UCL Fantasy Matchday 1 Best Captains
The Champions League is finally here! Today we pick out the UCL Fantasy Matchday 1 best captains. As well as picking out the standout captaincy option on each day of Matchday 1 we also select one or more differential options for those looking to gain rank early on.
UCL Fantasy managers have the ability the select a captain on each day of a Matchday. If you aren’t happy with your captain return on the first day then you can change you captain to another player on the second and third day.
Tuesday 17th September
There are several fantastic options for captaincy on Tuesday but it’s the Bavarians who arguably have the better fixture. GNK Dinamo are one of the lowest ranked sides in this seasons Champions League. They go into their first match of the new campaign off the back of losing their last two matches.
Meanwhile, Bayern have won nine of their 10 matches since last season. During that period they also scored a mammoth 42 goals – averaging 4.2 goals per game. Spearheading the frontline is penalty taker Harry Kane (€10.5m). As well as amassing a huge 36 goals and eight assists in the Bundesliga last season Kane also hit eight goals and four assists in his 12 Champions League games.
Real Madrid’s opener could be another good opportunity to bag a good captaincy return. Although Kylian Mbappe (€11) and Vinicius Junior (€11m) will be difficult to choose between both face a Stuttgart side who have managed just one clean sheet in their first six matches.
Some may even be tempted by Viktor Gyökeres (€7.5m). Sporting go into their home match against Lille after winning five of their previous matches and scoring 2-6 goals in all of them. Heavily involved in those goals was Gyökeres. So far he has produced a massive 10 goals and five assists since pre-season.
Wednesday 18th September
It’s slim pickings on the Wednesday. But, considering Inter’s questionable start to their title defence in Serie A this season and Manchester City’s relentless early form the English side could be the most reliable team for the armband.
The standout Manchester City pick is of course Erling Haaland (€11m). Nine goals scored already this season makes the Norwegian one of the most in-form players in Europe. Team form, player form, and a home fixture all combine to make him a very easy shoo-in for captaincy on Wednesday.
There are plenty of differentials for UCL Fantasy managers to choose from today. PSG are another side with home advantage this week. They clash with a Girona who have already shipped 3-4 goals against both Atleti and Barcelona this season. Two players have impressed for the PSG frontline so far. Bradley Barcola (€7m) netted four goals in his first three League 1 matches whilst teammate and fellow midfielder Ousmane Dembele (€8.5m) hit three goals and two assists in his first for matches.
Another solid consideration could be German side Dortmund. Emre Can (€5m) is categorised as a defender whilst playing in a midfield position. This means he can benefit from clean sheets whilst positionally more advanced on the pitch. Can has also been taking penalties since Niclas Fullkrug and Marco Reus departed the club – scoring from the spot in three matches since pre-season.
Thursday 19th September
Thursday is another day filled with captaincy options. Amongst them and potentially the standout captaincy pick is a Barcelona attacker. Winning all five of their matches so far the Catalans have started their new La Liga campaign in blistering form.
Leading the in-form Barcelona frontline, one which has produced a huge 17 goals so far this season, is Robert Lewandowksi (€9.5m). Something seems to be clicking for the 36-year-old and in his first five matches of his 2024/25 La Liga campaign the Barcelona penalty taker has already amassed four goals and two assists.
Helping him achieve his tally is an alternative captaincy option and teammate Lamine Yamal (€7.5m). The 17-year-old has been re-categorised from a forward to a midfielder this season and after four assists and one goal in six EURO 2024 matches and four assists and three goals in five La Liga matches recently he also forces his way into the captaincy conversation.
The Thursday isn’t all about Barcelona though. Leverkusen wing-back Alejandro Grimaldo (€5.5m) bagged double digits for goals and assists last season in the Bundesliga. Clean sheet potential could be another appeal of his. Feyenoord lay ahead for the German champions which could be a good opportunity for returns at both ends of the pitch.
If you enjoyed our UCL Fantasy Matchday 1 Best Captains article then be sure to check out all 36 Champions League predicted line-ups for Matchday 1 here.
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