The UEFA Champions League (UCL) returns with the round of 16, which is matchday 11 for UCL Fantasy managers.
In this early Scout Picks article, we select the best options for each position, highlighting the players most likely to deliver attacking results, clean sheets and bonus points in the upcoming round.
GOALKEEPS
Tottenham Hotspur’s recent form is a real concern. The North London side are currently 16th in the Premier League and go into this match having lost their last five games. With that in mind, turns to Jan Oblak (5.8 million euros) from Atletico Madrid seems a sensible move between the sticks.
If Oblak doesn’t deliver on Tuesday, then he will David Raya (€5.5 million) is ready to step off the bench. The Spaniard played a key role in helping Arsenal keep five clean sheets in eight League Phase games and now faces an inconsistent Bayer Leverkusen team.
DEFENDERS
There appears to be no standout attacking option in Paris Saint-Germain’s ranks this week, making investing in their attacking assets difficult. Instead, the focus could be on the attacking full-back Ashraf Hakimi (€5.9 million). The Moroccan found the net in one of his most recent Champions League appearances and, given his forward role, offers multiple routes to points in every match.
Liverpool have also shown signs of improvement defensively, keeping three clean sheets in their last five games. That brings Virgil van Dijk (€6.2 million) firmly in the conversation. In addition to his defensive potential, the Dutchman has produced three goals and three assists in his last ten appearances, highlighting the attacking threat he brings from set-pieces.
Bayern Munich may have one of the most favorable defensive games on paper this week, so some attention from the backline is advisable. Central defender Jonathan Ta (€5.4 million) stands out as one of the safest choices thanks to his consistent minutes and reliability in the heart of the defense.
Arsenal have performed excellent defensively all season. The Gunners have maintained excellent underlying numbers in both the Premier League and Champions League, and their standout asset at the back is Gabriel Magalhaes (€5.7 million), which combines certainty of minutes with a real goal threat from set pieces.
Bayer Leverkusen face perhaps the toughest defensive challenge of the round against League Phase leaders Arsenal. Still, Alex Grimaldo (6.3 million euros) remains difficult to ignore. The Spaniard has an impressive 16 attacking goals to his name this season as a full-back, meaning he can still score points even if a clean sheet proves elusive.
MIDFIELDERS
Barcelona are rarely a team you can count on for a clean sheet, but going forward they remain one of the most dangerous teams in the league. The Catalans have jointly scored the second most goals during the league stage and now face Newcastle United who have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last twelve games.
Choose between Rafinha (€ 9.3 million) and Lamine Yamal (9.9 million euros) is far from easy, which makes owning both a sensible approach. Raphinha has recently come off the bench to convert two penalties, while Yamal arrives in excellent form having scored three goals and two assists in his last three games.
However, that doesn’t mean Newcastle’s attackers should be overlooked. Barcelona conceded more goals than most of the top 24 teams during the league phase, making them a penalty taker Anthony Gordon (€ 7.2 million) an attractive option.
The fact that Paris Saint-Germain have conceded two goals in their last two games also makes the Chelsea attack more intriguing. The Blues looked sharp in their most recent outing, scoring four goals against a strong Aston Villa team. Their standout asset is a talisman and penalty taker Cole Palmer (€9.5 million), who has produced five goals and one assist in his last five appearances.
Bayern Munich are ruthless in attack, averaging around three goals per match in both the Champions League and Bundesliga. One of the standout options in the Bavarian squad’s front line is Michael Olise (€8.2 million), who has already racked up an impressive 26 attacking returns in the Bundesliga alone.
FORWARD
We are indeed doubling our position in Bayern Munich’s front line. Given their scoring style, along with Atalanta’s defensive problems in the Champions League recently, it would be risky to overlook Harry Kane (€10.8 million). The England striker has been sensational this season, scoring more than 40 goals in all competitions.
Bodø/Glimt have been underestimated for far too long. The Norwegian team has already achieved impressive results against the likes of Inter, Manchester City and Atletico Madrid, proving that they deserve to be taken seriously. One of their standout attackers is the penalty taker Kasper High (€5.5 million), who has scored seven goals in ten Champions League appearances this season.
That said, although Bodø/Glimt impressed with their results, they still conceded almost two goals per game during the league phase. Therefore, there is another budget worth considering in the same competition Luis Suarez (€5.0 million). The striker not only takes penalties for his side, but has also played a key role in their attacking success throughout the season.
UCL CONTEST 11 SCOUT PICKS
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