Matchday 7 of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) Fantasy is upon us, and it's time to solidify our Scout Picks! Now, keep in mind that these recommendations are specifically tailored for this upcoming Matchday. The unique format of UCL Fantasy allows for manual substitutions from one calendar day to the next, which means we need to assemble a robust squad of 15 players—not simply a starting lineup with benchwarmers who won’t contribute.
Goalkeepers
When it comes to goalkeepers for Tuesday’s matches, the options appear rather limited, as only a handful of teams seem likely to secure clean sheets. This scenario opens the door for considering budget-friendly choices. One such option is Vanja Milinković-Savić (€4.1m). The Napoli goalkeeper has played a key role in achieving four clean sheets over the last six games and is now set to face Copenhagen, a match that presents a favorable opportunity for his team.
Moving to Wednesday, there aren’t many standout goalkeeping prospects either. However, Marco Carnesecchi (€4.8m) from Atalanta stands out as one of the better choices. The Italian keeper has been instrumental in helping his team record three clean sheets in their last four outings, and he has a home match against a struggling Athletic Club attack.
Defenders
Alejandro Grimaldo (€6.1m) continues to validate his premium price tag, despite Bayer Leverkusen’s unpredictable form. The dynamic wing-back has consistently scored at least nine points in each of his last three appearances and has already notched nine attacking contributions across just 12 Bundesliga matches this season.
Juventus also deserve attention in the defensive department. They have managed to keep three clean sheets in their last four league games, showcasing an improvement in their defensive capabilities. Their upcoming home match against Benfica adds to the appeal. For reliability in terms of playing time, Pierre Kalulu (€4.5m) emerges as their most dependable option.
Newcastle's defense also looks promising at home, with three clean sheets in their first six matches, and they are set to face PSV next. One of the more reliable pathways into their backline is through Malick Thiaw (€4.8m), who also poses a threat during set-pieces.
Club Brugge finds themselves with a fantastic chance ahead. Playing in the early kickoff against a struggling Kairat side presents an excellent opportunity for their defense to achieve a clean sheet. Joel Ordonez (€4.0m) is one of several budget-friendly picks to consider.
Real Madrid will host Monaco during Matchday 7. While Los Blancos have had mixed results defensively, this particular matchup should give them a solid chance to add another clean sheet to their tally. Dean Huijsen (€4.4m) is the cheapest and most reliable entry point into their defense.
Midfielders
Kenan Yıldız (€6.7m) has been turning heads in Europe, especially in the recent rounds. A home game in Italy offers both offensive and defensive potential, and it appears that Yıldız is Juventus' primary attacking threat, having delivered returns in both Matchday 5 and Matchday 6.
Bayern Munich is in excellent shape, with just one loss in their last ten matches, and they remain among the top-scoring teams in the competition. Michael Olise (€8.2m) is difficult to overlook, boasting an impressive 19 goal contributions from 17 Bundesliga appearances this season.
Barcelona averages more than two goals per match and faces a shaky Slavia Praha defense. With Lamine Yamal suspended, Raphinha (€9.3m) looks poised to take the spotlight. He enters this round in exceptional form, having scored four goals and provided two assists in his last three outings.
Another situation to keep an eye on is at Chelsea, where Cole Palmer is currently dealing with a thigh injury and might miss the home fixture against Pafos. Should that occur, Enzo Fernández (€6.6m) is likely to step up as the designated penalty taker. The Argentine midfielder already leads all Premier League midfielders in non-penalty expected goal involvement, adding to his attractiveness as a pick.
To allow for some premium selections in our lineup, Hans Vanaken (€5.3m) from Club Brugge is an appealing option. The Belgian club has already demonstrated their attacking prowess this season, scoring three goals against Barcelona and four against Monaco, meaning their matchup against Kairat should provide Vanaken ample opportunity to shine.
Forwards
Thanks to some budget-friendly enablers elsewhere in our squad, we can afford to stack our forward line with premium talent. Leading this charge is Erling Haaland (€10.7m), the Manchester City striker who also takes penalties. He seems well-positioned to deliver strong performances against Bodø/Glimt, who have conceded two or more goals in five of their six matches thus far. However, rumors surrounding his fatigue could affect his minutes, so keeping a close eye on news until the deadline is advisable.
We’ve already highlighted Bayern Munich's offense as an area to focus on this week, and their match against Union Saint-Gilloise makes a double-up hard to ignore. Central to this is Harry Kane (€10.8m), who has already surpassed the 20-goal mark in the Bundesliga this season and remains the focal point of Bayern's attack.
Completing our premium trio is Kylian Mbappé (€10.9m). Although Real Madrid is still finding its footing under new management, Mbappé has already delivered impressive scores of 18 and 22 points this season, making it risky to overlook him in a home encounter against Monaco. However, he has been managing an injury for several weeks, so be sure to watch for updates as we near the deadline.
For those willing to take a gamble by excluding both Haaland and Mbappé, options like PSG's Ousmane Dembélé (€9.9m), who faces Sporting CP, or Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski (€9.3m) in his matchup against Slavia Praha could be enticing alternatives.
