Matchday 5 is shaping up to be one of the most decisive rounds of the Champions League league phase, and UCL Fantasy managers are scrambling to lock in the right players before the business end of the competition.
Here’s a position-by-position breakdown of the best picks for MD5.
Gianluigi Donnarumma (€6.0m) vs Leverkusen (H)
Only David Raya has higher ownership among goalkeepers, and it’s easy to see why Donnarumma remains so heavily backed.
The Manchester City shot-stopper has two clean sheets and nine saves in this season’s Champions League and has blanked four of his last seven club opponents in all competitions.
A home fixture against Leverkusen gives him every chance of continuing that form, making him one of the safest—and most explosive—goalkeeper picks for Matchday 5.
Virgil van Dijk (€6.1m) vs PSV (H)
Van Dijk has been a defensive titan in UCL Fantasy this season. With 35 points, two goals, and two Player of the Match awards, the Liverpool captain is among the top five scoring defenders so far. Two double-digit hauls in four fixtures underline his ceiling, and with a home match against PSV, his already-high ownership could climb even further.
Abdülkerim Bardakci (€4.5m) vs Union SG (H)
FPL managers will benefit from the early lineup reveal, as Galatasaray are set for this matchday’s early kickoff.
Bardakci is expected to be fit and available despite recently leaving international duty with an injury.
The budget defender has delivered two clean sheets in the league phase and already racked up 17 Fantasy points. At just €4.5m, he’s tremendous value for a home fixture.
Derrick Luckassen (€4.7m) vs Monaco (A)
One of Matchday 4’s big surprises, Luckassen exploded for 17 points thanks to a goal, nine ball recoveries, and a clean sheet—helping Pafos secure their first league-phase win in club history.
The matchup against Monaco is tougher, but his price is too good to ignore for anyone seeking a budget-friendly differential.
Dan Burn (€4.8m) vs Marseille (A)
Burn delivered a massive 13-point haul last time out in the Champions League, combining a goal with five ball recoveries.
After missing the weekend match due to suspension, he’s expected to slot right back into Newcastle’s European lineup. The trip to Marseille isn’t easy, but Burn always carries upside at both ends of the pitch.
Mohamed Salah (€10.5m) vs PSV (H)
Salah’s ownership has dipped to 14% after going quiet in Europe since Matchday 1—exactly the kind of trend savvy managers can exploit.
Liverpool face a PSV side that hasn’t kept a single clean sheet in the league phase. With Salah scoring in two of his last three Premier League games and sitting just two goals shy of 50 in the Champions League, this could be the week he punishes sellers.
Lamine Yamal (€9.9m) vs Chelsea (A)
Back in full training after a groin issue, Yamal is ready to reclaim his place as one of Fantasy’s hottest midfielders.
His last two UCL outings have produced two goals, an assist, and 16 points.
With over a quarter of managers owning him, the Barcelona starlet enters Matchday 5 as both a popular pick and a proven scorer—even with a challenging trip to Chelsea.
Phil Foden (€7.9m) vs Leverkusen (H)
Foden is the definition of a high-upside differential right now. His Matchday 4 masterclass—two long-range goals, Player of the Match, 17 points—was a reminder of just how explosive he can be.
Add in 26 points from City’s last two home games, and Foden becomes one of MD5’s most tempting midfielders for managers chasing rank.
Estevao Willian (€5.9m) vs Barcelona (H)
Chelsea’s rising star delivered his first double-digit UCL fantasy return in Matchday 4, scoring against Qarabag and finishing with 10 points.
Now he gets a high-profile showdown against Barcelona, and his confidence will be sky-high. At under €6.0m, Estevao offers an exciting, cheap enabler with real attacking upside.
Nick Woltemade (€7.0m) vs Marseille (A)
Newcastle have won three of their four league-phase matches, including a huge 4-0 win away to Union SG—where Woltemade found the net.
With ten goals across club and international competition this season and three more for Germany in recent World Cup qualifiers, he comes into MD5 in lethal form.
Marseille have lost three of their four UCL games, making this a very appealing matchup.
Erling Haaland (€10.7m) vs Leverkusen (H)
Haaland is the clear captaincy favorite for Tuesday. He’s scoring at a ridiculous pace, adding four more goals during the international break to reach 32 in all competitions this season.
He’s found the net in every league-phase match so far and has four goals in four career appearances against Leverkusen from his Dortmund days. Form, fixture, confidence—it’s all there.
Kylian Mbappe (€10.8m) vs Olympiacos (A)
Mbappe just hit the 400-career-goal milestone and remains the most-owned UCL Fantasy asset. Two double-figure hauls already and more than a goal per game for Real Madrid make him as reliable as they come.
Who are you backing this week? Drop your MD5 picks, dilemmas, and captaincy calls in the comments.
