NMA - UCL MD-5 Player Picks

We’re heading into the busiest part of the fantasy season — and no more international breaks until March. This means it is time for us to go all in on our UCL efforts. Let’s dive into our MD-5 player picks.

Goalkeepers

Manuel Neuer (€6m, Bayern vs Copenhagen)

Photo by Rene Nijhuis/BSR Agency/Getty Images

Manuel Neuer plays against Copenhagen, and we do think he’d be a top pick for those in search of a goalkeeper who can produce clean sheet points. Bayern has two clean sheets in four UCL games.

~

David Raya (€5.0m, Arsenal vs RC Lens)

Raya is another solid goalkeeper choice for MD-5. Arsenal plays at home and is on the verge of the Round of 16, so we expect a convincing performance. The Gunners have kept three clean sheets in their last six; we think they can keep another against RC Lens in MD-5.

Defenders

Rico Lewis (€4.6m, Man City vs RB Leipzig)

Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images

Manc City’s Rico Lewis is one of the first names on our MD-5 UCL defender picks. He is classed as a defender but currently playing out of position in midfield. This increases the likelihood of him getting a goal or an assist. He plays for a really attacking side in Man City, he’s cheap, and we think he’s likely to start. Save money on him to spend on others.

~

Zinchenko (€5.4m, Arsenal vs RC Lens)

Arsenal has looked solid at the back in recent games, and Zinchenko as inverted fullback gets into dangerous positions where he can get generate attacking returns. As mentioned above, Arsenal plays home at the Emirates and has a chance of qualify to the Round of 16, so Gunners like Zinchenko are excellent options.

~

Kim Min Jae (€5.0m, Bayern vs Copenhagen)

For the same reasons we like Manuel Neuer in goal, we also like Bayern defender Kim Min Jae. Bayern has one of the easiest fixtures on paper and so we’re looking to target their defensive assets. A clean sheet could be in the cards. Caveat: Bayern has already locked 1st in group, so rotation could happen.

~

Joao Cancelo (€6.0m, Barcelona vs Porto)

Barca faces Porto, an interesting encounter that could see a decent amount of goals. With Cancelo’s involvement in Barca’s attacks, we expect him to deliver points either by goals or assists. He is also a player that surprisingly gets a lot of points for ball recoveries. So far this season, he has never returned less than 3 points.

Midfielders

Jude Bellingham (€7.9m, Real Madrid vs Napoli)

Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images

Madrid’s Bellingham is one of the most in-form players in the world. So far this UCL season, he has bagged three goals plus one assist. The red-hot Englishman is our top midfield pick for MD-5.

~

Brais Mendez (€6.9m, Real Sociedad vs Salzburg)

Mendez is currently the highest-scoring midfielder in the game with 36 points. This week he is up against Salzburg, and in the reverse fixture he notched a goal, an assist, and 14 fantasy points.

~

Bukayo Saka (€9.0m, Arsenal vs RC Lens)

Yet another Arsenal pick here: Saka is Arsenal’s star boy, and he’s a player who thrives in big moments. The game against Lens is a big one, so you’ve got to back Saka for a fairy tale performance.

~

Phil Foden (€8.0m, Man City vs RB Leipzig)

With City already guaranteed to go through, and with the uncertainty that is always present with Pep’s lineups, Foden could be a risk. But we think his versatility will earn him a spot in City’s midfield. His teammate Jeremy Doku has been in strong form recently and is another strong contender for your fantasy UCL squad. Both men put in full shifts against Liverpool over the weekend though, so could be set for a rest against Leipzig.

If you aren’t fancying the Man City boys, then Leroy Sane of Bayern is a great alternative, but Bayern is also prone to rotation.

Forwards

Erling Haaland (€11.5m, Man City vs RB Leipzig)

The new Mr Champions League had a slow start to his UCL campaign, but he has since found his form, scoring a total of four goals in his last two games. We know that Haaland enjoys playing at the Etihad, so we’re expecting him to come good this week. He’ll surely be the consensus choice for Tuesday’s armband.

~

Harry Kane (€10.0m, Bayern vs Copenhageng)

Photo by Ralf Ibing - firo sportphoto/Getty Images

A lethal finisher who is currently breaking records at Bayern, Kane is the highest scoring English player in the Bundesliga. Coming up against Copenhagen in MD-5, Kane should keep up his impressive scoring streak. If Haaland disappoints on Tuesday, Kane’s the man you’ll want to captain on Wednesday.

Tuesday’s early matches are Lazio hosting Celtic and Shaktar hosting Antwerp, so those are the four lineups we will see before our transfer deadline.

Wednesday’s early matches are Galatasaray hosting Man United and Sevilla hosting PSV Einhoven, so those are the four lineups we’ll see before our substitution deadline.

~

How is your squad holding up? Are you playing a chip? Which of the above picks do you agree with? Which would you avoid and why? Whom do you like better? Please log in and talk to us in the comments!

~