Uefa Champions League : What the numbers say

GOALKEEPERS
Player Price
Club Opponents Home/Away Gameday Projected
Manuel Neuer 6.0 Bayern AEK Athens A Tuesday 6.8
Alisson Becker 5.5 Liverpool Crvena zvezda H Wednesday 6.1
Robin Olsen 4.0 Roma CSKA Moskva H Tuesday 6.0
Andre Onana 4.5 Ajax Benfica H Tuesday 6.0
Fresh off a clean sheet in their first away match of the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League, Manuel Neuer is projected to keep a second clean sheet when Bayern travel to AEK Athens. The Greek team will be expected to attack in front of their home fans, so Neuer tops the list due to his save potential.

Alisson Becker is second on the list with Liverpool having kept four clean sheets in their six home matches in all competitions this season, while Roma (and Robin Olsen) are projected to keep a clean sheet with the Italian side having not conceded a group stage goal at home since 2015/16.

The final spot goes to Ajax ‘keeper Andre Onana, who kept a clean sheet in their opening home match against AEK.

DEFENDERS
Player Price
Club Opponents Home/Away Gameday Projected
Aleksandar Kolarov 5.5 Roma CSKA Moskva H Tuesday 9.4
Sergio Ramos 6.5 Real Madrid Plzeň H Tuesday 7.6
Nicolás Tagliafico 4.5 Ajax Benfica H Tuesday 7.2
Joshua Kimmich 6.0 Bayern AEK Athens A Tuesday 6.4
David Alaba 6.5 Bayern AEK Athens A Tuesday 6.2
Mats Hummels 6.0 Bayern AEK Athens A Tuesday 6.0
Matthijs de Ligt 5.0 Ajax Benfica H Tuesday 6.0
Kostas Manolas 6.0 Roma CSKA Moskva H Tuesday 6.0
Andy Robertson 5.5 Liverpool Crvena zvezda H Wednesday 6.0
Trent Alexander-Arnold 5.5 Liverpool Crvena zvezda H Wednesday 6.0
The top projected defenders once again highlight how important home fixtures are in the UEFA Champions League, with seven of the ten playing in front of their own fans. The three defenders who buck this trend all belong to the same outfit; Bayern’s Joshua Kimmich, David Alaba and Mats Hummels.

The top projected defender for matchday three is Roma’s Aleksandar Kolarov. Fresh off a nine-point haul on matchday two, the Serbian left-back combines clean sheet potential with significant attacking threat. Already with an assist in this season’s UEFA Champions League, Kolarov was also a strong asset last year, scoring once and assisting three times in the competition.

MIDFIELDERS
Player Price
Club Opponents Home/Away Gameday Projected
Mohamed Salah 11.0 Liverpool Crvena zvezda H Wednesday 10.5
James Milner 5.5 Liverpool Crvena zvezda H Wednesday 8.8
Philippe Coutinho 8.5 Barcelona Internazionale H Wednesday 8.4
Sadio Mané 9.0 Liverpool Crvena zvezda H Wednesday 7.7
Isco 8.0 Real Madrid Plzeň H Tuesday 6.2
Thiago Alcántara 8.5 Bayern AEK Athens A Tuesday 6.0
Paul Pogba 9.0 Man. Utd Juventus H Tuesday 6.0
Marlos 6.0 Shakhtar Man. City H Tuesday 4.9
Fernando 5.5 Galatasaray Schalke H Wednesday 4.7
There is a strong Liverpool presence in the above list, the English club providing three of the top four projected midfielders. Last season, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané and James Milner scored or assisted a combined 33 times (20 goals and 13 assists) between them on their way to the final.

Our algorithm also favours former Red Philippe Coutinho. The diminutive Brazilian already has a goal and an assist to his name in the competition and will expect to improve that record when Barcelona host Internazionale. The Italian outfit are yet to keep a clean sheet in this year’s competition.

FORWARDS
Player Price
Club Opponents Home/Away Gameday Projected
Neymar 11.0 Paris Napoli H Wednesday 12.2
Robert Lewandowski 11.0 Bayern AEK Athens A Tuesday 9.3
Edin Džeko 10.0 Roma CSKA Moskva H Wednesday 7.4
Kylian Mbappé 10.0 Paris Napoli H Wednesday 7.2
Luis Suárez 10.5 Barcelona Internazionale H Wednesday 7.1
Edinson Cavani 11.0 Paris Napoli H Wednesday 7.1
Roberto Firmino 9.5 Liverpool Crvena zvezda H Wednesday 7.0
Cristiano Ronaldo 12.0 Juventus Man. Utd A Tuesday 6.5
Harry Kane 11.0 Tottenham PSV A Wednesday 6.2
Managers are spoilt for choice when selecting the best forward for matchday three, with all ten expected to score six or more points. Top of the list – for the second matchday running – is Paris’ Neymar, who rewarded owners last time out with a hat-trick and 14 points.

Below Neymar is a who’s who of European forwards, with Robert Lewandowski, Edin Džeko and Luis Suárez all capable of significant returns. Neymar’s team-mate Kylian Mbappé is also one to watch, with the Frenchman scoring 14 goals in his last 13 appearances for club and country.