Champions League

UCL Fantasy 2025/26: Winner’s team reveal + chip tips

16 September 2025 209 comments
So VAR So Bad So VAR So Bad
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The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League (UCL) campaign begins on Tuesday – and so does the competition’s official Fantasy game.

We’re providing plenty of UCL Fantasy coverage in preparation for the big kick-off, plus regular articles throughout the season.

Here, last year’s overall winner, Joaquín Roth (aka So VAR So Bad), shares his thoughts on chip strategy and reveals his Matchday 1 team.

After winning the 2024/25 UCL Fantasy overall title, I’m excited to share my first official team reveal on FFScout.

I usually play with a fairly balanced style at the beginning, trying to be aggressive on fixture targeting with a bit of risk-taking when it feels right.

Below, I’ll walk through my current draft, main strategy, and some of the doubts I still have before the Matchday (MD1) deadline.

Overall Strategy & Chip Plan

UCL team reveal chip strategy

My general plan for the group stage is to keep things flexible but also take advantage of the early rounds when fixtures are clearer and most big teams field their strongest XIs.

At the moment, I’m still weighing up three possible chip strategies with the Wildcard (WC) and Limitless (LL):

1. WC4 + LL6/7

209 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. AAAFootball
      2 months, 28 days ago

      Thuram vs Martinez lads?

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      1. JT11fc
        • 7 Years
        2 months, 28 days ago

        Thuram for the vibes.
        Can say Im that clued up, just chucked a bunch of fellas together

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        1. JT11fc
          • 7 Years
          2 months, 28 days ago

          Cant*

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          1. AAAFootball
              2 months, 28 days ago

              Who are you on, out of curiosity?
              Im on thuram as well, just have a feeling his physicality might be too much for some of these small teams

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              1. JT11fc
                • 7 Years
                2 months, 28 days ago

                Kane Mbappe and some Olympiacos fella, after checking the fixtures tho Im having 2nd thoughts, is Martinez on pens?

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                1. AAAFootball
                    2 months, 28 days ago

                    Sometimes, with thuram and calhanogu also apparently in the mix. I think the turkish guy is main though, so wouldnt target him for that.

                    What about the rest of your team?

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                    1. JT11fc
                      • 7 Years
                      2 months, 28 days ago

                      My 10minute team haha

                      Courtios
                      Gab Tah Retsos
                      Raph Jude Olise Rios
                      Kane Mbappe Taremi(c)

                      Chevalier Chalobah 4.5 4.0

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                      1. AAAFootball
                          2 months, 28 days ago

                          pick good 4.5/4.0

                          i wrote some down in a comment on previous page, so manny good ones. (4.5 mid=lamine camara not the best, but great 4.o def)

                          Rest looks goo if a little template (retsos straight out of th eofficial scout squad lol)

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                          1. JT11fc
                            • 7 Years
                            2 months, 28 days ago

                            I just randomly chose Retsos haha, Ill have a looksee previous page cheers

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                        • The Mentaculus
                          • 4 Years
                          2 months, 28 days ago

                          Bellingham is just back in training apparently but I'd be very surprised if he starts v Marseille

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                          1. JT11fc
                            • 7 Years
                            2 months, 28 days ago

                            Crumbs, mudded already
                            Thanks

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                        • Captain Mal
                          • 1 Year
                          2 months, 28 days ago

                          Keep in mind El Kaabi is Olympiacos' main scorer, Taremi might not even start.

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                          1. JT11fc
                            • 7 Years
                            2 months, 28 days ago

                            Thanks haha, with all this info I might actually maintain interest longer then a week

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            • The Son-dance Kid
              • 7 Years
              2 months, 28 days ago

              Martinez for me. More proven in the champions league. Thuram could have his ucl breakthrough this year, but has failed me when owning him in the past. Martinez seems to be more consistent, plus seems more involved in play therefore more likely to pick up motm bonus

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          2. SpaceCadet
            • 12 Years
            2 months, 28 days ago

            Best forward option here under 7m?

            palmer semenyo gakpo reijnders anderson
            haaland pedro xxxx

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            1. Sgt Frank Drebin
              • 9 Years
              2 months, 28 days ago

              Evanilson if 7m is also okay. Otherwise Thiago, maybe Muniz if you believe he's going to start most games.

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          3. Sgt Frank Drebin
            • 9 Years
            2 months, 28 days ago

            Fun fact: Man United is on the same xPts as Liverpool after 4 games.

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            1. JT11fc
              • 7 Years
              2 months, 28 days ago

              Crazy, imagine if they were firing, they would be on even more xPts

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            2. AAAFootball
                2 months, 28 days ago

                Did you know i won the xPremier league?

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                1. Sgt Frank Drebin
                  • 9 Years
                  2 months, 28 days ago

                  Are you Arne Slot?

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                  1. AAAFootball
                      2 months, 28 days ago

                      No he's tied with United haha

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                      1. Sgt Frank Drebin
                        • 9 Years
                        2 months, 28 days ago

                        It doesn't even make sense. He's tied this season after 4 games. Last season Liverpool was top.

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                        1. AAAFootball
                            2 months, 28 days ago

                            It was the xfpl premier league that I won, in my own perfect universe

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                  2. The Knights Template
                    • 12 Years
                    2 months, 28 days ago

                    Nup, this is a fun fact - lions don’t get scurvy! They can produce their own vitamin C!

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                2. MetallicaJack93
                  • 2 Years
                  2 months, 28 days ago

                  On WC

                  Pick 1

                  A. Bruno
                  B. Palmer

                  Pick 2

                  A. Grealish
                  B. Gakpo
                  C. Reijnders

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                  1. Brosstan
                    • 11 Years
                    2 months, 28 days ago

                    1 B

                    2 A/B-- but its not easy to know how it will play out for Gakpo when Isak starts playing regularly.

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                3. Brosstan
                  • 11 Years
                  2 months, 28 days ago

                  Anyone else looking at a 4 or even 5 atb with just a few premiums in the side? Haaland perma cap from GW6? Feel like the def cons from cheap defenders make the cheap midfielders (like reijnders) very unattractive. Cheap and mid prices strikers as well seem poor value for the most part outside of Pedro who seems underpriced if nailed.

                  So the best way to get value is to load the team with DefCon merchants, Haaland perma cap and then fill the rest with the highest scoring players you can - probably Isak when he starts getting regular starts.

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                  1. MetallicaJack93
                    • 2 Years
                    2 months, 28 days ago

                    Who would you get in? I'm feeling 4/5 at the back too.

                    Got VVD, Gab, VDV, Senesi, Rodon

                    5 DefCon merchants seems boring but could be the way, I mean they practically get 3-4 points base which is huge

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                    1. Brosstan
                      • 11 Years
                      2 months, 28 days ago

                      Yea something like that. Semenyo, Palmer. Haaland Pedro. Last players optional.

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                      1. AC/DC AFC
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 10 Years
                        2 months, 28 days ago

                        That's a premium defence with premium attackers.

                        So cheap in midfield then, other than Palmer?

                        That will be tight £££.

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                        1. Brosstan
                          • 11 Years
                          2 months, 28 days ago

                          It really isnt tight at all if you are set on playing 4-4-2, 4-3-3 or 5-3-2.

                          Sanchez - Dub
                          Gab - VVD - Senesi - VDV - Gudmundson
                          Palmer - Semenyo - P.M Sarr - X - X
                          Haaland - Pedro - X

                          theres 21.9 left for the three open spots. If you are playing 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 You can spend ~10 - 11m on 2 fillers that will be benched every single week. That still leaves enough money to fit even Isak or any midfielder bar Salah into the team with wriggling room.

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                  2. JT11fc
                    • 7 Years
                    2 months, 28 days ago

                    Considered it but I just cant get excited by 3 or 4 pointers from defenders, I prefer 2 pointers from my mids...
                    4 atb with a rotation would be nice

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                    1. Brosstan
                      • 11 Years
                      2 months, 28 days ago

                      3 points from a defender who concedes feels like a win. 3 points from a midfielder feels like a loss. The mids are more expensive than the defenders as well for the most part.

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                      1. JT11fc
                        • 7 Years
                        2 months, 28 days ago

                        Yeah its a mindset thing, I like the big dopamine hits from a haul haha

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                        1. AAAFootball
                            2 months, 28 days ago

                            Haha I get you
                            Plus does give more captaincy options

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                        2. Feanor
                          • 16 Years
                          2 months, 28 days ago

                          My midfield was Semenyo 13, Gakpo 3, Grealish 2, Kudus 3 and Reijnders 3

                          Benched Porro and Reinildo who both got 6, so 7 points lost there.

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                    2. Pompel
                      • 11 Years
                      2 months, 28 days ago

                      That's were I'm trying to get to, and think it's going to be fairly template in a couple of GW's , so will hard to gain any ground for us who started poorly

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                  3. Warby84
                    • 10 Years
                    2 months, 28 days ago

                    So play Tark for Defcon (5 at the back) or Grealish this week

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                    1. AAAFootball
                        2 months, 28 days ago

                        tark imo as an efc fan.
                        Still remembering that glorious moment last year...

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                      • SpaceCadet
                        • 12 Years
                        2 months, 28 days ago

                        Grealish

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                      • Feanor
                        • 16 Years
                        2 months, 28 days ago

                        I have them both benched... maybe I should boost

                        Dubravka (Vicario)
                        Cucurella, Gabriel, Porro, Reinildo (Tarkowski)
                        Gakpo, Semenyo (c), Kudus (Grealish, Reijnders)
                        Haaland, Pedro, Wood

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                      • Stranger Mings
                        • 5 Years
                        2 months, 27 days ago

                        Grealish

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                    2. the dom 1
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 11 Years
                      2 months, 28 days ago

                      UCL - Got 6.5m to spend on a MID?

                      a. Valverde

                      b. Reijnders

                      c. Kimmich

                      Cheers

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                      1. SpaceCadet
                        • 12 Years
                        2 months, 28 days ago

                        Guler?

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                        1. the dom 1
                          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                          • 11 Years
                          2 months, 28 days ago

                          Think I might get more points out of the 3 mentioned, but Guler is a good option.

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                      2. AAAFootball
                          2 months, 28 days ago

                          Gnabry, Goncalves both in my team

                          Have so much money, 3 mil itb for no reason I just don't need it

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                          1. the dom 1
                            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                            • 11 Years
                            2 months, 28 days ago

                            Might as well upgrade one of those players with the cash then mate.

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                            1. AAAFootball
                                2 months, 28 days ago

                                Who and to who

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                                1. AAAFootball
                                    2 months, 28 days ago

                                    I see a haul vs kairat, and Gnabry over Diaz because I wanted Bayern but mid not foward

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                                  • the dom 1
                                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                                    • 11 Years
                                    2 months, 28 days ago

                                    Sorry AAA leave as is mate. Bank the money as you might need it next match day 2

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                                    1. the dom 1
                                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                                      • 11 Years
                                      2 months, 28 days ago

                                      I just put Gonclaves in my team lol

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                                      1. AAAFootball
                                          2 months, 28 days ago

                                          Haha I like his goals per minute and the fixture is beautiful

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                                      2. AAAFootball
                                          2 months, 28 days ago

                                          Yes will be selling quenda and rodibri GW2 likely after fixture swing, so will just keep it.
                                          Turam to Martinez an option but prefer Thuram

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                                2. The Son-dance Kid
                                  • 7 Years
                                  2 months, 28 days ago

                                  Have you considered Guler or Simons?
                                  Kimmich probably from those three

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                                  1. the dom 1
                                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                                    • 11 Years
                                    2 months, 28 days ago

                                    Thanks Son

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                              • Prinzhorn
                                • 4 Years
                                2 months, 28 days ago

                                Caicedo, Enzo or Grealish as a Sarr replacement?

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                                1. the dom 1
                                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                                  • 11 Years
                                  2 months, 28 days ago

                                  First 2 this GW as EVE play Pool

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                                2. Feanor
                                  • 16 Years
                                  2 months, 28 days ago

                                  Keep in mind Grealish can't play GW8 at City

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                              • theshazly
                                • 2 Years
                                2 months, 28 days ago

                                Does this team need a WC ?
                                Shitty start for the season here

                                Sels ( Dub )
                                Guehi Porro Diouf (Guddmnssn / DeCuyper)
                                Salah Wirtz KDH Reijnders Kudus
                                JP Watkins Gyokeres

                                1 FT / 2.1 ITB

                                Was going to do Wirtz, Watkins >> King, Haaland with 2 FT before GW6

                                Thoughts ?!

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                                1. GreennRed
                                  • 14 Years
                                  2 months, 28 days ago

                                  No WC. Go with WW to KH for a hit? I'm going Salah to Palmer. Palmer looks a bit sharper after his break and Salah's overpriced on current form.

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                              • Bobby Digital
                                • 8 Years
                                2 months, 28 days ago

                                Mbeumo or Xavi +1.1m?

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                                1. King Sheep
                                  • 9 Years
                                  2 months, 27 days ago

                                  Mbuemo, no Europe plus passes the eye test.

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                              • AD105
                                • 9 Years
                                2 months, 27 days ago

                                1) Who would you play this week - Reijnders (ars) or VDV (bri)

                                2) Would you BB this?

                                Sanchez
                                Munoz Porro Andersen VDV
                                Salah Semenyo Bruno
                                Watkins Wood Mateta

                                Dubravka Reijnders Rutter Esteve

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                                1. Stranger Mings
                                  • 5 Years
                                  2 months, 27 days ago

                                  Rejinders

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