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. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    WTF WERNER

    1. Bada Bing
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Werner is the worst finisher ever. Atrocious.

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        The worst closer ever. Wish he was more like RVP, he had those good run ins but he was scoring

  2. Supersonic Marv'
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Not usually one of these guys but lol @ Werner.

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Frustrating as a Chelsea fan

  3. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Werner is so unlucky. He has 2 left legs and is forced to shoot with his right one. So unfortunate

    1. Supersonic Marv'
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      He should become a diving header specialist.

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        I don't get it how come he is a professional footballer really

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

    WERNER AGAIN

  5. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Just feckking bench Werner and NEVER EVER PLAY HIM !!! God damn it

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

      Odds Daniel is banned before 90 min?

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

    Tammy would have a brace by now

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Easily

  7. Pino
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Werner will be a must have player next season.

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      If you are machohist then yes

    2. Rassi
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Yeah. Hope he shows these "OmG, WerNer tHe woRsT fooTbAll PLayeR eVer" analysts.

  8. Bada Bing
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Werner should be hauled off before halftime for being utter rubbish.

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Even half time is too much

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

      He’s causing Dias and Stones all sorts of problems

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        It doesn't matter when he can't score . Pulisic is also fast

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

    Werner is so dangerous with his runs. Too bad he can’t shoot

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Wish he was like Robin Van Persie

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

    I was just commenting on how good Werners timing is, then I came on here.

    Nice to see you guys have a nuanced opinion.

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      His job is to score goals no?

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

        There are two parts to scoring goals, creating the opportunity and finishing it. Some players cant do either.

    2. Rassi
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      It is just Daniel. We know he is not exactly a class act.

    3. Supersonic Marv'
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      He definitely has a lot of quality. If he was a natural finisher he would be a tremendous player.

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

    Havertz is class

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

    Lmao Sterling crybaby

  13. BUZZBOMB
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    BT building up England's chances in the Euros with Foden and Mount. If tbat clown Stones starts, theyre over before its begun.

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

      Yeah, shocking for England if they start a PremierLeague and Champions League winner

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

        Next we will be saying that Croatia cannot win with Lovren

        1. Silecro
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          As a Croat, we are actually hoping he plays lol, we are far from loaded at CB position

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

        Its all irrelevant, we dont have a defensive mid or a coherent formation.

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

    Rudiger What a block

  15. GreennRed
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    James has Sterling whipped. Time to switch him right or take him off.

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

      They would have to bring on Mendy for that. The fullbacks are lopsided to match Sterling Foden

      1. GreennRed
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        They can rejig the front 3, Sterling not playing too bad but James looks to have his number. Jesus, Aguero and Torres could slit in somewhere up front if they hook Sterling.

        1. GreennRed
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          It looks like a game for Aguero though. Neither team has real cutting edge up front. Aguero thrives in big games.

  16. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Man City attack, albeit not sparkling yet v a resilient Chelsea defence may sum up FPL picks early doors next season.

  17. Silecro
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Gundo yc

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

    Werner has Stones playing 8 feet off him in the box and he passes off

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

    Gundogan should have been sent off

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

    Thiago Silva injured

  21. el polako
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    With Giroud up front Chelsea would be 1-0 up by now.

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

      What about with Havertz?

  22. Supersonic Marv'
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Bloody good game this to be fair.

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

    Cmon Silva don’t bottle it

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

    Kaiiiiiiiiiiii omgggg

  25. Silecro
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    HAAAAVEEEEEERRTTTZZZZZ

  26. el polako
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Havertz !!!

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

    Havertzzzz

  28. KGFC
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Yesssss... Go Chelsea!!!

  29. ivantys
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    So much hype over city here yet their only shot was that Mahrez pass to Mendy lmao

  30. GreennRed
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Poor keeping, sweet goal.