Fantasy UWCL: My Top 7 Knockout Rounds Players

Mariona Caldentey (Barcelona)

Girls on the Ball, All rights reserved

The UEFA Women’s Champions League group stage is complete, and we now know the path to glory for the final eight. As the knockout rounds approach this week, ShePlays has generously granted fantasy owners five free transfers along with an additional $500k for your budget. If you’re in a similar situation to mine, you may find that some of your key players from the group stage are no longer available. This presents an excellent opportunity to revamp your team.

Here are my picks for the top seven stars to consider for the knockout rounds! 

Forwards

Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona)

Girls on the Ball, All rights reserved

If you’re familiar with my articles, you’ll know I place great emphasis on ShePlays’ “attack” points, which I consider the standout feature of this game. Players with high attack points consistently generate scoring opportunities, making this metric a reliable indicator week after week. Even if they’re not directly scoring or assisting goals, their ability to create chances bodes well for future returns. Take a look at the current player chart, and you’ll find Caroline Graham Hansen, Selma Bacha, and Mariona Caldentey topping the league by a wide margin in attack points. If you’re considering investing in premium players, these are my top recommendations.

Midfielders

If you’re considering investing in premium forwards, it’s wise to also explore lower-priced midfield options to balance your budget. Lyon, for example, offers an appealing opportunity with a promising matchup in the knockout round against Benfica. For those unfamiliar with the term, expected Goal Differential (xGD) measures the difference between the number of goals a team is expected to score and the number of goals they are expected to concede based on statistical analysis. It’s a valuable metric for evaluating a team’s performance as it provides insight into their overall effectiveness in attack and defense. In the group stage, Benfica displayed a concerning -4.6 xGD, indicating significant defensive vulnerabilities. Lyon’s midfielders, Sara Dabritz and Dzenifer Marozsan, priced at 500k and 450k respectively, demonstrated their attacking prowess by accumulating 20 attack points each during the group stage, making them attractive budget options to consider.

Another appealing choice is Justine Kielland from Brann. Despite Brann facing a formidable opponent in Barcelona during the knockout stage, their performance against Lyon in the group stage demonstrated their ability to compete at the highest level, ending in an exhilarating 2-2 draw. Kielland boasts a spot in the top 5 among midfielders for “attack” points and comes at a minimal cost of 200k, offering exceptional value. Even if she doesn’t secure a starting position in your lineup, I believe she’s one of the strongest bench options available.

Defenders

Sakina Karchaoui (PSG)

Girls on the Ball, All rights reserved

As the competition progresses and the number of favorable matchups decreases, defenders become increasingly crucial, especially with the added benefit of potential clean sheet bonuses. Therefore, I’ve been closely evaluating Sakina Karchaoui. Despite her hefty price tag of 800k, she offers promising potential as Paris Saint-Germain faces off against a Hacken squad that barely scraped through the group stage with a negative expected goal differential (-5.1), the lowest among the remaining teams. Karchaoui also serves as a key figure in PSG’s offensive strategy, evident from the chart below which highlights her significant lead in “attack” points within the team. If you can manage to include her in your squad, I believe she has the potential to yield significant returns in this initial round.

Final Thoughts

With five transfers at your disposal, now is the perfect opportunity to gain an edge in the UWCL. This level of flexibility allows you to incorporate premium players into your squad without incurring any penalties, while also accommodating the introduction of new budget-friendly options. Here are my recommendations for players worth considering: