UCL Fantasy: Matchday 7 early 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.

GOALKEEPERS

The goalkeeping pool looks quite thin on Tuesday, with very few sides offering strong clean sheet potential. That makes a cheaper option worth considering, and here’s why Vanja Milinković-Savić (€ 4.1 million) comes into the picture. The Napoli stopper has kept four clean sheets in the last six games and now faces Copenhagen, a match that offers plenty of encouragement.

Wednesday doesn’t offer many striking options either, but Chelsea’s home game against Pafos catches the eye. The Champions League newcomers are still looking for their first away goal in the competition Robert Sanchez (€4.9 million) firmly on the radar for matchday 7.

DEFENDERS

Napoli’s recent defensive form makes a double play at the back attractive this week. One of the cheapest ways to enter is Alexander Good morning (3.9 million euros), with the central defender offering a budget-friendly option that frees up money elsewhere.

Clean sheets seem hard to come by across much of the slate, so leaning on cheap defensive assets feels sensible. Waldemar Anton (€4.1 million) fits nicely into that picture for Dortmund. Spurs have been hot and cold all season and Dortmund could easily get away with a shutout.

Alejandro Grimaldo (6.1 million euros) continues to justify its premium price, even if Leverkusen remains unpredictable. The attacking full-back has scored at least nine points in each of his last three appearances and can already score nine attacking goals from 12 Bundesliga matches this season.

Juventus also deserves attention at the back. Three clean sheets in their last four league matches indicate improved defensive solidity, and a home encounter with Benfica adds to the appeal. For minute security, Pierre Over (€4.5 million) stands out as their most reliable option.

Newcastle also stands out on its own field. Three clean sheets in the first six games is encouraging, and then they play PSV. A cheap way to get into that defense is through the fullback Lewis Hall (€4.1 million).

MIDFIELDERS

Newcastle’s home form in the Champions League has been largely down to their attacking performances Anthony Gordon (€ 7.1 million) forms the core of it. Penalties have increased his appeal, and three goals of 13 points or more in his first six games underline his threat.

Kenan Yildiz (6.7 million euros) has also attracted attention in Europe, especially during recent rounds. A home match in Italy brings both attacking and defensive advantages, and Yıldız appears to be Juventus’ standout attacking option after scoring in both the fifth and sixth matches.

Bayern arrive in strong form, having lost just once in their last ten games, and remain among the league’s top scorers. Michael Olise (€8.2 million) is hard to ignore, with an impressive 19 goals in 17 Bundesliga appearances this season.

Barcelona scores more than two goals per match on average and is then confronted with a shaky defense from Slavia Praha. Of Lamine Yamal suspended, Rafinha (9.3 million euros) seems to be playing the leading role. He comes into the round in red-hot form, with four goals and two assists in his last three games.

There is also a situation to keep an eye on at Chelsea. Cole Palmer is struggling with a thigh problem and could miss the home game against Pafos. If that happens, Enzo Fernandez (6.6 million euros) would likely incur fines. The Argentine already leads all Premier League midfielders in expected goal involvement without penalties, further increasing his appeal.

FORWARD

Budget opportunities elsewhere have allowed us to deploy premium firepower up front. Leading the line is Erling Haaland (€10.7 million), with the Manchester City striker also receiving penalties. He looks set for a return against Bodø/Glimtwho have scored at least two goals in five of their six games so far.

We’ve already identified Bayern Munich’s attack as a target for this week, but their meeting with Union Saint-Gilloise makes a double blow difficult to ignore. At the center of everything Harry Kane (10.8 million euros), who has already reached the 20-goal mark in the Bundesliga this season and remains Bayern’s focal point in front of goal.

Rounding out the premium trio is Kylian Mbappe (€10.9 million). Real Madrid are still having to settle for new management, but Mbappe has already managed 18 and 22 points this season, so overlooking him for a home game against Monaco feels like a risky decision.

UCL CONTEST 7 SCOUT PICKS