The UEFA Champions League returns for Matchday 2, giving Fantasy managers another chance to pick up valuable points. With 18 fixtures spread across Tuesday and Wednesday, there are plenty of options to consider when building a squad for the second round of matches.
Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and Michael Olise are among the names worth considering, but there are other players who could also deliver good returns. Finding the right balance between top performers and less obvious picks could help managers get ahead of thier rivals, especially in mini-leagues.
Here are our top player picks for Champions League Matchday 2, based on form, fixtures and their potential to deliver points.
Goalkeeper
David Raya (Arsenal vs Lille)
Arsenal’s home game against Lille makes David Raya a strong option in goal. The Spaniard earned seven Fantasy points after keeping a clean sheet in the 1-0 win over Napoli on Matchday 1.
He has also been reliable for Arsenal across competitions, giving managers another reason to consider him. Lille scored twice in their opening 3-2 defeat to Real Betis, so Raya may need to make a few saves if the visitors find space in attack.
Defenders
Nuno Mendes (Manchester City vs Paris Saint-Germain)
Although PSG face a difficult trip to Manchester City, Nuno Mendes is worth considering because of his attacking contribution. The left-back provided an assist in the 6-1 win over Slovan Bratislava, showing that he can deliver points beyond clean sheets.
City should offer a tougher test, but Mendes’ forward runs and ability to create chances could still make him a useful pick.
Sergino Dest (RB Leipzig vs PSV Eindhoven)
Sergino Dest could be a good option for managers looking beyond the more popular defenders. The PSV full-back scored in the 1-1 draw against Shakhtar Donetsk and collected 11 Fantasy points.
His willingness to join attacks gives him a chance to contribute further against RB Leipzig, who lost 4-1 to Como in their opening match. A clean sheet may be harder to secure, but Dest’s attacking qualities make him an interesting differential.
Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal vs Lille)
Gabriel Magalhaes offers a combination of defensive reliability and a threat from set pieces. Arsenal kept Napoli scoreless in their opening match, and another home fixture gives the Brazilian a chance to collect more defensive points.
He is also dangerous in the opposition box, particularly from corners, so he could deliver a useful return even beyond a clean sheet.
Virgil van Dijk (LASK vs Liverpool)
Liverpool travel to face LASK, who failed to score in their opening match against AEK Athens. That gives Virgil van Dijk a reasonable chance of earning clean-sheet points if Liverpool control the game.
The Dutch defender is also a threat from corners and free kicks, making him useful at both ends of the pitch. Liverpool conceded twice against Atletico Madrid in their opener, however, so another clean sheet is not guaranteed.
Midfielders
Michael Olise (Viking vs Bayern Munich)
Michael Olise is one of the strongest midfield options after scoring twice and providing an assist in Bayern Munich’s 5-0 win over Bodo/Glimt. His 21 Fantasy points made him the highest-scoring player on Matchday 1.
Bayern now travel to face Viking, who lost 3-1 to Stuttgart in their opening match. Olise’s creativity and eye for goal make him a strong option for managers looking for goals and assists, while his form also puts him in contention for the captaincy.
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal vs Lille)
Bukayo Saka could be a valuable pick for Arsenal’s home meeting with Lille. The winger is heavily involved in his team’s attacking play and can contribute through both goals and assists.
Lille conceded three times against Real Betis, giving Saka an opportunity to exploit weaknesses in their defence. His ability to create chances for himself and his teammates makes him an appealing option for this round.
Raphinha (Galatasaray vs Barcelona)
Raphinha has been one of Barcelona’s most productive attackers, scoring 14 goals across all competitions before Matchday 2. He also scored twice in the 5-1 victory over Feyenoord, showing how quickly he can deliver a big Fantasy score.
Barcelona travel to face Galatasaray, who lost 3-1 to Sporting CP in their opening match. However, Raphinha returned early from international duty with a muscle injury, so managers should check his fitness and availability before selecting him.
Jude Bellingham (Roma vs Real Madrid)
Jude Bellingham is an appealing midfield option for Matchday 2 after an impressive international break with England. He scored once and provided three assists in the 7-0 win over Croatia, showing his ability to contribute both goals and assists.
The 23-year-old has also scored three goals and provided two assists for Real Madrid in La Liga this season. Madrid travel to face Roma, who have made an unbeaten start to their domestic league campaign. Bellingham finished with three Fantasy points against Inter on Matchday 1, but his recent attacking form makes him worth considering for this round.
Forwards
Harry Kane (Viking vs Bayern Munich)
Harry Kane remains one of the leading forward options for Matchday 2 after scoring and assisting in Bayern’s 5-0 win over Bodo/Glimt.
He has also continued to score for England, adding to his strong start to the season. Bayern’s next opponents, Viking, conceded three goals against Stuttgart, giving Kane an encouraging fixture on paper. His finishing and involvement in Bayern’s attacking play make him a strong candidate for the captaincy.
Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan vs Club Brugge)
Lautaro Martinez offers another option for managers who want to spread their attacking picks across different teams. The Inter captain scored twice in each of his last two Serie A starts and assisted his side’s goal against Real Madrid on Matchday 1.
He has also contributed to Argentina’s attack during the international break. Inter now host Club Brugge, and Martinez could benefit if his team creates enough chances around the penalty area.
Ermedin Demirovic (Slovan Bratislava vs VfB Stuttgart)
Ermedin Demirovic could be one of the more interesting differential picks after scoring a hat-trick in Stuttgart’s 3-1 win over Viking. His 17 Fantasy points made him one of the highest-scoring forwards in the opening round.
Stuttgart now face Slovan Bratislava, who conceded six goals against PSG, giving Demirovic a chance to build on his impressive start. Repeating a hat-trick is unlikely to be easy, but his recent performance makes him worth considering.