Champions League

The best players to sign and captain for UCL Fantasy Matchday Five

The business end of the UEFA Champions League group stages brings us some mixed fixtures in Matchday Five.

Six teams have already qualified for the knockout stages, but there are some important battles to take place before we know who the other 10 competitors for the second round. 

Form and qualification will come into play a lot more over the next two weeks so, with that in mind, here is a look at what to expect in UCL Fantasy and who to back ahead of this week’s fixtures. 

Captains Sensible

Tuesday, December 1

Sensible

As we have come to learn from playing Fantasy Premier League, if in doubt, give the armband to Mohamed Salah (€11.6m). Liverpool know that victory against Ajax can see them qualify for the knockout stages and will not want to leave it until the last Matchday. 

Salah needs no introduction, but with a goal narrowly disallowed against Brighton at the weekend and nailed-on penalties after James Milner’s (€6.0m) injury, he may well take responsibility for qualification into his own hands. 

Differential

I really struggled to find a pick here. I have plumped for the starting striker in what is the only plum fixture of the night on paper. Atalanta have been in poor form domestically, but after his performances in Matchday One and Two and their great win against Liverpool, I’ve placed my faith in Duvan Zapata (€9.7m). 

Opponents Midtjylland are yet to pick up a point in the group stages and Gian Piero Gasparini will know that a win will do wonders for their chances of qualification. Zapata has been their talisman so far in the competition and will lead the line again on Tuesday. 

Wednesday, December 2

Sensible

This has to be Erling Haaland (€11.0m). A win will see Dortmund not only qualify, but be guaranteed group winners. Haaland is the top scorer of the group stages so far, with back-to-back braces taking him to six goals in four games. No-one seems to be able to stop the Norwegian wonder-kid and Dortmund should comfortably have the quality to beat Lazio. 

Differential

With five goals so far in the competition and his late red card on Saturday ruling him out of the next league game, Alvaro Morata (€9.0m) should get the nod up front for Juventus against Dynamo Kiev. 

While the Italian giants have been thoroughly uninspiring so far this season, Morata has been their saving grace on more than one occasion and Dynamo have been poor throughout the competition and struck badly by injury and positive coronavirus (COVID-19) tests. 

Who to bring in?

My rule here is to back players and teams who still have something to play for. The big sides which traditionally fill our teams have mostly qualified by this stage and will be heavily rotating, as we’ve seen with Bayern Munich leaving Robert Lewandowski (€12.0m), Manuel Neuer (€6.0m) and Leon Goretzka (£7.6m) at home for their trip to Madrid. 

Atletico Madrid know that they have to beat Bayern to leave qualification in their own hands and if they are to win, João Félix (€9.0m) will be involved. Borussia Dortmund need a win against Lazio to secure their qualification, with flying full-back Rafa Guerreiro (€6.0m) and attacking midfielder Gio Reyna (€6.5m) both top picks who look sure to start. 

Atalanta have been in poor form domestically, but last seasons quarter-finalists have two must win fixtures on the horizon. Wing-back pairing Hans Hateboer (€4.9m) and Robin Gosens (€5.5m) showcased their prowess at both ends against Liverpool and will be instrumental in any success the Bergamo side have from here on in. 

The teams in Group B and Group H still have all to play for, with PSG and Real Madrid among their ranks. Karim Benzema (€10.5m) is back fit and will be at the heart of Real Madrid’s action in Donetsk, the same defence which Borussia Mönchengladbach scored ten past over Matchdays Three and Four. 

Gladbach themselves come into this game in top form and Alassane Plea (€8.2m) and Marcus Thuram (€8.7m) will look to take advantage of an Inter Milan defence which looks far shakier than their recent form suggests. 

Group H is really too close to call, but PSG should have the quality needed against Manchester United and Istanbul Basaksehir to regain form and qualify. Kylian Mbappe (€11m) and Neymar (€11.4m) have looked poor so far in the competition, but only months away from their Champions League final loss, I have faith that the two will carry this side to the knockouts. 

Who to avoid?

As I’ve mentioned above, this is a stage in the competition where the European giants take a back seat. Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Barcelona, Chelsea and Sevilla have all qualified and expect both lacklustre performances and rotation as a result. 

Not too many injuries have been picked up since last week, with Eden Hazard (€9.4m) perhaps the biggest casualty. 

Good luck everyone.

Find out more on the official UCL Fantasy website

Lessons Learned from FPL Gameweek 10

901 Comments Post a Comment
  1. MagicMessi
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    I feel for the guys having only Martinez and 4.0 GK .. Corona needs playing bench ffs

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      why? I'm only missing out on a point

      1. Free Hat
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        This

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

        Probably would have been 0

      3. Pep bites Kun
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Good point

    2. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I mean, I’ve had him since GW2 and he’s one of the highest scoring keepers with a game in hand

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

      Was literally planning to get second keeper in 2 weeks time because of this

  2. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Pathetic from the PL

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      what happened?

      1. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Newcastle - Villa game on Friday night is off due to covid in Toon squad

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yea they should've forced them to play their U23s...

    3. Shineonme
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I agree. What a joke

  3. fedolefan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    That's the moment I've been waiting for. Just boot out Martinez for good.

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

    Martinez, Grealish and Wilson
    No playing sub
    Hit Already taken - for the first time this season I did my transfers early and this happened. Lets hope they play it midweek.

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

    lol took a hit to get in KDB by outing Vardy for Wilson

    1. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      this is not the season to be making early transfers

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

    Can’t exactly go selling Grealish either, his fixtures are still excellent from next week. God sakes

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

      Let themm

  7. Parsnips
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Watkins > Bamford?

  8. Free Hat
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Fully expecting a Podence 2pointer from my bench this time when I actually need him

  9. No Professionals
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    where are the "1% chance the game gets postponed" crew now?

    1. AnfieldLad
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Aye a lot of people of here were acting like they knew more than a sky sports reporter with inside knowledge

      1. No Professionals
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        people base it on what they want to happen.

    2. Poison Apple
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      PL board gt no principles for their own rules. Then again, maybe its in their blood

      1. Shineonme
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Its all politics and p.c. nonsense

  10. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    So Palace had to play two games without their best player due to covid, but Newcastle get out of jail without following the pre-determined rules just because they are WORSE than Palace at following contagion prevention measures. Lol @ the PL. If Zaha had infected the entire squad they would have been allowed to wait until everyone is back. Nice precedent.

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

      Ironically Newcastle is one of the fixtures Palace lost as well. If I were Hodgson Id be fuming.

    2. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      season postponement incoming.

      if you've got a couple of key players with covid you may as well get the whole squad to make out and get the game cancelled.

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

        badly needed that extra WC

      2. A.J.
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        This is what troubles me the most. Open to massive abuse now.

      3. Now I'm Panicking
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Ha ha. Visions of the manager sat there instructing his team to have a gang bang.

        "can we just not cough on each other instead, boss?"

      4. Pacer.
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        I've head this mentioned by a few people and it is quite possibly the most dumb thing I've ever read on this board, and that's saying something

    3. Shineonme
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      The premiership is becoming more of a joke by the day. VAR killing the game now this.

  11. Marcin the Pole
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Wow. As an owner of Grealish and Watkins, this news has me extremely tempted to press the WC button...

  12. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Watkins to Bamford for a hit or hope to play 2 out of Cancelo/Coufal/Riedewald/Neco Williams

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

      Play Cancelo and Coufal.

  13. Rescheduling and transfer plans
    Geoff
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    We now wait to see if the postponed Aston Villa v. Newcastle fixture is rescheduled within GW11, which is a possibility.

    I'm not commenting on how likely that is, but it's conceivable that depending on test results it could be played Saturday/Sunday/Monday. Could also be played midweek, though there would then be negotiations with CL.

    However if it isn't in GW11, what will your transfers be this week?

    Who is the best replacement for Grealish? Who is the best Wilson/Watkins replacement?

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

      Given Fulham, Mahrez/Torres could be good picks depending on tonight's games - however it's not a risk I'm likely to take.

      Already have the likes of Jota, and Grealish my only player from the game so I'll probably bench & let Coufal come in.

      Grealish has good fixtures & given he'll be sold, I'm happy to keep as his lower ownership if probably a benefit.

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

      I've got 1.7m so, depending how City line up in the Champions League, Mahrez is a potential Grealish replacement.

      As I have Martinez and Steer in goal and I only have 1FT, I might have to take a -4 for a third successive week there.

      Could really have done without this postponement! Just hope it might get rearranged in this gameweek...

    3. FPL price manipulators are …
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Isn't there a 14 day isolation period?

      1. Geoff
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        No, this isn't them all in isolation - this is the training ground being closed. Now we wait for tests to come back

        1. Alberto Tomba
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          So in all likelihood

          i Some NEW players have it and they can't play / join, but the game could possibly be rescheduled without them for mid next week, having not trained during this week (in which case this is pretty attractive for retaining AVL assets)

          ii if enough players and staff have it, the game will have to be rescheduled for a later date, and the isolation period may see NEW vs WBA in jeopardy. AVL will have 2 DGW to come.

          I'll bench both Grealish and Wilson and use the prompt to swap out Kilman

    4. MagicMessi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I'm planning to keep Grealesh regardless and maybe Watkins out but I can't see a favourable attacker with an easy fixture so probably not making anything and keeping regardless

      1. MagicMessi
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Especially that I bought both at the original price so will pay more to get them back

    5. Geoff
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      BTW: PHE convened a meeting with Newcastle and the Premier League yesterday to assess the situation and advised the club’s training ground should remain closed and no group training would be permitted between players until Friday at the earliest.

      https://www.premierleague.com/news/1921981?sf240610274=1

      So they could be back in training on Friday, making midweek more likely than if the training date was later

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

        In Crellin we trust.

        https://twitter.com/BenCrellin/status/1333814822014738433?s=19

        (I hope!)

      2. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        I'll bench Grealish and I suppose Watkins, but Martinez has to go. Given Mendy will likely rise tonight I'll have to make the exchange now rather than wait for news of the date of the rescheduled match.

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

      Think I'll bench Martinez, Grealish & Wilson, and take a -4 moving out Steer and either Mitchell or Burke.

      DGW will surely be around the corner and think it is worth holding on ahead of that.

    7. RedLightning
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Keep Grealish if he only misses one Gameweek (and could now have two DGWs to come).
      Shows the importance of not having too many non-players on your bench, and the problems that can arise when you make early transfers.
      A greater priority for me is to replace one of my Villa goalkeepers - but I might also take a hit to upgrade my bench.

    8. The Rumour Mill
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Firstly, best wishes to Newcastle and all affected by Covid.

      I would say there is no chance it is played in GW11, if its been postponed for Friday then I don't think everyone is going to suddenly recover for Saturday! Despite there being no fans, clubs require a little more preperation time than a few days. We are looking at a blank and therefore a DGW at some point in the future.

      As a triple Villa owner, this is a disaster. I don't think Grealish is going anywhere, I have a lot of value in him and will want him back, so he's not going anywhere. Currently have 2 playing bench players so tempted to bench Watkins too. No playing keeper though so will probably take a -4 for a keeper (already made early free transfer of Rodriguez to Jota on Friday night), and Martinez has been awful as a keeper anyway.

      If i lose more players though, the free hit comes into play. Its tempting with City playing Fulham. Downside is it costs me a transfer and flexability later on in the season in DGW season.

    9. lugs
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      i'm keeping Grealish, i might sell Martinez for McCarthy, or i Might keep him too for his upcoming dgw's and bring McCarthy in for a hit by downgrading Bellerin, alternatively i could just bench both and play without a keeper as i don't really fancy Southampton to keep a clean sheet this week

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

      Anyone know what this means for prices? Are Villa & Newcastle players protected or not? If Utd/City were for GW2 then does same rule apply?

    11. Poison Apple
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Play the bench n go keeper-less. Live to fight another day

    12. Do I Not Like Orange
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Probs have to stick with my original plan of Son > KDB & just field 8. Only one potentially worth a hit on top of that would be Grealish > Jota or Mahrez.

    13. Alberto Tomba
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      If enough Newcastle players and staff are affected that they can't meet until Friday, would the same number of players and staff not be required to isolate? thus jeopardising the fixture on the 12th vs West Brom, for which you'd presume they'd need some training sessions in advance of the match.

      1. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        I was considering Rashford > Jota for my transfer this week. I've got 3 Villains on the bench. If any of my starting outfield X get injured in European matches midweek, i guess I'll need to do Grealish > Jota and then Rashford > Grealish next week.

    14. FPL_Crisis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      doesn't make sense to me to sell grealish unless you captain the player coming in
      i'll happily play Soucek this week or go 4 at the back
      Martinez i'll just accept 0 this week
      I want 2FT next week so trying to get past this week without too much damage

    15. tisza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Holding firm even though I won't have a keeper.
      Plenty will be taking hits and even a keeper hit for CS would only see them gain 2 PTS on me.
      Need to keep FTs for next week.
      Villa assets unlikely to be swapped for captainable pop layers so again not a huge threat.
      Villa assets still decent going forward so not worth hokey cokey transfers.

    16. Spab
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Free hit for me. I'm losing 4 players and I have another 3 flagged. Plus the tempting Man city fixture and the fact that I'm doing so badly that I don't have much to lose. I'll probably regret it at some stage, but rolling the dice on this one seems the best option.

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

    Unlimited transfers please, FPL.

    I jest.

    My team could do with unlimited transfers, though.

    1. FPL price manipulators are …
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Me too

  15. Baines on Toast...
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Might have to sell Grealish > KDB now. Funded by a Kane downgrade.

    1. turd ferguson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      My Kane downgrade was Watkins or Wilson 🙁

    2. fedolefan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Did you eventually come on to gloat about Vardy's hattrick?

        1. Qaiss
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Lol

      1. Baines on Toast...
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Haha 😀 sadly not. And I only ended up watching the first half. The hype is part of the fun though.

  16. Kodap
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    So is now a good time to do my planned transfers for next week of...

    Grealish & Werner > Bruno & Bamford?

    Will just have to admit to getting 0 points from Martinez for this week.

    1. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      would probably have only got 2 points anyway

      1. Kodap
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Is that a yes, you would make those moves now? And just leave Martinez in goal.

        1. No Professionals
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          is it for a hit?

  17. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Do you think it's worth to do McCarthy->Bissouma/Romeu so i can have 11 players for the gw?

    1. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      nah may as well take a 0 pointer as a 2/1 pointer.

      1. wulfrunian
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        2 points are better than 0 though.

        1. No Professionals
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          yeah but free transfers are valuable. if it is your only issue then it's great timing. i'd rather use my FT on something with bigger upside.

          1. The Road Not Taken
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 3 months ago

            Indeed. In most cases, I value every transfer as 4 points. Only if I have 2FT and no fires do I consider a transfer to be free.

  18. built_this_city
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Worst part about that villa v newcastle PP is i wanted to get james rodriguez outta my team (for grealish) but now have to wait another week

    1. Dr Dream
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      It wouldn’t be the first time a forced “keep” worked out....You might even see a few doing Grealish > James....although Zaha, JWP, Bowen and Jota will be the main swaps.

  19. Reeker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Is Pope still out? Have Peacock-Farrell at the ready lol

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

      haha just posted the same thing as you

  20. Mr. O'Connell
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Grealish 42.3% of teams
    Jota 25.5%

    Be interesting to see how much this flips

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

    Is Pope back for GW11? I have Peacock-Farrell that can replace Martinez haha

  22. pablo discobar
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Is Allison isolating?

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

    Aston Villa now have two outstanding postponed fixtures that need to be rescheduled. Should be some fun in the future with DGWs.

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

      would loved this with my millionaire rank

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Neither Villa or Newcastle are in Europe so have lots of free midweeks.

  24. SHOOTER MCGINN
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Given there seems to be minimal health impact on elite athletes, how many boxing day games can we expect to be called off with whole squads getting a tactical covid rest.

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

    Any Zaha news? Would be perfect timing if he's back.

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

    Dam going with the Martinez steer combo to cover for injuries wasn't smart at all should have gone for the peacock

  27. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Here I was waiting for my Villa contingent to run wild vs Newc U23s...

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

      This

  28. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Will Riedewald play?

  29. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    No game for Watkins? No problem, easy switch to Wilson!
    Oh wait...

  30. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Martinez and Grealish to Jota and Mendy -4 looks tempting...

    Exact money. And Jota is rising tonight!

    1. FOMFF
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I want both those and have the two Villians. But losing Grealish seems a little shortsighted - got the form and the fixtures.

      1. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Think on this: I was considering Rashford > Jota for my transfer this week. I've got 3 Villains on the bench. If any of my starting outfield X get injured in European matches midweek, i guess I'll need to do Grealish > Jota and then Rashford > Grealish next week.

        1. FOMFF
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Now there's a thought....