We’re down to the home turn heading toward the final stretch of the Champions League, so every decision counts. With the second leg of the quarterfinals promising doom or survival, there are massive risks for fantasy managers (unless you’re one of those cheeky types who still have a chip in pocket to reset after the carnage to come!).

This week’s picks blend form, fixture, and fantasy potential, with a few differentials sprinkled in for good measure. Let’s break it down by position.

Goalkeepers

Wojciech Szczesny (€4.0m) – Barcelona at Dortmund

If you’re after value and likely survival between the sticks, Szczesny’s your man. The former Juventus man has quietly been one of the most reliable performers in the knockout rounds, conceding just once while notching 12 saves and back-to-back clean sheets —including in the emphatic 4-0 1st-leg win against Dortmund. He’s also a strong shout for budget-conscious managers.

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Thibaut Courtois (€5.7m) – Real Madrid hosting Arsenal

Down 3-0, Courtois might have his hands full again, but that could translate to points. He made five saves in the first leg, and if Madrid have any hope of clawing back that deficit, he’ll need to stand tall. Not the safest pick, but the upside’s there if you’re banking on a Bernabeu reversal.

Defenders

William Saliba (€5.5m) – Arsenal at Real Madrid

Solid as ever, Saliba was immense in the first leg, racking up nine points off the back of a clean sheet and 11 ball recoveries. He’s been a rock all campaign and remains a popular pick for good reason. Arsenal will need another big shift from him in Spain.

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Alessandro Bastoni (€5.4m) – Inter at Bayern

Bastoni has been quietly consistent and delivered again in Germany— named Player of the Match with six points. Inter’s defense is statistically the best left in the competition, and with the home crowd behind them, Bastoni looks a shrewd, lower-owned differential.

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Nuno Mendes (€5.8m) – PSG at Aston Villa

One of the standout performers of MD-13, Mendes was everywhere — scoring, assisting, recovering balls — you name it. He’s second only to Hakimi for points among defenders and looks in the mood right now. Domestic form and international heroics back it up, and he’s likely to advance to the semis too.

Midfielders

Raphinha (€7.8m) – Barcelona at Dortmund

Half the game’s managers have him, and for good reason — he paid 14 points in the first leg, and he’s chasing history with 19 goal involvements so far. Back at the ground where he scored in MD-6, you’d be brave to go without him. Given his high floor (16, 8, 9, 12, 14 points in Barca’s last five UCL matches), he’s a good shout for Tuesday captain.

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Youri Tielemans (€6.2m) – Aston Villa hosting PSG

Villa needs goals, and Tielemans is the Villans’ creative heartbeat. He grabbed the assist in the first leg, quietly ticking along, not blanking since the knockouts began. He’s got ball recovery upside too. Caveat: Villa is down 1-3 to PSG coming home, so balance him against everything you think good about Hakimi and Mendes (welcome to the knockout squeeze where you’re limited to buying attackers playing against your defenders).

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Declan Rice (€6.0m) – Arsenal at Real Madrid

Rice turned into David Beckham last time out, curling in not one, but two goalazo-of-the-year free-kicks. With three straight attacking returns in Europe and a knack for popping up in big moments, he’s looking like a very smart under-the-radar pick.

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Mikel Merino (€7.0m) – Arsenal at Real Madrid

Playing further forward than natural due to injuries elsewhere, Merino is another midfielder worth punting. He already has Madrid’s number, and Madrid’s 0-3 desperation should create opportunities again in the second leg.

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Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (€7.5m) – PSG at Aston Villa

Kvaratskhelia was electric in Paris. His long-range strike lit up the first leg, and his overall form — three goals plus two assists in his last four matches is red-hot. At just 2% ownership, he’s a proper differential with massive upside.

Forwards

Harry Kane (€10.9m) – Bayern at Inter

Kane blanked in the first leg, but don’t let that fool you — He has been lethal in Europe this season. He has two goals plus an assist in his last two away knockout games, and he’s still on penalties. Expect him to be heavily backed again.

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Désiré Doué (€4.8m) – PSG at Aston Villa

Doué continues to shine and might just be the best enabler in the game. That goal against Villa was his fourth in three games, and with Paris flying, he’s a brilliant budget option for those looking to enable a premium elsewhere.

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Robert Lewandowski (€9.6m) – Barcelona at Dortmund

Vintage Lewa — He hit 40 goals for the season with his brace in the first leg and has now netted eleven times in this Champions League campaign. With a return to Dortmund on the cards, expect him to come out swinging.

Can you fill your holes? Can you shift to in-form players? Are you worried about who will survive to the next round? Or do you have a chip in pocket that frees you to choose assets from the about-to-be-eliminated? Please register and log in so you can tell us what issues you face and whether any of our recommendations helped you. Please post in the comments below!

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