The UEFA Champions League returns to centre stage this week, and with it comes a fresh round of selection puzzles for Fantasy Football managers. Quarter-final first legs mean fine margins, high stakes and, for those chasing mini-league glory, a ruthless eye for opportunity.
Here is how the leading contenders are expected to line up – and where the risks, suspensions and injury traps lie.
Paris vs Liverpool – Wednesday 8 April
The Parc des Princes will host a clash of attacking heavyweights, and both coaches look set to lean into their strengths.
Paris predicted XI
Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Zaïre-Emery, Vitinha, João Neves; Doué, Dembélé, Kvaratskhelia
Paris are built to surge from wide areas. Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes will be asked to pin Liverpool back, while Warren Zaïre-Emery and Vitinha offer legs and control in midfield around João Neves. Ahead of them, the trio of Désiré Doué, Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia promises relentless movement between the lines.
Bradley Barcola misses out with an ankle injury, trimming Paris’s options in the front line. In deeper areas, Paris must also monitor their discipline: Kvaratskhelia and Nuno Mendes will both miss the second leg if they pick up a booking here – a crucial detail for Fantasy managers wary of rotation or suspension risk.
On the bench sheet, Mayulu (calf) and Fabián Ruiz (knee) are doubtful, which could tighten Luis Enrique’s rotation possibilities in midfield and attack.
Liverpool predicted XI
Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Wirtz; Salah, Ekitiké
Liverpool’s projected line-up is bold. Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez offer pace and penetration from full-back, while the centre-back pairing of Ibrahima Konaté and Virgil van Dijk will be tasked with containing Dembélé and Kvaratskhelia in the channels.
In midfield, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister form a technically gifted trio, with Florian Wirtz pushed higher to knit play behind Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitiké. It is an XI built to trade punches, not sit back.
There are notable absences. Alisson Becker (hamstring), Conor Bradley (knee) and Wataru Endo (foot) are all out, removing a first-choice goalkeeper, an energetic full-back option and a key holding midfielder from the equation. Isak is listed as doubtful with a leg problem.
Discipline could shape the tie as much as tactics. Bradley, Gravenberch, Curtis Jones and Van Dijk will all miss the next match if booked, a factor that may influence how aggressively Liverpool defend in transition.
Barcelona vs Atleti – Wednesday 8 April
Camp Nou – or its temporary home atmosphere – will stage a meeting of contrasting philosophies: Barcelona’s insistence on the ball against an Atleti side that can hurt anyone on the break.
Barcelona predicted XI
Joan García; Eric García, Cubarsí, Gerard Martín, João Cancelo; Olmo, Pedri; Yamal, Fermín López, Rashford; Lewandowski
Barcelona are expected to trust youth and star power in equal measure. At the back, Eric García, Pau Cubarsí and Gerard Martín form a young core in front of Joan García, with João Cancelo providing thrust from full-back.
In midfield, Dani Olmo and Pedri carry the creative burden, while Lamine Yamal and Fermín López support Marcus Rashford off the flanks behind Robert Lewandowski. It is an adventurous set-up, heavy on technical quality and one‑v‑one threat.
The absentees are significant. Bernal (ankle), Andreas Christensen (knee), Frenkie de Jong (match fitness) and Raphinha (hamstring) are all out, stripping depth from both midfield and attack. That elevates the importance of Yamal and Fermín López, both of whom also walk a disciplinary tightrope: Casadó, Fermín López, Gerard Martín and Yamal will miss the next match if booked.
Atleti predicted XI
Musso; Llorente, Giménez, Hancko, Ruggeri; Koke, Álex Baena; Simeone, Griezmann, Lookman; Alvarez
Atleti arrive with a side built for control and counter-punching. Marcos Llorente’s energy from the back line, José María Giménez’s authority in central defence and Dávid Hancko’s presence give them a rugged base. Ruggeri adds balance on the left.
Koke and Álex Baena anchor midfield, with Giuliano Simeone, Antoine Griezmann and Ademola Lookman buzzing around behind Alvarez. Griezmann’s positioning between the lines will be central to Atleti’s hopes of disrupting Barcelona’s rhythm.
Injury problems nibble at Diego Simeone’s depth. Barrios (thigh), Cardoso (adductor), Mendoza (ankle) and Jan Oblak (muscular) are all out, removing both a first-choice goalkeeper and important squad options. Pubill is doubtful with match fitness concerns.
The bookings list is long and potentially decisive: Almada, Barrios, Le Normand, Lenglet, Llorente, Pubill, Ruggeri and Simeone will all miss the next match if they see yellow. For a side that thrives on aggression and tight marking, that is a fine line to walk in a two-legged tie.
Real Madrid vs Bayern München – Tuesday 7 April
Two giants, one of the great European fixtures, and a pair of line-ups brimming with attacking intent.
Real Madrid starting XI
Lunin; Alexander-Arnold, Rüdiger, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Tchouaméni, Pitarch; Arda Güler, Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior
Real Madrid lean into their firepower. Andriy Lunin keeps his place in goal, shielded by a back four that intriguingly features Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right and a youthful pairing of Antonio Rüdiger and Huijsen in the middle, with Carreras on the left.
Federico Valverde, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Pitarch form a powerful, mobile midfield three. Ahead of them, Arda Güler links play with Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior, a front line capable of ripping open any defence in a handful of passes.
Bayern München starting XI
Neuer; Stanišić, Upamecano, Tah, Laimer; Kimmich, Pavlović; Olise, Gnabry, Luis Díaz; Kane
Bayern answer in kind. Manuel Neuer anchors a back line of Josip Stanišić, Dayot Upamecano, Jonathan Tah and Konrad Laimer. Joshua Kimmich and Pavlović provide structure in midfield.
Ahead of them, Michael Olise, Serge Gnabry and Luis Díaz support Harry Kane, who will look to exploit any gaps left by Madrid’s adventurous full-backs. It is a side with goals everywhere, and one that will not shy away from trading chances.
Sporting CP vs Arsenal – Tuesday 7 April
In Lisbon, Sporting CP and Arsenal meet in a tie that promises tactical nuance and Fantasy value across the pitch.
Sporting CP starting XI
Rui Silva; Fresneda, Diomande, Gonçalo Inácio, Araújo; João Simões, Morita; Catamo, Francisco Trincão, Pedro Gonçalves; Suárez
Sporting CP’s structure is clear. Rui Silva starts in goal behind a back line of Fresneda, Diomande, Gonçalo Inácio and Araújo. João Simões and Morita patrol midfield, allowing Catamo, Francisco Trincão and Pedro Gonçalves to drift into dangerous pockets behind Suárez.
It is a line-up that can compress space, then explode forward once they win the ball.
Arsenal starting XI
Raya; White, Salibas, Gabriel, Calafiori; Ødegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke, Gyökeres, Trossard
Arsenal respond with a familiar blend of control and vertical threat. David Raya starts behind a defence of Ben White, Salibas, Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori. In midfield, Martin Ødegaard, Zubimendi and Declan Rice form a technically superb trio, capable of dictating the game’s tempo.
Up front, Noni Madueke and Leandro Trossard flank Viktor Gyökeres, whose movement and physicality will test Sporting’s centre-backs all evening.
For Fantasy Football managers, these projected XIs and confirmed line-ups offer a roadmap: high-ceiling attackers in Paris and Madrid, disciplined midfield anchors in Lisbon, and a minefield of suspension risks across Barcelona and Atleti.
The choices now are brutal but simple: back the stars, dodge the yellow-card traps, and decide whose season you trust most when the Champions League lights come on.
