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In this article, Adewale covers top fantasy tips and captaincy picks for the UCL Playoffs in the 2024-2025 UEFA Champions League.
The first leg of the UCL Playoffs of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League delivered thrilling action, highlighted by Real Madrid's sensational 3-2 victory over Manchester City and Bayern Munich's 2-1 win over Celtic. Part two of the playoffs is here, and we are thrilled for more UCL action to come.
The second leg of the playoffs promises more excitement with headline clashes like Real Madrid vs. Manchester City and Benfica hosting AS Monaco this midweek. The road to Germany is set to be thrilling, ultimately leading to the final at Munich's Football Arena. RotoBaller remains your go-to source for top-tier UEFA Champions League fantasy content.
The Playoffs: Second Leg deadline of the 2024-2025 UEFA Champions League season is Tuesday, February 18 at 12:45 p.m. EST, when Milan host Feyenoord. Also, check out the rest of our excellent soccer coverage as the squad gets you all set for every English Premier League slate with our EPL DFS lineup picks and betting picks.
Still time to make transfers ahead of Tuesday's knockout phase play-offs! Tap below to update your team 👇#UCLfantasy | @playstationEU
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 18, 2025
Playoffs: Second Leg - UCL Fantasy Tips
Target Real Madrid and AC Milan Attacking Assets
Real Madrid, the 15 times UCL Champions, asserted their dominance with a huge 3-2 comeback victory, defeating the Cityzens at the Etihad Stadium. The numbers are in Madrid's favor, and it looks like a landslide victory is set as Los Blancos welcome the English giants to the Santiago Bernabéu for the return leg.
From head-to-head history, a combined 23 goals have been scored by both teams in their last five meetings. It's best to target Real Madrid's attack for home advantage. Speaking of attacking threats, Milan has scored 14 goals in the Champions League this season but has only kept one clean sheet thus far.
In order for the Red and Blacks to qualify for the next round, they need to overturn their 1-0 defeat to Feyenoord in the first leg. Now seems to be the ideal opportunity to invest in Milan's attack.
For the first leg of the playoffs, UCL Fantasy managers are strongly advised to focus their two free transfers on any of Real Madrid's and Milan's attacking assets.
#UCLFantasy knockout round playoffs (second leg)
Projections for this week's playoff second leg fixtures, via spread betting markets (90 mins only) pic.twitter.com/9qujPwBik4
— Rob T (@robtFPL) February 18, 2025
According to goal projections, Real Madrid and Milan are expected to produce 2.25 xG and 2.35 xG (expected goals) against their opponents in the second leg of the playoffs.
Recommended UCL Fantasy Assets for Playoffs
- Real Madrid: Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe, and Jude Bellingham.
- Milan: Rafael Leao, Santiago Gimenez, and Christian Pulisic.
UCL Playoffs: Top Captain Picks for the Second Leg
The Champions League midweek fixtures present many fascinating options for your captaincy choice. Players like Vinicius Jr. facing Manchester City and Rafael Leao against Feyenoord all present strong cases. However, our top three picks across the playoffs second legs are:
Harry Kane (€10.7m) - Bayern Munich
Scoring his seventh UCL goal of the season, Harry Kane has taken his goal record to 36 goals scored in 52 Champions League outings. An outstanding fit for the England international.
36 goals in 52 #UCL appearances 📸 pic.twitter.com/osBSo0ujQN
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 13, 2025
Based on player goal estimations, Kane is likely to score 0.94 xG against Celtic this week. With Bayern's overall goal projections at 2.95 xG, we can expect Harry Kane to score a brace against the Bhoys.
Given this, Harry Kane is our RotoBaller captain of the week and a solid option for the Tuesday fixtures.
Player goal projections for this round of Champions League playoff fixtures, via spread betting markets pic.twitter.com/mmViCsYWjR
— Rob T (@robtFPL) February 18, 2025
Serhou Guirassy (€8m) - Borussia Dortmund
Leading the goal-scoring charts with 10 goals scored in the Champions League and earning back-to-back Player of the Match awards for Dortmund. Serhou Guirassy has been the dream UCL Fantasy pick to have in our teams, as he is yet to have a blank this season.
With the Black and Yellows hosting Sporting CP at the Signal Iduna Park this week, Guirassy is set to increase his UCL goal tally and is a compelling candidate for the captain's armband for our Wednesday fixtures.
10 goals for Guirassy this season 👏#UCL pic.twitter.com/vjPcLvqQk0
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 12, 2025
Ousmane Dembele (€8.4m) - Paris Saint-Germain
With five goals scored in his last two Champions League games, the Frenchman has amassed a total of 33 UCL Fantasy points in that timeframe. Dembele has proven himself to be the outstanding asset to have from Paris Saint-Germain!
The 27-year-old has now scored six goals in the Champions League and presently boasts of a record of seven goals in six outings against Stade Brestois 29. Dembele is a top contender for the captain's armband for the Wednesday fixtures.
Dembélé doing bits ⚽@PlayStationEU | #UCLfantasy pic.twitter.com/90jvtipcae
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 13, 2025
Differential Captain Pick (<10% ownership)
Vangelis Pavlidis (€6.5m) - SL Benfica
With a hat-trick against FC Barcelona in Matchday 7 and totaling six attacking returns in his previous three UCL games, Pavlidis has been banging in goals for fun for Benfica this season.
Benfica's star forward is heavily favored this week thanks to home advantage. The Eagles have scored nine goals at home this season, already defeating AS Monaco twice this season, and will be excited to host the French opponents at the Estádio da Luz this Tuesday.
With only 2% ownership to his name and a total of 36 UCL Fantasy points scored in his last three matches, Pavlidis is an excellent differential captain for the second leg of the playoffs.
5 goals in his last 3 games 🥵#UCL pic.twitter.com/57kmQh8j6o
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 18, 2025
Join The RotoBaller League
Once again, join our RotoBaller.com league. Hit any of our writers up over the next two weeks, and we will give you the code (also in the graphic below), and you'll be good to go. Good luck for UEFA Champions League Fantasy, RotoBallers!
Stick around for more UCL Fantasy content coming soon. Is there a question you would like to have answered every week? Hit us up on X @RotoBaller. We would love to hear your feedback and ideas!
