Champions League
26 January 2026 338 comments
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Matchday 8 marks the final round of the league phase, and it could prove decisive for UCL Fantasy managers. In this article, our experts share their current team reveals and outline their early plans ahead of the deadline.

All drafts remain flexible, with strategies likely to change once full line-ups become available later this week.


@Big4FPL

 

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NOTES

  • Heading into the final fixtures of the league phase, I’ve slipped just outside the top 1k and will be aiming to climb back inside after this Matchday.
  • My planned moves currently involve moving on Scott McTominay and Estêvão, replacing them with two attacking punts – unless team news presents clearer or more appealing options once line-ups drop. Defensively, I’m hopeful the back line is already settled.
  • In midfield, my shortlist is likely to come from Arsenal, Liverpool or Barcelona, though final decisions will again depend on confirmed starting XIs.

@SilentBats

NOTES

  • After Matchday 7, I’m sitting on a solid green arrow, moving from 2.6k to 1.9k overall.
  • At this stage, I’m leaning towards activating the Wildcard, though there’s still a chance I hold it back if my free transfers allow me to put together a strong starting XI.
  • This is my current draft, should I decide to use the chip once line-ups are confirmed tomorrow.
  • Good luck to everyone – may your arrows stay green.

@Super__Saud

NOTES

  • Team news will play a major role in shaping my decisions this week.
  • If Harry Kane starts, I’ll keep him and look to move Michael Olise on for Gabriel Martinelli. Should Kane be benched, I’ll sell him instead and bring Kenan Yıldız into the XI in place of Olise.
  • At the back, I’m planning to replace Dayot Upamecano, with Nuno Mendes and Alejandro Grimaldo currently the leading options.
  • Captaincy remains wide open, though the armband is provisionally on Raphinha.

@FplRossoneri

NOTES

  • For the final matchday of the UCL Fantasy group stage, I’ll be holding all transfers until full line-ups are confirmed.
  • My current thinking is to target the starting Arsenal assets. As it stands, Viktor Gyökeres and Myles Lewis-Skelly come in for Serhou Guirassy and Jurrien Timber, who appears to be carrying an injury concern.
  • Several other players remain on my radar, including Lamine Yamal, Mohamed Salah, Julián Álvarez, Fermín López and Alejandro Grimaldo.
  • Captaincy is still up in the air, but it will likely come down to Harry Kane or Raphinha.

@TheCrisk

NOTES

  • This is the final week of the league phase, and I planned to use the Limitless chip here from the start – just like last season. The chance to dead-end my squad while seeing every confirmed line-up before making key decisions is too strong to ignore.
  • The current draft does not represent my final team. Instead, it shows the clubs and roles I want to target once team news lands.
  • Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid all stand out for fixtures. I am happy to triple up on the Gunners, as I expect their rotated side to have too much for Kairat at home. In attack, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé feel close to essential if they start. I will include Erling Haaland if either forward misses out on the starting XI.
  • Barcelona also appeal. They need a result, so I fully expect to triple up once line-ups confirm.
  • In goal, I want a strong home fixture. Gianluigi Donnarumma fits that brief. I do not expect Galatasaray to score heavily in Manchester, even with Victor Osimhen involved. At the same time, no Manchester City defender tempts me this week.
  • Building the rest of the squad became much easier once I remembered that Matchday 8 only requires an XI, not the usual 15 players. That allowed room for a couple of punts.
  • Oscar Gloukh makes the shortlist after two consecutive double-digit hauls. Ajax host Olympiacos and arrive in strong European form. Derrick Luckassen also interests me. Pafos look more solid defensively than expected, and their match against Slavia could easily end 1-0 or 0-0.
  • I am still monitoring options from Tottenham, Atalanta and Paris Saint-Germain. For now, I do not plan to start any of them.

@hichemillo

NOTES

  • I scored 73 points last week but dropped to 4.6k overall. That makes it two disappointing Matchdays following a poor Matchday 5 Wildcard.
  • I still hold the Limitless chip and plan to activate it for Matchday 8. The fixtures look too good to ignore, with strong opportunities for Arsenal, Liverpool and Barcelona, alongside Manchester City and Bayer Leverkusen.
  • With only 11 players required, the chip feels closer to a Free Hit than a traditional Limitless.
  • In goal, I’ll go with David Raya alongside a budget option.
  • At the back, Alejandro Grimaldo, Gabriel Magalhães and Virgil van Dijk form the core, with two defenders covering the bench.
  • In midfield, I plan to select five from a strong pool that includes Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, Fermín López, Phil Foden, Vinícius Júnior, Mohamed Salah, Michael Olise, Mikel Merino, and Gabriel Martinelli.
  • Up front, I want all three premiums: Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane.
  • I will wait for confirmed line-ups before activating the chip. Formation will likely be either 3-5-2 or 3-4-3.
  • Captaincy will be difficult to call, but I’m currently leaning towards an Arsenal defender or a Barcelona midfielder.

338 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Gizzachance
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Pedro over Thiago really sky on w/c? Chelsea be in 4 comps

    Thiago only league games and on pens

    Pedro next 4 just so much better

    1. LeytonOrient
      • 11 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      Thiago’s next 3 are tough also. It’s very tempting.

      1. Gizzachance
        • 11 Years
        1 day, 1 hour ago

        Pedro got good fixtures, just having delay around !
        Cheers

    2. Bluetiger1
      • 3 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      Chelsea nice Premier fixtures but in Europe/Premier League/League Cup & FA Cup cannot
      see him play all - 50/50 - hard call - possible Thiago FPL

      1. Gizzachance
        • 11 Years
        1 day, 1 hour ago

        Cheers

        More chance of pedro benching managed minutes, if in form why drop him

  2. F4L
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    barnes oh dear

  3. LeytonOrient
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Does Enzo keep pens if Palmer is back and starting?

    1. F4L
      • 11 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      palmer takes them if he's on the pitch

      1. LeytonOrient
        • 11 Years
        1 day, 1 hour ago

        Hmm. Makes Enzo less appealing now. He will play deeper with Palmer too

    2. Bluetiger1
      • 3 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      no

  4. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Barnes fail

  5. F4L
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    vvd hat trick of assists for now lol

    1. Gizzachance
      • 11 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      Troll !

  6. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Pedro in some pain

    Left leg, quad by the looks of it

    Maybe a dead leg?

  7. fedolefan
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    May just have to do Bowen -> Pedro.

    1. fedolefan
      • 11 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      On second thoughts, lovely that he played 90 tonight. Bowen can stay. Will need to really on the man-agers anti-managing tactics.

      1. Deulofail
        • 10 Years
        1 day, 1 hour ago

        He's a makeweight for Thiago or Evanilson in GW27. I can bench him this week and maybe GW26 after Burnley. Pedro isn't worth 2FTs to get him in and out in the lead-up to blanks and doubles imo. But if you're WCing in GW28, he's a good punt ('punt' because he's a minutes risk)

        1. fedolefan
          • 11 Years
          1 day, 1 hour ago

          Well, Thiago definitely but am wondering if I need to get my boy, the real JP, Jean Phillipe Mateta before him for a couple of games. I got his hatty against Bou since I held him from GW1. He's useless but should get the volume against Bur, Wol with Munoz back.

          1. Deulofail
            • 10 Years
            1 day, 1 hour ago

            Yes, I considered mentioning him in my reply. Great option for GW26 to get rid of Bowen earlier. I'm just put off by the likely blank in 31. Another 2-transfer-user instead of the 1-transferers of Evanilson/Thiago, at least in my current plan (which is probably poorly thought out). Maybe form will dictate transfers anyway. But The Real JP thrives when you throw hits at him.

  8. Flynny
    • 10 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    What to do with cherki? Can he be kept for spurs at weekend? Does doku injury help him?

    I have enzo and can't reach mbeumo or rogers. So ndiaye would be replacement - but not convinced

    Also have ekiteke who feels like a keep for newcastle. Thanks

    1. LeytonOrient
      • 11 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      I’m holding on Ekitike - ready to be hurt again

      If I had Enzo I’d be holding him

      1. Flynny
        • 10 Years
        1 day, 1 hour ago

        What about cherki? Keep?

  9. F4L
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    sporting nicking a top 8 spot

    1. F4L
      • 11 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      *city in danger here if madrid score

  10. Gudjohnsen
    • 9 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Only 1 ft

    Roll for the weekend?

    Keleher, Dubravka
    Nunez, VDV, Alderete, Thiaw, Gabriel
    Palmer, Saka, Rice, Enzo, Rogers
    Haaland, Igor Thiago, Mane

    1. Bluetiger1
      • 3 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      yes

  11. Bluetiger1
    • 3 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    great results chelsea - tops to manager with surprise tactics
    & more importantly in-game management (10/10)

    1. Bluetiger1
      • 3 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      Real Madrid out of top 8

    2. LeytonOrient
      • 11 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      Top quality ageing of men on showing tonight

  12. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    keep bowen on wc or get pedro? unlikely pedro starts v w ham now....

    1. Free Hat
      • 6 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      Depends how long you want to hold on to Bowen I guess. Besides Bur fixtures not so good anymore (Bowen owner myself and removing after Burn)

  13. F4L
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    bodo qualifying as things stand

  14. Ze_Austin
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    VVD racked up attacking returns this week

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      3 assists lol

  15. fedolefan
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    PSG, Madrid outside top 8. Is top 8 even that big a deal?

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      Automatically qualify to the last 16 and skip the knockout phase. That’s all, I’m sure both those teams still qualify

      1. jacob1989
        • 3 Years
        1 day, 1 hour ago

        Last year man city had to face real Madrid in playoffs and got knocked out. Anything possible

      2. fedolefan
        • 11 Years
        1 day, 1 hour ago

        Oh, is it. I didn't know that.

    2. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      Teams ranked 1-8 are auromatically on Quarterfinals while teams ranked 9 to 24 have to win their way through a knock-out play off (home/away).

      1. jacob1989
        • 3 Years
        1 day, 1 hour ago

        No not qf, round of 16

  16. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Suddenly keen on saving or could sell Thiago for a mid with 2FTs? Or move Saka?

    Verb
    Gab/Timber/VVD
    Saka/BrunoF/Wirtz/HWilson
    Haaland/Ekitike/Thiago

    Dub/Potts/Heaven/Dorgu

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      Am thinking Thiago > Pedro, playing fixtures then swapping back later

  17. F4L
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    benfica dont look like they realise they need a goal

  18. Ze_Austin
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Rodrigo RC

  19. Tonyawesome69
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Chelsea finish top 8 in UCL.

    Arsenal/Wolves or Chelsea/Everton have the possibility of a double in 26 (BGW31) depending on who progresses to the EFL Cup final

  20. Ze_Austin
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Benfica GK scores

    Scenes!

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      Header

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      Ridiculous header from the GK!

  21. F4L
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    no fcking way

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      Goalkeeper scores!

  22. fedolefan
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Unreal scenes in Benfica Madrid

  23. BeaversWithAttitude
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    The Benfica keeper! What?! Hahaha!

  24. The Mandalorian
    • 13 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Real Madrid losing 2 players and getting bombed by Benficas keeper.

  25. F4L
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    marseille must be seething

  26. Gudjohnsen
    • 9 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Anyone see the Chelsea game?

    How did Palmer look?

    1. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      Two assists, I think

      But Pedro show

      1. Ze_Austin
        • 7 Years
        1 day, 1 hour ago

        Palmer came off the bench to give those assists, so that's impressive

  27. jacob1989
    • 3 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Oh my God! The benfica gk scores a last minute header to send benfica to playoffs! Never seen something like this

    1. Free Hat
      • 6 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      Seeing a gk attack a corner when your team already is winning, is not an every day sight 😀

      1. Bushwhacker
        • 6 Years
        1 day, 1 hour ago

        Needed to score to qualify

        1. Free Hat
          • 6 Years
          1 day, 1 hour ago

          Yeah I know, but makes it just bit more extraordinary

  28. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Lmaooo. WTH. Benfica goalie with a powerful goal

  29. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    All 4 English teams in the top 8.

    Well done.

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      lol, there are five who made the cut, plus Newcastle who mad the play offs

  30. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Well done Trubin cappers