UCL Fantasy Match Day 1 - First Draft - 2025/26 Season

The brand-new UCL Fantasy 2025/26 season is here, and like many managers, I couldn’t resist putting together my first draft ahead of Matchday 1. With fresh group stage fixtures, new player prices, and plenty of big hitters to consider, early drafts are all about balancing premium stars with hidden gems.

In this post, I’ll walk through my initial team, highlight the players who stood out to me, and share some early strategy thoughts for the season ahead. Goalkeepers

For my first draft, I’ve gone with a rotation strategy—pairing a budget-friendly option with a more reliable premium goalkeeper from a team with strong clean sheet potential. This allows flexibility for the early rounds, where fixture difficulty varies across the groups.

Defenders

Defenders are more valuable than ever in UCL Fantasy thanks to their attacking potential. I’ve prioritised attacking full-backs which is funded by a budget 4.0 enabler.

Midfielders

Midfield is where I’ve gone a bit more balanced with mid-priced players and a few differential punts along with some template names.

Forwards

No UCL Fantasy draft is complete without firepower up front. I’ve currently included players that are capable of scoring goals and providing assists.

Early Strategy

At this stage, the draft is more about structure than perfection. The focus has been on getting players with Champions League prowess from teams that are likely to advance to the latter stages.

Final Thoughts

This first draft is sure to change as we get closer to Matchday 1, but it’s a great starting point for planning the season. UCL Fantasy is all about balancing star names with hidden value picks, and I’m excited to see how this team evolves in the coming weeks.

Who’s in your first UCL Fantasy draft for 2025/26? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!