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September 18, 2024

UCL Fantasy: Key Bundesliga Players to Consider – Bundesliga

The 2024-25 season of European football’s premier competition is here! With the UEFA Champions League returning to our screens, it’s the perfect moment to examine the top-performing players from the Bundesliga who could give you an advantage in your mini-leagues.

All five teams and their players will be organized according to the difficulty of their upcoming fixtures. Teams listed at the top are considered to face the most favorable opponents, while those at the bottom have the toughest matchups.

BAYERN MUNICH

Manuel Neuer (€6m) is the undisputed number one for the Bavarian giants. He has a formidable penalty-stopping record and has kept one clean sheet in three Bundesliga matches so far this season. However, I would consider the fee too expensive for the UCL Fantasy game, and I would prefer to invest elsewhere. 

In defense, Kim-Min Jae is arguably the pick 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. At the same time, Bayern’s full-backs may be subjected to more significant 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 watch, but Kompany tends to substitute him early!

Harry Kane (€10.5m) needs no introduction, with 74 points from 8 goals and 4 assists in last season’s UCL campaign. Fresh off 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 undoubtedly 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, he is a set-and-forget option for this group stage.

Last season’s top-scoring defender, Mats Hummels, is gone. Still, 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) will be my choice if you prefer a more attack-minded option.

Dortmund wasn’t exactly known for their attacking football last season. Still, things changed under the tutelage of new head coach Nuri Sahin. Julian Brandt (€7.5m) would be my standout pick, 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 of 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 return to his best. The Guinean striker bagged 28 goals and 3 assists 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 is worth watching. 

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 defense, but you will lose out on potential attacking returns.

Into the control room and there is one name that immediately jump out ‘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 solid 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 to the Champions League for the first time after a 15-year hiatus. It faces reigning champions Real Madrid to start their campaign.  Alexander Nubel (€4.5m) could be your man if you are looking for a cheap goalkeeper. The 27-year-old averaged 2.74 saves per 90 last season and kept 12 clean sheets.

Arriving from FC Koln in the summer, Julian Chabot ought to be irreplaceable in Stuttgart’s defense at €4.5m. The towering center-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 picking the bunch at €6m and sure to start. It’s 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 the summer. Angelo Stiller (€5.5m) is the heartbeat of the team. While his offensive output may be low, the combative midfielder won’t neglect opportunities for a duel or ball recovery.

 Ermedin Demirovic (€7m) leads the line, 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 last season’s highs 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 is set to face several tricky opponents in the league phase. I would probably invest elsewhere for now!

Leipzig has undergone some changes in defense over the summer, but I fully expect David Raum (€5m) to be the prized possession in their backline. The full-back offers a 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 does 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 wishes 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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