Champions League

UEFA Champions League final preview: Best Fantasy players for Chelsea v City

The UEFA Champions League reaches its climax in Porto on Saturday evening with an all-English match-up between Manchester City and Chelsea.

That means there is just one more chance for UCL Fantasy managers to climb up the overall ranks and compete for mini-league glory.

Even those of us who have had a torrid season (or have even yet to enter a team) will still get the chance to win something, with Matchday prizes – such as a Playstation 5 and replica shirt – up for grabs.

MAKE CHANGES TO YOUR UCL FANTASY TEAM HERE

Manchester City

Which chips are FPL managers using for Double Gameweek 26?

Pep Guardiola’s side are one game from the Champions League trophy. The Premier League winners have steamrollered their way through Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Mönchengladbach to get to this point and haven’t really had to get out of second gear in doing so.

They’ve played a very similar line-up in most of their European knockout games so far and we’ll be able to see both teams’ line-ups before the deadline anyway.

We can expect Kevin De Bruyne (11.4m), Phil Foden (7.5m) and Riyad Mahrez (9.1m) to start up front. De Bruyne will play as a false nine, a position he has thrived in so far in this competition. He’s got three goals in his last five Champions League games and will be crucial to picking apart Chelsea’s incredibly resilient backline. 

However, when it comes to captaincy, Mahrez has four goals in his last three Champions League games, including his very impressive brace in the last tie against PSG. He has only 9% ownership and may well be on penalties, as well. 

Playing off the left wing, Foden scored in both legs against Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals and set up one of Mahrez’s goals in the second leg against PSG. Foden is a great pick, especially given his price, but nevertheless remains the third-best option of the likely front three.

In midfield, Ilkay Gundogan (6.9m) and Bernardo Silva (7.6m) are expected to sit ahead of Rodri (6m) in a three. Gundogan has struggled to recapture his earlier goalscoring form, predominantly due to the return of De Bruyne from injury. 

Bernardo has started every knockout match for City this year but has just one assist from his last five games. Considering City’s front three are all registered as midfielders in the game, Gundogan, Bernardo and Rodri are much less appealing prospects. 

City’s defence is slightly harder to predict but as many finals are cagey and this Chelsea side aren’t as strong an attacking force as they are defensively, they’re definitely worth looking into. 

John Stones (5.2m) and Ruben Dias (5.8m) will start at centre-back and Stones’ set-piece threat makes him the more appealing option of the two. Stones got four Premier League goals in 22 games and although he’s yet to get off the mark in the Champions League, finals like this are often decided by a dead-ball situation or two.

At full-back, two of Joao Cancelo (6m), Kyle Walker (5.9m) and Oleksandr Zinchenko (4.4m) will start, but it’s slightly harder to predict which pairing will get the nod. If he starts, Zinchenko is a great option thanks to his budget pricing. 

City come into this game as the bookies’ favourites, with the stronger team on paper and the better form. 

Chelsea

However, Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea have beaten City in both the FA Cup semi-final and Premier League since the German took over at Stamford Bridge. Impressive against Real, Atletico and Porto on the way to the final, Tuchel’s side is built on its rock-solid defence. 

However, after keeping 19 clean sheets in Tuchel’s first 24 matches, Chelsea have now conceded in their last five games and won just one of those five. This lacklustre form, which has included an FA Cup Final defeat and a run for the Champions League spots in the Premier League, raises serious questions over the readiness of this Chelsea side. 

The Blues’ recent record against City and form in the Champions League knockout rounds so far still gives them plenty of room for optimism. Their line-up is harder to predict than City’s, but as mentioned above we’ll know it before the deadline. Mason Mount (6.9m) and Timo Werner (10.4m) will likely start in a front three alongside one of Kai Havertz (8.9m) and Christian Pulisic (8.7m). 

Werner’s biggest strength is that he’s likely to be the only player starting this game who’s registered as a forward, which should make him a no-brainer for anyone’s starting XI. His only Champions League goal under Tuchel came in the second leg of the semi-final. 

What started as a torrid season in front of goal for Werner has turned into a simply unlucky one, with what’s seemed like a constant stream of disallowed goals and overturned penalties embodying Chelsea’s bad luck, which has been a key part of their recent poor form. 

Mount has two goals in his last four European games and takes a lot of set-pieces for Chelsea. For his price, he’s a great option and has developed a knack of scoring in big games already. 

In midfield, Jorginho (6.3m) is a great option for UCL Fantasy. He leads all players left in the competition for balls recovered (78), which has brought him 23 points for that statistic alone. If he starts, the Italian is the main penalty taker for this Chelsea side and a bargain at his price. 

As mentioned, Chelsea’s backline has been integral to their run to the final and there are some solid options across their defence. Ben Chilwell (5.5m) has become a key part of Tuchel’s side and his late goal against Porto highlights his attacking threat. 

Across the rest of the defence, Antonio Rüdiger (4.9m) stands out. His assist in the first leg against Real Madrid means the German centre-back has only scored less than six points on one Matchday in the knockout stages, which is an incredible return for a player of his price. 

In goal, Edouard Mendy (5.5m) is the second-highest scoring player left in the competition. Whatever the result, Mendy will likely have plenty of shots to save.

Chelsea are the underdogs for this tie but they know how to win games and know how to beat Guardiola’s City. Thomas Tuchel lost a Champions League final just last year and so will come into this game motivated by those memories. 

This certainly won’t be the walkover some pundits seem to be forecasting and it’s definitely worthwhile having a side filled with both City and Chelsea players ahead of this game. 

MAKE CHANGES TO YOUR UCL FANTASY TEAM HERE

429 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Finally after 6 years I have a team to support in UCL final.

    1. JBG
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Pompey?

    2. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I dont think you understand the word 'finally'

  2. bitm2007
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    39 out of 42 in the name the CL and EC finalists quiz on the BBC website.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57013870

    The three I didn't get were all before the first final I can remember in 1982.

    2. French side who reached two European Cup finals in the '50s and have been largely missing from the European scene since ?

    19 Runners-up of the 1976 final, this French side have never lifted the trophy, despite winning a record 10 domestic titles ?

    22 One-time finalists in 1978, losing 1-0, the only Belgian side to have reached the final ?

    1. Won't sleep till after…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      St Etienne, Bordeaux I think, Club Bruges

      1. bitm2007
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        2. Is Reims

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      2. Stade de Reims
      19. Don't know
      22. Club Bruges I think

      1. bitm2007
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        The French team with a record 10 domestic titles is St Etienne.

    3. Andy'81
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      One shy with one of the Serbian teams, I always end up with one or two left with about 5 minutes left on the timer and I never get them. I'd of been nowhere without some of the hints.

      1. bitm2007
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        I got a nuisance call halfway through my 10 minutes. I may have got Club Bruges with more time but need to squat up on my French Football. The other two answers are Reims and St Etienne (I had no idea they had even won the French title)

  3. Pep's Money Laundry
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Can Brentford do it after what happened last season?

    I hope so they will be a good addition to the PL

    1. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Penalty converted by Toney

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Lots of recent Brentford players doing well in Prem at other clubs, I think they know what they're doing (unlike my local team who are Brentford's rivals and have just "enjoyed" a short and painful spell in the PL

  4. grooveymatt65
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Toney straight in my basket next season!

    1. norab
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Can't wait to slot him in and pile up the points

  5. Won't sleep till after…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    St Etienne, Bordeaux I think, Club Bruges

  6. jayzico
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Euros banter.

    Team draft 2. Damn what a team. Anyone got any leagues going?

    Hradecky.
    Kjaer. Bednarek(Cap4?). Meunier. Spinazzola. Florenzi(Cap1)
    Alaba. Sudakov. KdB.
    Lukaku(Cap2). Arnie(Cap3).

    Subs: Patricio. Negro. Fernandez. Ronaldo(Cap5)

  7. Davros
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Welcome to my team Toney

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Prem defences will eat him alive, and they won’t get 11 penalties either.

      1. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        How much have you watched Toney?

        The guy is Prem level and at this stage could already be better than Watkins.

        Brentford unearthed an absolute gem and even if they survive this season it’s almost certain he’ll be gone to a bigger club.

        Definitely interested in him in my FPL team.

        1. Egg noodle
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          He has definitely abused awful defences. I can't imagine him continuing to get easy tap ins

      2. Drexl Spivey
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Priced at £6m though?

        1. FPL Theorist
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Got to be at least 6.5

          1. Drexl Spivey
            • 5 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            Can't see how with only two Prem games under his belt.

            1. FPL Theorist
              • 4 Years
              2 years, 10 months ago

              Didn't stop them from making Pukki 6.5 in 2019-20. They'll be determined not to repeat their mistake of pricing Bamford so low last year.

              1. Drexl Spivey
                • 5 Years
                2 years, 10 months ago

                Started Mitro on £6m, with an 11 goal season in the bag already.

  8. Davros
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    I’m a Fulham supporter and Brentford were unlucky not to go up last season. Glad they went up this time- deserve it

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Might have been better for everyone if they'd gone up last year and we'd not bothered.

      1. Davros
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Sad but true

  9. Drexl Spivey
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Appears Paddy Power have turned me into a Chelsea fan tonight - such is their Jedi mind trick (haven't gambled on footy in two years).

  10. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Teemu Pukki

    2018/19 (Championship): xG - 22.7, G - 29
    2019/20 (PL): xG - 11.37, G - 11
    2020/21 (Championship): xG - 24.7, G - 26

    Ollie Watkins

    2019/20 (Championship): xG - 25.1, G - 26
    2020/21 (PL): xG - 15.7, G - 14

    Patrick Bamford

    2019/20 (Championship): xG - 24.3, G - 16
    2020/21 (PL): xG - 19.3, G - 17

    Ivan Toney

    2020/21 (Championship): xG - 27.6, G - 32

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      All data from https://www.infogol.net/en

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      So Toney and Pukki in all GW1 teams then?

      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        No chance

      2. Drexl Spivey
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Toney, for sure.

        They'll overprice Pukki.

    3. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      If Toney is 5.5m-6.0m he's straight in

      1. ENZO SZN™
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        aint no way. Maupay and Watkins was 6.5 and Toney broke their goal records.

        1. diesel001
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          If both get 12 goals each in the PL then they are worth 7.0m in FPL IMO.

        2. Nomar
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          I think he’s better than both of them too.

      2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Bamford 8.0
        Antonio 7.5
        Watkins 7.5
        Nacho 7.5

        There’s no real reason to be punting on the likes of Pukki (6.5) and Toney (6.5) with these nicely mid-priced strikers

        Pay the extra 1.0 for proven quality & downgrade if fixtures or form necessitate it imo

        1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Jimmy & Ings will be around the 7.5 mark as well

          Cant see any openings for Championship strikers GW1 unfort unless something mental happens with fixtures/injuries etc

          1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
            • 14 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            Wilson probably 7.0-7.5
            DCL probably 7.5-8.0

            Way too many good options there to entertain the champo lads early doors I’d say

    4. Shark Team
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Toney how many penalties? I think he's Bruno Penaldes v2

  11. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Congrats Brentford. Well deserved.

    1. KAALI_DAAL
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Oh yeah Bees you come to top
      Oh yeah Bees you beat the crowd
      Oh yeah Bees you show em how
      Oh yeah Bees you win it all

      Lets go!

  12. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    As much as this pains me as a QPR fan, well done Brentford. Been a long time coming.

  13. ENZO SZN™
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Toney GW1 in!

  14. OLD Rafiki
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    For the last one week I've seen people jinx for city by supporting city EVEN ARSENAL FANS!!

  15. KAALI_DAAL
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Guys. Champions League predictions?

    Think Chelsea wins 2-1

    1. Drexl Spivey
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I've gambled on Chelsea, but realistically I think City 3-1.

    2. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Got to be City. This is the one Pep wants and needs.

    3. Shark Team
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      2-0 solid win for City with a goal in each half

    4. nerd_is_the_werd
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Manchester City 1 - 2 Chelsea,
      Werner to score first.

    5. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Chelsea 1-0

  16. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Gundog fit?

  17. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    This guy Ivan Toney should have broken the record of most pen goals in a season

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      32 goals and 10 assists in 47 Championship games (including play-offs). 10 of those goals were penalties.

  18. OLD Rafiki
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Any idea on the line up?

  19. CroatianHammer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    An Expanded FPL - some thoughts

    Given the absolute train wreck of recent seasons, in terms of ... y'know, postponements, Pep Roulette, Jose in general, is there scope for something more grand in future years?

    How about an FPL that incorporates cup matches and Europe? Pricing could be weighted accordingly (because of course Salah would have opportunity to score more when playing Europe, right?). But then you'd have some chance to gain a small lead with teams who play the early rounds of the Milk Cup. Obviously some team crashing out of one competition or the other would lead to fire sales and massive price drops, but so too could cup upsets suddenly seeing unfavoured assets perhaps having an easy run for another round or two...

    This would reward those who put the effort in. Those who pay attention to team sheets. Given the growth in recent years there probably needs to be some leveller that safeguards against some with their 200 Gmail accounts just clicking autofill and forgetting until GW38.

    Thoughts? Questions?

    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Do you really believe you cannot beat an autocomplete team? Just give up if thats your mentality

    2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I don’t really get this at all

      The opening premise alone is bonkers - that something different in recent seasons necessitates this new idea...

      Then the new idea is just utter madness

      It’s a hard no from me I’m afraid my dude, the hardest of hard no’s

  20. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    The amount of money on both benches is just staggering

    Must be creeping up towards a billion?

    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Are you include the six pack of facemasks in that or not? I heard they came via a government contract

    2. Tasty Jerk
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      staggering = disgusting.

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Yeah it makes some joke of “financial fair play” when you see that

        Completely unlevel financial playing field for the vast majority of clubs

        1. Tasty Jerk
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Well said, indeed. I really don't mind who wins tonight. In the end they are both self perceived "super six" clubs to themselves, so most real premiership fans really don't care about the result this evening.

  21. Fintroy
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Battle of the donkeys - sterdonkey vs werndonkey!!!

    1. Emp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      donkey comment

      1. OLD Rafiki
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Donkey reply

  22. bso
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Mount instead of Gundo?
    Have Mahrez, KDB, Bilva and Foden in midfield.

    1. OLD Rafiki
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Gundo

      1. chocolove
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Gundo DM tonight

        1. OLD Rafiki
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Yeah, I think so.

  23. chocolove
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Is this an end for Tammy Abraham at Chelsea?

    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Tammy ends up at West Ham or Villa

      Maybe even Spurs

  24. Je suis le chat
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Give Chelsea a chance, City will concede at least 1 imo. Werner the hero!

    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Every chance they will score. The City teams looks extremely attack-minded with no Rodri or Fernandinho holding in midfield.

  25. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Zinchenko LB & no DM

    Pep is asking to get beaten here

    1. OverTinker
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Zinc has been better than cancelo defensively of late but no DM is weird

  26. Philosopher's Stones
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Looking at that City lineup, Pep seems to think he can keep the ball all he wants and attack at will against this Chelsea side. Either he's right and City win this comfortably, or we may have a high scoring thriller on our hands here, gents.

  27. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Was really hoping Kun would start, Nevermind hopefully he comes on

  28. OLD Rafiki
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Porto about to turn sky blue....

  29. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Werner show incoming

  30. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Why is neither manager wearing a suit? It’s a final ffs