UCL Fantasy: Matchday 5 Scout Picks

Please note that these selections apply separately for the upcoming match day. UCL Fantasy also allows manual substitutions from calendar day to calendar day, so we want a strong squad of fifteen and not just a starting eleven with unusable bench fodder.

This XV could change in the coming days if injuries occur over the weekend.

GOALKEEPS

Keeping a clean sheet in this round looks to be a challenge, so leaning on budget keepers may be the best way to free up money for outfield upgrades.

With that in mind – and crucially, playing on Tuesday – Vanja Milinković-Savić (€ 4.0 million) becomes a strong first choice option. Naples arriving in the Gameweek after having held it three clean sheets in their last four matches, and their home meeting with Karabagh offers another clear opportunity to extend that defensive shape.

If Milinković-Savić fails to return points on Tuesday, the fallback option is Lucas Chevalier from PSG (€4.5 million). The reigning Champions League winners have shown consistent defensive resilience under pressure and despite the pressure Tracksthe French team continues to be able to keep a clean sheet.

DEFENSE

Dortmund will face a Villarreal side who have failed to score in their last two Champions League matches. With that in mind, Daniel Svensson (€4.6 million) seems an excellent option. The full-back offers clean-line potential and regularly pushes into advanced attacking positions, giving him multiple options to return points.

Inter also operates with a back three, which frees up space Federico Dimarco (€5.5 million) to attack along the flank. His output was impressive and productive two goals and four assists in just eleven Serie A matchesand he remains one of the most dangerous defensive assets in European competition.

Liverpool’s home match against the unpredictable PSV could also provide defensive opportunities. Although not as consistent at the back as they would like, their clean sheet against Real Madrid last season should boost confidence. The safest choice for minutes is Virgil van Dijk (€6.1 million).

Juventus meet Bodo/Glimt, who failed to find the net on matchday 4. The Italian team came into the match after a clean sheet against Torino, and Pierre Over (€4.5 million) seems their safest defensive option for guaranteed playing time.

Finally, Newcastle have responded well since their matchday 1 defeat to Barcelona a clean sheet in the Champions League three times in a row. This week they face Marseille, and Then Burns (€ 4.8 million) emerges as the best choice. Even if the clean sheet doesn’t pan out, his aerial threat – as seen in matchday 4 – gives him a solid attacking edge.

MIDFIELDERS

PSG will look to respond after their 2-1 defeat last time out, and Spurs now face the challenge of absorbing that home pressure. Tottenham have been far from convincing defensively in recent weeks, which entails Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (€8.1 million) firmly in play. The Georgian produced two double-digit strikes in his last three UCL gameswhere both the form and the benefits are emphasized.

PSV remains offensively dangerous, but its defensive weaknesses have repeatedly come to light. With that in mind, support Mohammed Salah (€10.5 million) – Liverpool’s penalty taker – feels like a strong move. Before blanking Real Madrid, the Egyptian had scored two consecutive Premier League matchesshowing that he still carries a significant threat.

Juventus can be inconsistent, but when they click, they become a major attacking force, as evidenced by their own results 4-4 draw against Dortmund on matchday 1. Central to their creativity and end product Kenan Yildiz (€6.7 million), which seems well placed to make a leaky Bodø/Glimt defense this week.

Newcastle is also hard to miss because they have scored nine goals in their last three Champions League games. Their penalty taker Anthony Gordon (€7.2m) has been in excellent form in Europe, scoring in all three games before making an early withdrawal due to injury on matchday 4. We expect him to return from injury in midweek.

Finally, Sporty CP have won both home games this campaign and are hosting a Club Brugge that has conceded at least two goals in three consecutive UCL matches. Their talisman Pedro Goncalves (€6.0 million) remains a standout option heading into matchday 5 with three goals and two assists in his last four appearances.

FORWARD

Given its current form, it would be unwise to overlook this Kylian Mbappe (€10.8 million). The Frenchman has already delivered 20 offensive returns in La Liga and the Champions League, and now he faces an attractive away match against Olympiakos.

Another player that remains close to essential is Erling Haaland (€10.7 million). Manchester City hosted Leverkusen this week and the German team recently conceded seven goals to PSG, making Haaland a prime candidate for a big return.

This round could also be an excellent time to go back Vangelis Pavlidis (€7.1 million). Benfica’s penalty taker scored one goal and an assist in a recent league match, and he is now facing Ajax in 36th placewho have already given in 14 goals this season in the Champions League.

UCL MATCH DAY 3 SCOUT PICKS