Sorare Football Picks for GW96 Jul 31 - Aug 4: Bundesliga

Futkeu is riding a heat wave that screams start-or-sit decision making: he finished 2025/26 as the 2. Bundesliga top scorer with 19 goals and struck seven times across his last five appearances, form that prompted Eintracht to trigger a buy-back clause. That finishing run was backed by serious underlying numbers. Roughly 17 expected goals for the season and a high shot conversion that produced 19 goals and six assists overall. So his ceiling is a genuine goal-a-game threat if he keeps getting full minutes. The matchup helps too: Union Berlin conceded 58 goals last Bundesliga campaign, about 1.71 per game, which makes an away start attractive for a forward in form, but treat the floor as medium because this is a step up in competition and Eintracht may still rotate while integrating him into the Starting XI; Sorare Edge projects 79.2 with medium model confidence, so this is a high-upside pick with a realistic rotation risk.

If you want a player who builds the chance rather than one who only finishes it, Tom Zimmerschied is the pick; he finished 2025/26 with nine assists, 87 chances created and an expected assists figure around 9.7, which underlines how often he is the final passer for Elversberg. He is listed as a STARTER and logged heavy minutes last season, appearing consistently (five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks), so his floor is a full 90-minute creative outlet for Elversberg at home. That matters for the upcoming home date with Bayer Leverkusen on August 29, 2026, because Leverkusen conceded 47 goals in 2025/26 (about 1.38 per match), giving Zimmerschied a genuine assist ceiling against a defense that can be picked apart, and Sorare’s Edge projection puts him at an 82.0 score with medium model confidence. Good upside if you prize chance creation, but expect volatility in goal scoring.

Petkov is legitimately hot right now, averaging 0.60 goals and 0.60 assists over the last five and logging about 81 minutes a game as a regular in Elversberg's Starting XI, which gives him a high ceiling at home against Bayer Leverkusen. The numbers back the upside: he finished 2025/26 with 13 goals and 6 assists and posted strong expected-goals output, so the recent hot streak looks like the continuation of real chance volume rather than a fluke. He also benefits from a midfield creator in Tom Zimmerschied, who led the team for big chances and expected assists, so Petkov should keep getting the quality service that produces shots and goal contributions. Expect a solid floor

Burke owns the matchup here. He tore Eintracht Frankfurt apart with a hat trick in their meeting on September 21, 2025, so the same opponent at home gives him a legitimately high ceiling. He is a STARTER in Union's Starting XI and has been used heavily, averaging 89 minutes per appearance with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and eleven appearances in the last 15 game weeks, and his season output (six Bundesliga goals with solid xG numbers) shows he is getting the chances to deliver. Sorare Edge pegs him at 83.1 with medium confidence; given Eintracht's tendency to concede goals this past season, Burke profiles as a strong upside start when you need goals, while his heavy minutes provide a respectable floor even if Union's team form (46.67) leaves some risk.

He is coming in hot, averaging 0.60 goals per match over the last five and showing up every week for Schalke, with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks, which makes him an obvious Starting XI candidate rather than a speculative plug-in. Those finishes are backed by underlying work this season. Three goals and roughly a 4.1 to 4.5 expected-goals profile, plus solid shot volume. And that matters because Augsburg conceded 61 goals (about 1.79 per game) last season, so this

Availability is Backhaus’s baseline. He is the club’s starter with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, averaging 90 minutes per outing, so you are buying guaranteed minutes and the floor that comes with full-game scoring. The ceiling is built on saves, not shutouts: he posted 102 saves and five clean sheets across 32 Bundesliga appearances in 2025-26, and Freiburg open at home against Werder Bremen on August 30, 2026, a side that allowed roughly 60 goals last season, which points to strong save-volume upside while keeping clean-sheet probability guarded.

His head-to-head record with Werder is the hook here, he has five clean sheets in six career starts against Bremen, which gives him a clear matchup edge for a home kick-off. He is also the club's settled No. 1, an ever present through 2025/26 with full 90-minute games and steady availability, backed up by five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, so the Starting XI spot and a reliable floor are in place. With the Bundesliga schedule showing Freiburg to open at home versus Werder Bremen and Sorare Edge projecting 78.1 points at medium confidence, he makes sense as a start when you want a low-variance goalkeeper who also carries upside from saves and opponent-specific clean-sheet probability, though his ceiling will track Freiburg's defensive form on the day.

Kobel's clearest edge is reliability between the posts; he mixes true clean-sheet upside with elite shot-stopping, which is a neat fit for a home date with Hamburger SV, who conceded 1.59 goals per game last season. He produced 15 clean sheets in 34 Bundesliga matches while saving 88 of 122 shots for about a 72 percent save rate, so his floor as Dortmund's last line is high and his ceiling includes a big haul if the defence keeps Hamburg to low-quality chances. He is listed as STARTER, has five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 14 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, and the Sorare Edge projection of 78.1 points with medium confidence supports treating him as a steady, low-variance start from the Starting XI rather than a boom-or-bust differential.

What makes Kristof rosterable is reliability, not flash: five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, and he logged 3,060 minutes with 10 clean sheets across 34 2.Bundesliga matches last season, so his floor is a full‑match starter who regularly produces shutout upside. He also posts strong shot-stopping and distribution numbers for a smaller club, saving roughly 86 to 89 shots with about a 69 to 70 percent save rate while completing over 80 percent of his passes, which makes him a solid pick when Elversberg needs both saves and possession control to grind out results. That said, this is a tough fixture against Bayer Leverkusen at the Ursapharm-Arena on August 29, 2026, so treat Kristof as a high-floor, medium-ceiling start and a probability play for saves and a lone clean sheet rather than a lock; Sorare Edge projects 77.9 with medium confidence, which matches that profile.

Noll's biggest asset for fantasy is minute security; he's the club's designated starter and plays 90 minutes per game, which gives a high floor for managers who prize guaranteed minutes. He also arrives off a season-long loan at Hannover where he started 34 league games, so the workload and composure are proven. (He has five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and fifteen appearances in the last 15 game weeks.) This weekend he faces 1. FSV Mainz 05 at the MEWA Arena, a side that conceded roughly 1.5 goals per match last season, so the ceiling for a clean sheet is modest but real if Paderborn can limit Mainz's chances. The Sorare Edge projection pegs him at 74.6 points with medium model confidence, meaning you should treat him as a safe, minutes-driven start with upside tied to Paderborn's defensive compactness rather than as a high-variance shot-stopper.

Hoffenheim just added a left back who supplied genuine attacking value last season, producing four goals, four assists and creating 51 chances while logging nearly every minute for Twente, so he brings a higher-than-usual ceiling for a defender. He is a STARTER with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, averaging 90 minutes per game, which makes his minutes floor attractive. Hoffenheim open at 1. FC Köln, a fairly porous defense that conceded 63 league goals in 2025/26, so Rots should be rostered for upside on the flank and attacking returns, even though clean-sheet chances are limited; Hoffenheim confirmed the signing this summer. Sorare Edge gives him an 83.4 projection with medium confidence, which fits the profile: dependable minutes and real assist/shot potential create a solid ceiling, while the Köln matchup caps his defensive floor, so treat him as a high-upside starter rather than a guaranteed points machine.

Coufal's clearest edge is his right‑side creativity, he finished this season as Hoffenheim's leading assist provider with seven and sits second in the Bundesliga for crosses from open play, which gives him a real ceiling for chance creation and assists. He has been a fixture in the Starting XI, averaging 90 minutes and making five appearances in the last 5 and 15 appearances in the last 15, and Hoffenheim even extended his contract in February after he became a reliable creator; at an average of 0.20 assists per match over his last five, his floor is unusually high for a full back, and Köln conceded 63 goals last season so this fixture offers extra upside for an attacking return. Sorare Edge projects 83.1 points and the model's medium confidence reflects the profile: include him in your Starting XI when you want steady minutes plus a legitimate assist shot, but treat him as a probability play rather than a guaranteed scorer.

Hajdari stands out as a reliable, minutes-eating defender who offers real upside against a leaky Köln backline, he is a STARTER averaging 85 minutes per game with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 14 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, so his floor is attractive for lineups when Hoffenheim pick a settled Starting XI. He also brings attacking value from set pieces and progressive play, finishing 2025/26 with a goal, two assists and a healthy 1.73 xG and 1.62 xA while creating chances from dead balls and open play. Köln conceded 63 goals in 2025/26, which increases Hajdari's ceiling for clean-sheet plus bonus-point outcomes in the upcoming away opener. Hoffenheim locked him down with a contract extension in April and Sorare Edge projects an 80.9 with medium confidence, so treat him as a high-floor starter with solid upside rather than a punt.

Treu's most valuable trait for fantasy is secure minutes combined with real attacking intent from right back, he has been a regular 90-minute starter for Freiburg and has produced two assists, 20 chances created and 1.71 expected assists this season, so he offers a genuinely playable upside beyond clean sheets. Freiburg host Werder Bremen at the Europa-Park Stadion, and Bremen's backline was leaky last season (roughly 1.62 goals conceded per match), which boosts Treu's ceiling for an assist or a goal-creating pass. He has five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 13 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, so his floor is stable in the Starting XI and the Sorare Edge projection (79.3 points, model confidence medium) lines up with that; start him as a high-floor defender with a useful ceiling for attacking returns.

Stanišić is appealing this week because he has been a constant for Bayern and brings genuine attacking upside; he is listed as a STARTER, has made five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, and finished the 2025/26 Bundesliga season with two goals and three assists from 1,857 minutes. That matters against VfB Stuttgart at the Allianz Arena, since Stuttgart were far more vulnerable away last season, conceding roughly 1.94 goals per away match, so there is a realistic ceiling for a fullback who gets into the box and delivers crosses. Treat him as a high floor play because of the secure minutes and the five-in-five availability, with upside supported by his recent 0.40 assists-per-match run over the last five and a Sorare Edge projection of 79.3 points (model confidence medium); probability favors a steady point haul and a nontrivial chance of an attacking return rather than a pure boom-or-bust gamble.

The clearest reason to start him is availability and volume, he has been in Hoffenheim's Starting XI virtually every week and logged roughly 2,838 minutes this season, so his floor is the safe, full-match midfield role. There is real upside in chance creation: he averages about 0.7 key passes per game and 0.18 expected assists per 90 while completing nearly 90 percent of his passes, and he benefits from playing alongside Andrej Kramarić, who finished last season with 14 goals and seven assists, which boosts the probability his final-third service turns into real returns. Against a Köln side that conceded 63 goals in 2025‑26, Hoffenheim should see room to create, so pair his high-floor minutes with a medium ceiling; Sorare Edge projects 82.4 points with medium confidence, making him a dependable starter rather than a boom-or-bust punt.

If you want upside and consistent production this week, Olise is the play. He’s averaged 0.80 assists across the last five matches and arrives off a 2025/26 campaign that produced 15 goals and 19 assists while leading the league for big chances created, so he has genuine finishing and chance-creation pedigree that lifts his ceiling. He is a Starter who’s averaging about 85 minutes and has five appearances in the last 5 and 15 appearances in the last 15, which matters because Stuttgart have been vulnerable to open games and conceded roughly 1.44 goals per match last season, making this a favorable matchup at the Allianz Arena. With a Sorare Edge projection of 80.2 and medium model confidence, treat him as a high-floor starter with clear upside for both assists and goals rather than a risky differential.

Availability and role are the pitch for Engelhardt. He is listed as a STARTER and coming off a run where he’s played five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 14 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, and he arrives having logged 31 appearances with 2 goals and 2 assists last season, so his floor as a full‑time central midfielder is real. Hosting Werder Bremen helps his case because they were porous last term, conceding 60 Bundesliga goals, which raises the odds Engelhardt racks up recoveries and progressive passes; Sorare Edge gives him a 79.9 projection with medium confidence, so treat him as a safe Starting XI option with a steady floor and a modest ceiling unless he starts to push higher up the pitch or pick up set‑piece duties.

Petkov is legitimately hot right now, averaging 0.60 goals and 0.60 assists over the last five and logging about 81 minutes a game as a regular in Elversberg's Starting XI, which gives him a high ceiling at home against Bayer Leverkusen. The numbers back the upside: he finished 2025/26 with 13 goals and 6 assists and posted strong expected-goals output, so the recent hot streak looks like the continuation of real chance volume rather than a fluke. He also benefits from a midfield creator in Tom Zimmerschied, who led the team for big chances and expected assists, so Petkov should keep getting the quality service that produces shots and goal contributions. Expect a solid floor

Burger's real edge is chance creation and steady minutes, not flash goals; he finished the campaign with double-digit goal contributions and an above-average expected assists profile that makes him a threat to supply chances against a Köln side that conceded roughly 1.8 to 1.9 goals per game last season. He is a regular in the Starting XI and averages about 84 minutes per appearance, with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 12 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, so his floor is attractive for lineups that prize guaranteed minutes. Treat him as a safe, assist-leaning midfield starter whose ceiling this matchup boosts because of Köln’s defensive leaks; projection systems (Sorare Edge 79.4, model confidence medium) favour him, but expect upside to come more from chances created and set-piece involvement than from runaway goal totals.

Burke owns the matchup here. He tore Eintracht Frankfurt apart with a hat trick in their meeting on September 21, 2025, so the same opponent at home gives him a legitimately high ceiling. He is a STARTER in Union's Starting XI and has been used heavily, averaging 89 minutes per appearance with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and eleven appearances in the last 15 game weeks, and his season output (six Bundesliga goals with solid xG numbers) shows he is getting the chances to deliver. Sorare Edge pegs him at 83.1 with medium confidence; given Eintracht's tendency to concede goals this past season, Burke profiles as a strong upside start when you need goals, while his heavy minutes provide a respectable floor even if Union's team form (46.67) leaves some risk.

If you want a player who builds the chance rather than one who only finishes it, Tom Zimmerschied is the pick; he finished 2025/26 with nine assists, 87 chances created and an expected assists figure around 9.7, which underlines how often he is the final passer for Elversberg. He is listed as a STARTER and logged heavy minutes last season, appearing consistently (five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks), so his floor is a full 90-minute creative outlet for Elversberg at home. That matters for the upcoming home date with Bayer Leverkusen on August 29, 2026, because Leverkusen conceded 47 goals in 2025/26 (about 1.38 per match), giving Zimmerschied a genuine assist ceiling against a defense that can be picked apart, and Sorare’s Edge projection puts him at an 82.0 score with medium model confidence. Good upside if you prize chance creation, but expect volatility in goal scoring.

Díaz is an obvious play when Bayern attack at home because he logs heavy minutes in the Starting XI and has been a real creator and finisher this season, racking up about 16 goals and 14 assists while generating strong shot and chance volume for the team. Stuttgart have been more porous than you want to face, conceding 49 goals (roughly 1.44 per match) and under one per game at home is their exception rather than the rule, which lifts Díaz's ceiling given the quality of chances he gets. With 96 minutes per game and a confirmed STARTER role, his floor is high because he will almost certainly be involved, while the Sorare Edge projection (80.8) and medium model confidence frame him as a strong start who carries upside rather than a no-risk captain.

Futkeu is riding a heat wave that screams start-or-sit decision making: he finished 2025/26 as the 2. Bundesliga top scorer with 19 goals and struck seven times across his last five appearances, form that prompted Eintracht to trigger a buy-back clause. That finishing run was backed by serious underlying numbers. Roughly 17 expected goals for the season and a high shot conversion that produced 19 goals and six assists overall. So his ceiling is a genuine goal-a-game threat if he keeps getting full minutes. The matchup helps too: Union Berlin conceded 58 goals last Bundesliga campaign, about 1.71 per game, which makes an away start attractive for a forward in form, but treat the floor as medium because this is a step up in competition and Eintracht may still rotate while integrating him into the Starting XI; Sorare Edge projects 79.2 with medium model confidence, so this is a high-upside pick with a realistic rotation risk.

Asllani's biggest selling point this week is availability and volume: he is a STARTER who has five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, regularly logging heavy minutes so his floor comes from steady shot and chance volume rather than one-off bursts. He has 10 goals and 8 assists this season while piling up strong underlying numbers and regular chance creation, which matters because Köln have been porous defensively and concede roughly 1.8 goals per game at home, so the matchup boosts his ceiling as a starter. Sorare Edge projects 79.0 points with medium confidence, so treat him as a probable high-floor start who carries a realistic upside if Hoffenheim gets into the kind of open game that suits his finishing and creativity.