KDavis > Grealish, DCL (-4)

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

      Oops. Already have Son (see #4 instead).

    2. Dexters Laboratory
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      5.. Surprised you've lasted this long without DCL

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

        Have some differentials--at least they were--that have paid off decently.

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

    Best rotating pair of cheap defenders? A combo of 2 of Lamptey, Dallas, KWP?

  26. SmasherLagru
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Is kdb price locked now

  27. Scheister
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Well, time to wild card?
    Current lineup:

    McCarthy
    TAA Robbo Doherty Justin
    Salah Son Hamez Pereira
    Werner Adams
    Button Mitchell Bissouma Davis

    Hold, or WC to something like this??

    Martinez
    TAA Chilwell Saiss Lamptey
    Salah Bruno Hamez Barkley
    Kane DCL
    4.0 Brewster Mitchell Bissouma

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

      I m about 80% sure that your current team will outscore the WC team

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

        Fair, thanks!!

    2. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Keeeeepp

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

        Cheers!

  28. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    A) KDB, Burke to Son, Grealish (-4)?
    B) Werner to Kane worth an extra hit?

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

      A yes
      B no

    2. Scheister
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Just A for me

  29. rekyaren
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Best defender up to 5.5?

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

      Semedo or Reggulion

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

    One last decision and then I think I'm g2g

    Martinez (Forster)
    Robbo, Saiss, Castagne (Dallas, Mitchell)
    Salah, Son, XXX, Grealish (Soucek)
    Kane, DCL, Wilson

    A) Pulisic
    B) Rodriguez

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

      Boring B for me and wait and see on Puli