ONE of things that makes Dream Team such a compelling game is the fact scoring is not restricted to just the Premier League.
Points can be earned in the domestic cups and the European competitions throughout the season – mini-leagues are often decided by such fixtures.
With that in mind, and with Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City in continental action this week, let’s take a closer look at which players have scored the most points in the Champions League so far this season…
Raheem Sterling (£5.1m) – 33 points
We decided to include all players who have achieved more than 30 points in Europe’s premier competition with the first being Man City’s No7.
Sterling has scored three goals and provided two assists in the Champions League so far this term with his best performance coming in the form of a 15-point haul away to Sporting CP in the round of 16 first leg.
Bruno Fernandes (£5.0m) – 35 points
Manchester United’s midfield talisman has provided as many assists (six) in seven European games as he has in 29 league fixtures in 2021/22.
Fernandes didn’t actually score in the Champions League prior to his side’s exit at the hands of Atletico Madrid but an assist every 87 minutes meant he ticked along nicely – he was also named Star Man at home to Atalanta.
Thiago Silva (£5.1m) – 36 points
The experienced centre-back boasted a superior points tally before Karim Benzema had his wicked way with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in Game Week 30.
Still, Silva has contributed to five Champions League clean sheets this season and will be hoping to make that six in a few hours as the Blues seek a comeback over Real Madrid in the second leg of their blockbuster quarter-final.
An assist against Malmo in the group stages boosted the defender’s total further.
Antonio Rudiger (£4.6m) – 37 points
Much of what applied to Silva is also relevant for Chelsea’s No2.
Rudiger registered an assist against Malmo too and he was credited with another during the emphatic 4-0 win over Juventus in Game Week 12.
The German will need to be at his best this evening if he’s to add to his European returns.
Joao Cancelo (£7.7m) – 49 points
A considerable jump of 12 points brings us to Dream Team’s best defender in the realm of the Champions League.
You needn’t have watched Man City many times recently to know that Cancelo essentially acts as an additional midfielder when in possession and his attacking influence has resulted in two goals and three assists from seven European appearances this term – add in some clean sheets and it’s clear how he’s provided such impressive returns.
The 27-year-old provided double-digit hauls against Club Brugge and Atletico Madrid.
Cristiano Ronaldo (£7.4m) – 54 points
For all the talk about the structural issues the legendary No7 causes Man United there can be no doubt he carried the club on his back in Europe this season.
Ronaldo scored six goals in 612 minutes of action in his favourite competition before elimination.
His clutch performances against Villarreal and Atalanta in particular resulted in huge returns for a sizeable chunk of Dream Team gaffers earlier in the season.
Riyad Mahrez (£7.1m) – 60 points
The Algerian winger has developed into something of a Champions League specialist in recent years.
Mahrez was the hero of the semi-finals last season when he scored three goals across the two legs against PSG.
And he’s picked up where he left off with six goals in the current campaign – the highlight of which was a brace and Star Man showing in Belgium at the expense of Club Brugge.
Mohamed Salah (£7.7m) – 66 points
There aren’t many Dream Team lists Liverpool’s No11 doesn’t top in 2021/22.
Points may have been slightly harder to come by in recent weeks when measured against Salah’s sky-high standards but the fact he’s pouched 66 points in European competition alone this season serves as a reminder of his tremendous quality.
The prolific 29-year-old is averaging a goal every 88 minutes in the Champions League this term and he’ll hope to maintain that strike rate at the very least against Benfica this week having missed out in Lisbon.
