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.

SIGN UP TO PLAY UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FANTASY HERE

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

861 Comments Post a Comment
  1. gauzah
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Is Pulisic gonna start fellas?
    Think he is the best KDB replacement if so.

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

    Pulisic vs Rodriguez

    - Pulisic higher ceiling
    - Rodriguez only playing once a week
    - Pulisic just back from injury/minutes managed

    Easy Rodriguez?

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Not easy at all. You also have to consider
      - Pulisic better fixture this week
      - Pulisic is probably gonna get rotated and/or injured again. Just look at his injury history.
      - There is a risk for Hamez to start on the bench and the same thing can be said about Puli

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

      Pulisic is better imo because he's such a direct goal threat.

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

        but Rodriguez much more of assist threat. If I knew Puli nailed to start each week id go him, just not certain atm

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

          Goals are worth more than assists. Pulisic also wins a ton of pens as well.

          He's better imo.

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

          Puli's start looking very unlikely

          1. FC Hakkebøf
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            How come?

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

              They have been playing well without him and he is not up to speed yet.

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

    Likelihood of James Rodriguez playing this week?

    1. baines is god
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      still high he'll start but possible bench after what ancelotti said

  4. baines is god
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    With Vardy being out. I really am considering a last minute wildcard.
    I currently have
    McCarthy Nyland
    TAA Robbo Justin Vinagre Shaw
    Romeu Stephens Salah Son Podence
    Vardy Kane Maupey

    and I want to go to

    Ryan Nyland
    Saiss Semedo Mitchell Ward Lamptey
    Zaha Grealish Son Salah Fernandes
    Brewster Kane Mitrovic

    0.4 million in the bank so I can change Mitro to Antonio in 3 weeks.

    It's so so tempting and I really wanna pull the trigger but I've had a good start and am 50,000th so could be it too early?

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

      Your team to me looks like a def wildcard needed team.
      Although not a fan of the WC team you thinking.

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

      I m surprised you didnt WC from the beginning of the IB, i d say do it now and fix the team. Great start, you have a chance with the right WC and captain choice to go higher

  5. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Probably the most important question so I'd love to see you answer.

    My current squad vs PROVISIONAL WC SQUAD

    Ryan / MARTINEZ

    Egan Castagne Taa / SEMEDO CHILWELL (LAMPTEY)

    Havertz (Bissouma Reed) / SALAH GREALISH (SOUCEK)

    Vardy / WATKINS

    -Players in both teams: Robbo, Rodriguez, Son, Kane, DCL

    Gonna rotate Lamptey and Soucek with Watkins or defenders with difficult fixture

    Can also go for
    Maupay and 4.4 mid instead of Watkins + Soucek
    or
    TAA + 4.4 mid instead of Robbo + Soucek

    Thanks a lot
    *Repost bec it was lost

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

      Vardy is injured

      1. Shark Team
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Right with CAPS is my new team

    2. It's his Job.
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Wow you have totally confused a simple request..

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

    Any news regarding Sterling

  7. Karan14
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Mane or Pulisic?

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

      Pulisic

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

      Easily Mane

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

    The way this season has gone it’s almost certain that

    - KDB starts and scores a hattrick
    - Pulisic back means Chelsea suddenly become the greatest attacking team in the world and Werner gets a hattrick
    - spurs forget how to attack
    - Everton forget how to attack

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

      Kdb - that would be Sod’s law but seems unlikely

      Everton do have some tricky fixtures so I’d expect regression

      Chelsea have been scoring goals so with favourable fixtures this is likely to continue

      Spurs were gifted to high lines and awful defensive displays - their attacking output should return to the norm

  9. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Forest going for the world record for number of players you can sign in one window, bless them.

    No regards whatsoever for FFP.

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

      Will they get promoted ?

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

      Quality matters over quantity

  10. tissae
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Wilson or Maupay on WC?

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I'sd say neither and invest elsewhere, but out of the two, Maupay.

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

      Maupay for now. Can change to wilson in a few weeks.

  11. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Hey guys, quick opinion here please?

    Martinez
    Saiss - Robertson - James
    Trossard - Salah - KDB* - Son - Rodriguez
    DCL - Jiminez
    __________________________________
    Forster: Brester: Mitchell: Dunne

    A) KDB > Pulisic?
    B) KDB > Grealish?
    C) Do nothing, keep KDB

    Cheers lads.

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Bench KDB and play Brewster is what I'm going

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        That's what i 'should' do haha, but...but...the potential! lol

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

      V

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        V?

  12. Better Call Raul
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone else thinking to bring in Mane for KdB and double up with Mo ?

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      The thought had crossed my mind actually, is he fit and expected to start?

    2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Thought briefly about it but it would cost me 8 points worth of transfers.

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

      Me on WC

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

    Which one to start?

    A lamptey
    B coady
    C Mitchell

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Tough one, i'd say Lamptey there

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

      B for me

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

    James Rodriguez - will he definitely start this game week?

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Depends on flights & jetlag

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

      Important game I think he starts

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

      Yes

  15. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Good enough?
    Play Lamptey or Mitchell?

    Martinez
    Robbo, Saiss, Chilwell, Lamptey
    Salah, Podence, Zaha, Son C
    DCL, Wilson

    Steer, Mitchell, Delap, KDB

    1.8

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

      Same dilemma, I also have coady in the mix..not sure which one to start

      1. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Lamptey more attacking but Palace look solid at the back?

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

    Ok last question I promise 😆

    Which to start?

    A) Dallas (WOL)
    B) KWP (che)

    1. Connor's Calling
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A

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

      A for sure

  17. Connor's Calling
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone fancy an early punt on Pulisic, rather than Son (assuming you have Kane)?

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

      Not over Son imo no

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

      With Son next 4 fixtures i wouldnt do it honestly.

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

      Could be gold if he starts this gw

  18. Areyouthereyet
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    KDB to Grealish/Mane/Pulisic/Havertz/Sterling/ (-8). Madness? Mitchell as a sub.
    Already have Salah Son J.Rod

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      it's alomost like a -2 because KDB pretty much isn't gonna play at all, i'm also thinking take teh -8 this week.

    2. Areyouthereyet
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      That is also true. Taking a punt on Pulisic seems like a big risk if he doesn’t start. Double up Mane and Salah maybe. Who are you going for?

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Think Chelsea need Pulisic to be honest, i reckon he starts. Mane i'm not so keen on already owning Salah, has to be either Pulisic or Grealish, and i dislike Grealish a alot, so Puli for me if i do it 🙂

  19. Iceball
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    What do you think of Sterling as KDB replacement?
    Grealish more popular and then see if next week Aguero, Pulisic, Kane or Bale
    More flexible the latter and Grealish so good value and bad form/fixtures for City. Head spinning as some part of me says go for Sterling!

    1. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Pulisic over Grealish for sure

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

      Yeah I don’t like city fixtures at all

      Would like to see an upturn in their form too

  20. aapoman
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    RMWCT

    Martinez
    Robbo Lamptey Ayling
    Salah Son Pulisic Hamez Grealish
    Kane DCL

    Forster; Brewster, KWP, Kilman

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

      It is very template but should get you the points so keep it as it is!

  21. FC Hakkebøf
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Best combo on a WC?

    A) Maupay, Grealish, Chilwell, Saiss
    B) Watkins, Trossard, Robbo, Saiss
    C) Watkins, Grealish, Chilwell, Semedo

    Already have TAA

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

      C

    2. AF90
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A, picking 3 of those myself (see below) ....what's the rest of your team out of interest? Decided to activate WC today!

      1. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Check my profile history

    3. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      B

    4. El-Kloppico
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      B

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

      A

  22. AF90
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Martinez
    Robertson, Saiss, Lamptey, Ayling, Dunne
    Salah, Sterling, Son, Grealish, Zaha
    DCL, Maupay, Brewster

    (£0.5m in bank for possibly Sterling -> Mane next week as a luxury for 2 Lpool home games)

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

    Chilwell or Castange?

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

      Chilwell

  24. NUFCAndrew
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Wildcard? This just seems pure awful

    McCarthy Steer

    Trent Saiss Justin Branthwaite Mitchell

    Salah KDB Bruno Soucek Bissouma

    Ings DCL Mitro

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

      Yeap WC

  25. Indalo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Martinez
    Lamptey Saiss TAA
    Rodriguez Salah Son Bissouma
    DCL Jimenez Watkins

    Steer Mitchell KWP *KDB*

    I've already taken a -4 so the question is do I take a -8 to remove KDB and bring in someone to start over Bissouma?

    Thoughts?

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

    McCarthy
    TAA Robbo Semedo
    Salah KDB* Podence Soucek
    Werner DCL Mitrovic
    (4.0 Shaw Bissouma Ferguson)
    0.8ITB 1FT

    A) KDB -> Son
    B) KDB + Podence -> Son + Pulisic (-4)
    C) Wildcard

    A seemed so obvious when I first saw the news. But then I saw the spare funds and was tempted by B. And now I’m tempted by C

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

      Wildcard next GW, Do A for now

  27. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    KDB price locked?

  28. ooooo
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    On a Wc

    McCarthy
    TAA Chilwell Lamptey
    Salah Son Grealish James
    Kane DCL Wilson

    Button KWP Bissouma Mitchell

    Trent + Mitchell to Robbo + 4.5mul def?

  29. Podorsky
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Any news on Sterling injury?

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

    Repost

    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