The UEFA Champions League is back, and so is the grind of picking the perfect Fantasy squad. Matchday 1 is always a mix of must-own superstars and clever differentials who could give you the edge. From goalkeepers to forwards, here’s a breakdown of the top picks you should be considering for your UCL Fantasy team.
Gregor Kobel (€5.0m) – Borussia Dortmund
A reliable Fantasy performer, Gregor Kobel comes in as a strong differential with ownership still below 10%. Last season he made 41 saves in the Champions League, tallying 46 Fantasy points.
Dortmund’s defensive shape often keeps him busy, which means points from both clean sheets and saves. With two clean sheets already in his first three games of the new campaign, Kobel looks set for another steady haul.
David Raya (€5.5m) – Arsenal
The most popular goalkeeper in UCL Fantasy, David Raya is owned by more than 30% of managers—and it’s not hard to see why.
Arsenal’s first-choice keeper racked up six clean sheets last season, saving two penalties along the way, en route to 63 points. He’s yet to concede from open play this season, making him a safe, premium pick between the sticks.
Willian Pacho (€5.0m) – Benfica
With ownership still in single digits, Willian Pacho is shaping up to be a hidden gem. No defender in last year’s competition recorded more ball recoveries than his 124, and those alone accounted for 37 Fantasy points.
Priced at just €5.0m, Pacho offers excellent value with both defensive stability and recovery upside.
Nicolás Otamendi (€5.0m) – Benfica
If you want a more experienced option, Nicolás Otamendi remains a reliable Fantasy pick. The veteran centre-back played every single minute of qualifying, and Benfica’s defensive structure often pays off in points.
Alejandro Grimaldo (€6.0m) – Bayer Leverkusen
Somehow, sitting at just 5% ownership, Alejandro Grimaldo looks like a differential worth backing. He scored 64 Fantasy points last season, chipping in with four goal involvements.
Already on the scoresheet this campaign, Grimaldo has shown he’s still deadly from set pieces and even netted a penalty in the DFB-Pokal.
Nuno Mendes (€6.0m) – Paris Saint-Germain
One of the best Fantasy defenders in 2024/25, Nuno Mendes racked up six goal involvements, seven clean sheets, and 87 ball recoveries.
That monster tally of 108 points made him one of only two defenders to break the 100-mark last season. He’s an attacking full-back with a proven track record in UCL Fantasy.
Virgil van Dijk (€6.0m) – Liverpool
Liverpool’s captain brings set-piece threat alongside clean sheet potential. Van Dijk is one of the most-selected defenders in the game, owned by over 25%, and has a proven Fantasy ceiling when fixtures fall kindly.
Lamine Yamal (€10.0m) – Barcelona
At just 18 years old, Lamine Yamal is already a Fantasy superstar. He’s owned by a massive 53% of managers, and it’s easy to see why: two goals and six assists already this season.
His electric form for both Barcelona and Spain makes him nearly impossible to ignore.
Raphinha (€9.5m) – Barcelona
Last season’s top UCL Fantasy scorer, Raphinha, broke the record with 137 points, thanks to 13 goals and nine assists.
With Newcastle up first, he’s a reliable premium option and the second-most popular Barcelona midfielder behind Yamal.
Michael Olise (€8.0m) – Bayern Munich
Michael Olise has settled into life at Bayern seamlessly. The winger scored 20 times last season and has already bagged four goals in four games this term.
Add his international strike for France against Ukraine, and it’s clear he’s carrying serious form into Matchday 1.
Kevin De Bruyne (€8.0m) – Napoli
Kevin De Bruyne’s move to Napoli was one of the biggest shocks of the summer, and he’s already showing signs of adapting quickly.
Facing his old club, Manchester City, in Matchday 1 adds extra narrative, but more importantly, he has the class and creativity to deliver points regardless of opponent.
Kylian Mbappé (€10.5m) – Real Madrid
The most-selected forward in the game—and rightly so. Mbappé smashed 44 goals in his debut season at Real Madrid and has already resumed his goalscoring streak this year.
With form carrying into international duty, he’s as safe a captaincy pick as it gets.
Dušan Vlahović (€7.5m) – Juventus
Juventus’ main man has quietly started the season in excellent form. With two goals in two Serie A games and another for Serbia, Vlahović offers strong value at €7.5m, especially with Jonathan David drawing more of the spotlight.
Erling Haaland (€10.5m) – Manchester City
Haaland just scored five goals in one game for Norway. Five. He’s now sitting on nine goals in five outings across club and country.
Add in his insane Champions League record—49 goals in 48 appearances—and it’s hard to leave him out, even against Napoli.
Luis Suárez (€5.0m) – Sporting CP
If you need a budget enabler, Sporting CP’s Luis Suárez is your guy. At only €5.0m, he’s already producing in Portugal with two goals and two assists since his arrival. Facing UCL debutants Kairat Almaty at home could be the perfect fixture for him to announce himself on the European stage.
Who are you backing in your UCL Fantasy lineup for Matchday 1? Drop your thoughts, differentials, and captain picks in the comments—we’d love to hear your strategies.
