UEFA Champions League Fantasy: Three tips for the best starter squad

2. Pick regulars

One of the biggest risks in any Fantasy Football game is rotation. You’ve picked the assets; you’re feeling good ahead of the matchday; your team on paper looks destined for a big points haul – and then the manager strikes!

For Champions League Fantasy, the risk of rotation is somewhat accentuated. Most of the teams in the tournament are also involved in intense battles every weekend in their domestic leagues. Almost all of them have enough strength in depth to rotate their squad between several different competitions. Patterns will emerge as the season progresses, but at the start, it makes sense to back the players most likely to retain their spot in the team week-in, week-out.

Being the sole source of Manchester United’s creativity, Bruno Fernandes (€10.5m) is an asset rarely given a rest. The Portugal international played all six group stage games last year and started five of those. He scored four times and provided one assist in those six games, and then had nine further goal contributions from nine games after United dropped down to the Europa League.

Joshua Kimmich (€6.5m) was similarly undroppable for Bayern Munich last season. As was Mason Mount (€7.5m) for Chelsea. Kimmich started seven of Bayern’s eight games during the 2020/21 season, while Mount played in 11, starting nine. Antonio Rudiger (€5.5m) was a mainstay in the Chelsea defense during their title-winning run, and one can expect him to feature heavily again since the team lacks options in his position.

Those looking for a big-name differential in attack, one who is likely to start all games barring any injuries, can turn their attention towards Karim Benzema (€10m).  The France international scored six goals in 10 appearances for Real Madrid last season – nine of which he participated in from the start. Benzema’s teammates Thibaut Courtois (€6m) and Luka Modric (€7.5m) are also safe bets, as they will likely avoid the rotation trap.