UEFA Champions League Matchday 6 Fantasy Player Picks

The UEFA Champions League never disappoints! It has been an enthralling experience so far with much yet to be decided. Match-day 5 saw 46 goals scored and 9 clean sheets kept, but the highlight of the week was Shakhtar Donetsk beating Real Madrid... again.

The thing that makes the final match-day even more exciting is that all the groups except Group G are yet to be fully decided. With one match-day left, 13-time champions Real Madrid can still top their group... or finish last. Such is the thrill of the biggest and most coveted club cup in world football.

So, for the final time in this season’s group stage, let’s take a look at which players you should be bringing in to your fantasy squads. This is a bit tricky, as some teams might rotate their squads with qualification already in hand, but we’ve got you covered. So let’s hop in.

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Goalkeepers

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Keylor Navas (PSG, €5.5m) - Istanbul Basaksehir (H)

He has been performing well in what is arguably the toughest group. Navas sits at 21 points so far, and PSG end the group stage with a fairly easy fixture at home to the side from Turkey, so a clean sheet is more than likely. He has also made an impressive 18 saves and has played every minute for the French champions so far, which makes him a good pick for the final match-day of the group stage.

Edouard Mendy (Chelsea, €5.2m) - Krasnodar (H)

He’s an absolute bargain at that price, and I am quite surprised he’s owned by just 18% of managers. Chelsea’s defense has looked rock-solid in UCL this season, with four clean sheets so far. A 5th one looks more than likely when Krasnodar visits Stamford Bridge on match-day 6. Mendy is nicely priced for the defense he represents, and Lampard’s men have shown massive improvements at the back since the French shot-stopper’s arrival, so he’s a very reliable pick for your fantasy squads.

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Defenders

Marquinhos (PSG, €5.6m) - vs Istanbul Basaksehir (H)

He has been the hidden gem of UCL Fantasy this season. Having missed the opening game, he has scored a whopping 31 points in four matches, averaging nearly 8 points per game in probably the toughest group. He’s owned by just 6% of managers and faces a comfortable match-up against Istanbul Basaksehir at home.

Cristian Romero (Atlanta, €4.9m) - Ajax (A)

This isn’t the easiest of fixtures on paper, but Romero is in great form at the moment and has pretty impressive stats for the price. He has missed one game but has still managed to score 40 points in four fixtures. Atalanta has all to play for on the last match-day, so the club will be highly motivated. Their CB who’s been pivotal to their performances is a decent shout as a cheap enabler for your fantasy squads.

Joao Cancelo ( Manchester City, €5.7m) - vs Marseille (H)

Manchester City will look to claim that top spot in the group by winning on match-day 6 against the French Side. Although City defenders are always a rotation risk, I expect little rotation in this fixture, so Cancelo should start the game. He has scored 26 points in the last three matches, and I expect him to build on that tally on the final match-day. He’s a great differential at 3% ownership and could prove to be a great option if you want City representation in your defense.

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Midfielders

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Christian Pulisic (Chelsea, €9m) - vs Krasnodar (H)

He’s my maverick pick for this match-day. Hakim Ziyech got injured during Chelsea’s win against Leeds over the weekend, making the American winger highly likely to start midweek. He’s electric, and Lampard’s side is in red hot form right now, scoring seven goals in the last two fixtures and undefeated in 13. Pulisic is owned by merely 1% of managers, so you could make massive ground if he delivers big at Stamford Bridge on match-day 6.

Diogo Jota (Liverpool, €7.9m) - vs Midtjylland (A)

He has played in every match in the Champions League so far, and although the English Champions have nothing to play for on the final match-day, I expect the Portuguese attacker to feature from the start. He has earned Jurgen Klopp’s trust and is highly efficient in converting the chances he gets. Jota sits at 31 points from five matches and has great points potential against a winless side.

Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United, €9.5m) - vs RB Leipzig (A)

Manchester United can’t afford to lose on the last match-day when they visit Germany to face Julian Nagelsmann’s side. Their Portuguese talisman will again need to be pivotal if United are to win this fixture and qualify for the round of 16. It is a very tricky fixture, but the impact Fernandes has when he’s playing will hugely affect the outcome of this match. I am backing him to deliver as he so frequently does and get Solskjaer’s men over the line.

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Forwards

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Ciro Immobile (Lazio, €10.5m) - vs Club Brugge (H)

Here’s a player who’s highly overlooked as a fantasy asset. Immobile has played three matches in this season’s UCL and has earned an impressive 29 points. Lazio hasn’t qualified for the round of 16, so need a result against Club Brugge at home on match-day 6. Immobile is a beast in front of the goal and usually delivers when required, so I fully expect him to score goals in this fixture and carry the Italian side to the knockout stages.

Olivier Giroud (Chelsea, €7.3m) - vs Krasnodar (H)

The Frenchman has scored five goals in the last two games, so it will be hard for Frank Lampard to leave him on the bench. Although Chelsea have sealed the top spot in the group, the Blues will look to build on the momentum they currently have in UCL, so I am expecting Giroud to start and deliver big against a comfortable opponent. He’s priced well and is not owned by a whole lot of players, making him a great shout for the final match-day.

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Captaincy Picks

I will be listing the best captaincy options for each game-day in decreasing order of their reliability and expected points. It will be a mix of strong picks expected to be backed by a lot of fantasy managers as well as some cheeky differentials if you’re a risk taker. Here’s my picks for match-day 6:

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Tuesday

• Ciro Immobile (Lazio)
• Olivier Giroud (Chelsea)
• Neymar (PSG)

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Wednesday

• Diogo Jota (Liverpool)
• Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich)
• Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
• Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan)

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Good luck everyone and may your arrows be green!

Cheers,

Prakhar

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Have you made your transfers yet? Whom above are you watching? Is there anyone who was left out of this article whom you would recommend? Which match do you most want to watch as a fan? Are you hearing any late news? Please let us know in the comments!

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