UCL Fantasy: Bundesliga players to consider
All five teams and their players will come in order of ranked fixture difficulty. Teams at the top of the article are perceived to have the most favourable opponents sifting down to the bottom with least favourable matchups.
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BAYERN MUNICH
Manuel Neuer (€6m) is the undisputed number one for the Bavarian giants. He has a formidable penalty-stopping record and since kept one clean sheet in 3 Bundesliga matches so far this season. However, I would consider the fee too expensive in the UCL Fantasy game, with investment elsewhere preferred.
In defence, Kim-Min Jae is arguably the pick of the bunch for Bayern Munich coming in at €5m. With ball recoveries a handy route towards points in the UCL Fantasy game, Kim averaged 3.47 duels won per 90 in last season’s Bundesliga. Dayot Upamecano (€5m) is also expected to start regularly, while Bayern’s full-backs may be subjected to greater rotation under Kompany
One name stands above all in midfield and that is Jamal Musiala (€9m). The 21-year-old has already bagged 2 goals in 3 matches this season with an impressive 0.83xG+A per game. At €6m, Joshua Kimmich offers a cheaper route into Bayern’s midfield where the German will be expected to recover lots of ball and take some set-pieces. New signing Michael Olise (€6.5m) is also one to keep an eye on but Kompany tends to substitute him early!
Harry Kane (€10.5m) needs absolutely no introduction with 74 points from 8 goals and 4 assists in last season’s UCL campaign. Fresh off the back of a hat-trick against Holstein Kiel on Saturday, the Englishman will be raring to go as Bayern take on Dinamo Zagreb at the Allianz Arena.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND
Gregor Kobel is without doubt one of the pillars of this Dortmund team and comes in at a very reasonable €5m price point. The Swiss shot-stopper found his way into the UCL Team of the Season last campaign as BVB reached the final. He also finished as the top-scoring goalkeeper in the game with 60 points. Potentially a set and forget option for this groupstage.
Last season’s top-scoring defender Mats Hummels is gone, but Nico Schlotterbeck (€5m) is someone who I expect to soar with greater responsibility on his shoulders. He managed about 3.62 duels won per game in 23/24. New signing Waldermar Anton offers a cheap route into the BVB backline at €4.5m and can be a threat from corners. Julian Ryerson (€5) would be my choice if you prefer a more attack minded option.
Dortmund wasn’t exactly known for their attacking football last season, but under the tutelage of new head coach Nuri Sahin things have changed. Julian Brandt (€7.5m) would be my standout pick who is assured of regular minutes. The reclassification of Karim Adeyemi as a midfielder for €7m could be worth considering, with 2 goals and 1 assist in 3 appearances this season. Pascal Gross (€6.5m) arrived from Brighton this summer off the back of 4 goals and 10 assists alongside an average 2.66 duels won per 90 in the 23/24 Premier League.
Serhou Guirassy (€7.5m) has just returned from a layoff and looks primed to get back to his best. The Guinean striker bagged 28 goals and 3 assist in the 23/24 Bundesliga before Dortmund acquired his services. He will be the first choice when fit and available. Donyell Malen (€7m) perhaps lacks consistency, but can hit form and worth keeping a watchful eye over.
BAYER LEVERKUSEN
Lukas Hradecky (€5m) is the man between the posts for Xabi Alonso’s side Although Matej Kovar was given Europa League duties last season, I don’t expect that to be the case in UEFA’s premier competition. However, I would probably avoid Hradecky due to his lack of involvement – he averaged just 2.38 saves per game last season.
Alejandro Grimaldo (€5.5m) is the standout name in Leverkusen’s rearguard. A whopping 10 goals and 13 assists in 33 games tells you all you need to know, while also winning 2.17 duels per 90 last season. Edmond Tapsoba (€5m) would be my preferred cheap route into the defence, but you will lose out on potential attacking returns.
Into the control room and there is one name that immediately jump out for ‘Die Werkself’. Florian Wirtz almost appears underpriced at €7.5m given how he’s already bagged 3 goals and 1 assist in 3 outings this season. Add to that a strong EUROs and 11 goals with 12 assists in 23/24 as Leverkusen became German champions.
Up top, look no further than Victor Boniface who comes in at a €7m price point. The Nigerian striker is trigger-happy with his shooting, exemplified by his 14 goals and 9 assists in 23 games in the 23/24 Bundesliga. The 23-year-old looks sharp this campaign too, bagging 2 goals and an assist thus far in 3 games.
VfB STUTTGART
Stuttgart returns the Champions League for the first time after a 15-year hiatus and face reigning champions Real Madrid to start their campaign. If you are looking for a cheap goalkeeper, then Alexander Nubel (€4.5m) could be your man. The 27-year-old averaged 2.74 saves per 90 last season and kept 12 clean sheets.
Arriving from FC Koln in summer, Julian Chabot ought to be irreplaceable in Stuttgart’s defence at €4.5m. The towering centre-half nicknamed ‘the bouncer’ averaged 3.47 duels won per 90 last season. Off the back of a decent EUROs campaign with Germany, Maximilian Mittelstadt (€5m) is pricier, but does offer the best offensive output with 2 goals and 4 assists in 2023/24.
Midfield presents a trio of options with Enzo Millot the pick of the bunch at €6m and sure to start. Its early days, but I like the look of Fabian Rieder (€5m) who has already notched a goal and 2 assists in 3 appearances since signing in summer. Angelo Stiller (€5.5m) is the heartbeat of the team and while his offensive output may be low, the combative midfielder won’t shirk opportunities for a duel or ball recovery.
Leading the line is Ermedin Demirovic (€7m) who arrived from Augsburg off the back of a 15 goal and 10 assist campaign. The German-born Bosnian has adjusted to life perfectly under Sebastian Hoeness with 3 goals and 0.55xG+A/90 with penalties in his locker. Deniz Undav (€7m) has yet to hit the highs of last season but is worth keeping tabs on since making his loan move permanent.
RB LEIPZIG
Since returning from injury, Peter Gulacsi (€5m) has been a mainstay in Marco Rose’s team despite stiff competition. However, the Hungarian will likely be busy between the sticks as Leipzig are set to face several tricky opponents in the league phase. I would probably invest elsewhere for now!
Leipzig have undergone some changes in defence over the summer, but I fully expect David Raum (€5m) to be the prized possession in their backline. The full-back offers decent offensive threat with 0.35xA and 2.80 duels won per 90 in the 23/24 Bundesliga campaign. At €4.5m, Castello Lukeba should look to enforce the with authority now that Mohamed Simakan has departed for Al Nassr.
Extending his stay for another season, Xavi Simons looks like a steal at €7.5m, but of course Leipzig do have a smattering of tricky fixtures. The Netherlands star is yet to return this campaign but has looked lively. If he can reproduce his 23/24 Bundesliga returns with 8 goals and 13 assists, the 21-year-old could prove vital if RB Leipzig wish to progress in Europe.
The sole forward worth considering for Leipzig is Belgian international Lois Openda (€7.5m). He managed 24 goals and 7 assists last season and looks set to reach similar figures again with 2 goals in 3 outings in the 24/25 campaign.
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