UCL Fantasy Matchday 2: 5 Demon Differentials

Raphinha limped off on Brazil duty with a thigh problem, and Flick has confirmed he misses the trip to Galatasaray. Rodrigo Zalazar went off at Braga with a thigh injury, is out at Lens, and could miss LASK on 21 October too.

Panic-buying the template won't win you anything. Here are five players almost nobody owns, who could actually move you up your league.

1. Nico Paz (Como, MID, €7.0m)

Feyenoord (A), Wednesday 14 October.

Only 9% of managers own him, and if you love shooting, you'll love Paz. 31 shots in 6 Serie A games. That's more than five a game. He has just 1 league goal from 2.15 xG, so he's due, and the Demon smells a correction coming.

He set up two goals in Como's 4-1 demolition of Leipzig on Matchday 1. Then he went on international duty and scored three goals in three games for Argentina. He's averaging a 7.88 rating in the league, takes set-pieces, and is in every attack.

Away from home, but Feyenoord let in five against Barcelona on Matchday 1. That defence is there for the taking.

Demon's Verdict: Shots, creativity, and 90 minutes every week. Buy.

2. Johan Manzambi (Aston Villa, MID, €6.5m)

Fenerbahçe (H), Wednesday 14 October.

Nobody owns him. 0%. The Swiss man who scored three at the World Cup has finally been let off the bench at Villa. In his last two Premier League games he scored once and set up two, and he's averaging 0.68 expected goal involvements per 90 minutes. Only a bench-warmer, apparently.

Villa Park under the lights against Fenerbahçe. Manzambi plays further forward than his position suggests and gets into the box.

Demon's Verdict: Minutes were the worry, and two starts in a row says Emery has seen enough. Half a million cheaper than Paz, and nobody has him.

3. Gabriel Jesus (Barcelona, FWD, €6.5m)

Galatasaray (A), Tuesday 13 October.

With Raphinha out, someone has to fill Barcelona's front three, and Jesus is favourite to lead the line. He started and scored in the 3-0 win over Getafe. Barcelona have scored 39 goals in all competitions, including five against Feyenoord on Matchday 1. Galatasaray have conceded at least twice in six straight games.

The catch: Gordon could play through the middle with Adeyemi out wide, so Jesus's minutes aren't guaranteed.

Demon's Verdict: Barcelona attack without paying Lamine prices. High risk, high ceiling. Istanbul is a hostile place, but this Galatasaray defence leaks.

4. Christopher Nkunku (Leipzig, FWD, €7.0m)

PSV (H), Tuesday 13 October.

Literally nobody owns him. Nkunku scored a first-half hat-trick in Leipzig's 6-0 thrashing of Eintracht Frankfurt, and he has four goals and two assists since coming back.

PSV come to Leipzig after only drawing 1-1 with Shakhtar on Matchday 1. Leipzig got battered by Como last time out, and at home they'll want a reaction.

Demon's Verdict: The ultimate punt. In form, at home, and nobody has him. One goal and you jump everyone in your league.

5. Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich, DEF, €5.0m)

Viking (A), Tuesday 13 October.

A defender who attacks like a winger. Davies scored in Bayern's 5-0 win over Bodø/Glimt on Matchday 1, and he set up two goals in one Bundesliga game recently. He played the full 90 at Augsburg on Saturday.

Bayern go to Viking, who shipped three to Stuttgart on Matchday 1. That's a clean-sheet chance with attacking returns on top, for €5.0m.

Demon's Verdict: Cheap, attacking, and on the best team in the competition. His body has let him down before, so check he starts. If he does, he's the bargain of the week.

Demon's Final Word

• Like-for-like midfield swap: Paz is the one. Manzambi if you want to spend €0.5m less.
• Barcelona cover without Raphinha: Jesus.
• Want chaos? Nkunku. Nobody has him.
• Cheap points at the back: Davies.

Get your transfers in before the deadline. The Demon doesn't do sympathy for late managers.

Good luck.