Sorare Football Picks for GW97 Aug 4-7: Chinese Super League

Xadas is hot and indispensable for Tianjin, turning up in the Starting XI every week and logging five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and fifteen appearances in the last 15 game weeks; FBref’s match logs show he collected two goals and two assists across those five games, and FootyStats backs that up with strong per-90 attacking numbers and an 89. 90 minute average. He also leads the team for chance creation, topping assists and key passes for Tianjin while feeding the club

If you want a single decisive reason to start him, it is minutes and involvement: Maritu has started every match and is logging 90 minutes a game while producing 14 goals and six assists in 20 appearances, and he has five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, so his floor is bolstered by role security. Chengdu have conceded 20 goals this season, and Yunnan’s chief creator Alexandru Ionita (10 assists) has been feeding Maritu regularly, which explains a high-xG profile and why the striker offers a genuine ceiling rather than just matchup hope. This one is at Yuxi Plateau where Yunnan tend to be more aggressive, and the Sorare Edge projection (85.5, model confidence medium) lines up with the matchup; expect a high ceiling pick with a solid floor so long as he remains in the Starting XI, but keep a plug-and-play mindset if Chengdu clamps down on service.

Quiles is riding real finishing form and an unusually high shot volume for Tianjin, which makes him a high-upside start against a Shandong defense that has been prone to conceding. He has three goals and about 2.81 expected goals in six appearances this campaign, showing 0.47 xG per 90 and work that translates into real chances inside the box. Shandong concede roughly 1.8 goals per match and their matchups with Tianjin have a strong tendency toward both teams scoring, so Quiles' floor is a single attacking return and his ceiling is multiple-goal upside if Tianjin can sustain pressure. He is a trusted starter for Tianjin and plays big minutes, he has five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, which helps his baseline fantasy floor, and the Sorare Edge projection of 87.0 with medium confidence matches that upside.

Nelson da Luz is the most reliable attacking option for Qingdao Youth Island right now, leading the club’s scoring with eight goals this season and converting at a strong clip over his last five matches (0.80 goals per match in the supplied data), while being listed as a STARTER and logging heavy minutes. Qingdao Jonoon have been leaky at the back this campaign, which amplifies his ceiling in a home derby where Youth Island carry a measurable home edge and create the better xG chances. Sorare Edge projects 85.8 points with medium confidence, so treat him as a high-floor, high-upside play: he should make the Starting XI (five appearances in the last 5 game weeks; 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks) and is worth starting if you need a dependable source of goals, while acknowledging some variance if Qingdao grind out a low-scoring draw.

If you want upside from a Henan attack that funnels chances through one player, Bruno Nazário is the man; he already has eight league goals and an elevated xG profile this season, and he has been in the Starting XI consistently, with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks. He eats minutes and chances, averaging roughly 85 to 88 minutes per outing, and much of his service comes from Gustavo, Henan's leading assist source, so Bruno offers a sturdy floor from volume while carrying genuine match-winning ceiling. The matchup helps, too, because Qingdao Youth Island have been vulnerable at the back this campaign, conceding close to 29 goals in about 20 matches, which raises Bruno's probability of shots and penalty-area touches; treat him as a medium-confidence start with a high ceiling if Henan controls the game and a capped floor if they do not.

Li Hao is essentially a lock for the Starting XI and has been playing the full 90 each week, with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 14 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, so his floor is high simply from minutes and availability. Qingdao Youth Island have been sturdier at home this season, conceding just nine in ten home matches and posting two home clean sheets, and the sides shared a 0-0 in April that underlines the realistic shutout upside for tonight. Pair that home form with an 80.5 Sorare Edge projection and a MEDIUM model confidence, and Li Hao profiles as a dependable fantasy start who offers a safe baseline and a decent clean-sheet ceiling, even though the league can be attack-friendly and volatility on either side keeps the outcome probabilistic.

Liu's biggest selling point is his minutes security and matchup. He has five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and nine appearances in the last 15 game weeks, he plays 90 minutes per game as a STARTER, and the fixture is at Dalian Suoyuwan on August 8, which pairs him with a Shenyang Urban side that concedes roughly 1.6 goals per match and posts clean sheets only about 11 percent, so there is a realistic chance for a shutout. FotMob shows he has logged 360 minutes this season with a clean sheet and steady match ratings, and with a Sorare Edge projection of 78.3 and model confidence labeled MEDIUM, treat him as a medium-floor, medium-ceiling start: his floor is tied to those guaranteed minutes and his ceiling comes from the opponent's defensive frailties.

What makes Yao Haoyang fantasy-relevant is availability and role, he is Chongqing's clear Starting XI goalkeeper, logging 90 minutes per game with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, so his floor is high simply because he plays every match. The upside is concrete: he has racked up 46 saves this season while operating behind one of the league's stingiest backlines, Chongqing with about 16 goals allowed on the campaign, so you get genuine clean-sheet upside rather than a pure shot-stopper bet. Sichuan are porous away, conceding roughly 1.9 goals on the road, which should both keep Yao busy and give him a realistic ceiling from saves plus a chance at a shutout if Chongqing defends its shape; Sorare Edge pegs him at 77.0 points with medium confidence, so treat him as a high-floor starter with a medium but playable ceiling.

If you want a high floor built on steady minutes and save volume, Xue fits the bill: he has 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks as Shanghai Shenhua's Starting XI goalkeeper and has compiled roughly 50 saves this season, so you can count on full 90s and steady counting stats. The matchup helps his upside. Shenyang Urban concede 1.53 goals per game and are much shakier away, which boosts both Xue's save ceiling and his chance of a clean sheet; Shanghai beat Shenyang 3-1 when they met in April, suggesting Shenhua can impose themselves here. Sorare Edge pegs him at 76.2 points with medium model confidence, so treat Xue as a reliable start for floor production from saves and full minutes, with a reasonable probability of extra ceiling from a clean sheet rather than a boom-or-bust lottery.

Yan is a steady presence for Tianjin and should be treated as a starter when he makes the club Starting XI, with 13 appearances in the last 15 game weeks and an average of 72 minutes per match, which gives him a reliable floor and the kind of baseline Sorare Edge rewarded with a 75.5 projection at medium confidence. The matchup at Shandong Taishan (Jinan Olympic Sports Center, August 9, 2026) leans toward a busy afternoon rather than a shutout; Shandong's matches this season have been high scoring and they concede about 1.8 goals per league game while producing plenty of chances, so Yan's ceiling comes from save volume more than clean-sheet upside. If you need a dependable minutes floor and the chance for a handful of high-value saves, he is a sensible start; if your roster hinge is a near-certain clean sheet, this fixture offers only a modest probability of that outcome.

If you want a dependable floor from Tianjin's backline, Córdoba is the man to start; he is in the Starting XI and played 90 minutes in each of his last five appearances, with 11 appearances in the last 15 game weeks. At 1.91 meters he is a real set piece outlet and has rewarded that role with a goal and an assist this season across 13 league matches, so his ceiling comes from headers and dead-ball chances even when the defense is stretched. Shandong score and concede at a high rate, which cuts into clean-sheet probability but increases the chance Córdoba can deliver attacking returns, so view him as a medium-confidence start with a steady minutes floor and useful upside on corners.

What makes Sun stand out is availability and a little attacking pop; he's a STARTER who has averaged about 87 minutes per game and has five appearances in the last 5 game weeks, including an assist during that run, so he brings a reliable fantasy floor. He travels to Shandong Taishan on August 9, 2026, a matchup that should suit a minutes-eating fullback, because Shandong concedes around 1.8 goals per match and posts clean sheets only rarely, which raises both his clean-sheet chance and the odds one of his forward forays pays off. Treat him as a high-floor start with a medium ceiling; the Sorare Edge projection of 84.5 points and the model confidence labeled medium back that up, but remember he has 10 appearances in the last 15 game weeks so the upside is steady rather than explosive.

Listed as a defensive midfielder rather than an out-and-out defender, Caio has become an unlikely source of goals from deep, and your last-five numbers (0.40 goals and 0.20 assists per match) explain why managers are keeping him in the Starting XI. He has five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 11 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, and that availability has paid off recently. He scored a dramatic late strike to win Yunnan's 4-3 game on July 26 and featured in the 3-3 cup draw with Chengdu on July 21. So he comes into the home meeting with Chengdu Rongcheng riding clear attacking form. The fixture is at home and recent head-to-heads have been loose and high scoring, which boosts his upside; Sorare Edge projects 82.5 with medium confidence, so treat him as a high-ceiling midfield starter whose floor is respectable because he is a regular in the Starting XI, but whose finishing streak is the key variable.

Samir is a genuine set piece weapon who plays every minute when fit, which gives him both a safe floor for defensive returns and a real ceiling for goals from corners; he has two goals this season and ranks among centre backs for headed attempts and aerial duels won, so he is worth starting anytime Qingdao face a leaky opponent. He is a regular in the Starting XI and reliable to finish matches, with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, and the playing pattern supports the projection you see (81.6 points with model confidence medium). This fixture shapes up well for him because Qingdao Jonoon have conceded 38 goals in 20 matches and managed only a couple of clean sheets, so Memišević offers a higher-than-usual probability of both a clean-sheet point and a chance to score from a dead ball, even if the outcome is never certain.

Yang Fan's biggest appeal is availability and volume minutes. He has been a regular in Tianjin's Starting XI, with 14 appearances in the last 15 league matches and roughly an 80-minute average per outing, which buys a reliable floor for tackle and clearance counting stats. He brings a little offensive upside too, registering one assist in recent match logs and 0.20 assists per match across the last five games, so there is a reasonable ceiling on set-piece or overlap deliveries if Tianjin gets forward. The matchup at Shandong is messy; Shandong scores and concedes a lot this season, with 36 goals conceded in 20 matches and only two clean sheets, so while Yang's chances of a shutout are capped, the open nature of the game boosts his probability of fantasy production through defensive actions. Sorare Edge pegs him at an 80.6 projection with medium model confidence, which matches his predictable minutes-driven floor and gives upside if the match tilts into a high-event affair.

Xadas is hot and indispensable for Tianjin, turning up in the Starting XI every week and logging five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and fifteen appearances in the last 15 game weeks; FBref’s match logs show he collected two goals and two assists across those five games, and FootyStats backs that up with strong per-90 attacking numbers and an 89. 90 minute average. He also leads the team for chance creation, topping assists and key passes for Tianjin while feeding the club

Wu Xi is hot right now, with four goals in his last five matches including a July 5 brace that explains the 0.80 goals-per-match clip over that span. He is a stocked-in starter and heavy-minute option, logged as a regular in the Starting XI and registering 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, which raises his floor compared with more rotation-prone midfielders and helps explain the Sorare Edge 81.5 projection and medium confidence you were shown. This upcoming trip to Shenyang Urban looks favorable for another attacking outing since Shenyang concedes about 1.63 goals per match and has only an 11% clean-sheet rate, and Wu Xi’s shooting profile and roughly 0.35 xG per 90 give him a realistic ceiling if Shenhua can supply service. There is upside here, but expect some variance given Shenhua’s uneven form.

Alimi's biggest edge is availability and minutes security; he's a fixture in Dalian Zhixing's Starting XI, logging essentially full matches with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 14 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, which gives him a reliable floor for fantasy lineups. That steady playing time is backing a modest scoring uptick. 0.20 goals per match over the last five. And the underlying numbers back it up, with about 0.17 xG per 90 and a healthy season-long volume of shots and chances that put him in the team’s attacking mix. This fixture helps; Shenyang Urban concede roughly 1.6 goals per game and post clean sheets only around 11 percent of the time, so at home Alimi’s ceiling is real and the Sorare Edge 80.3 projection (model confidence medium) feels plausible, while the floor remains his dependable full-90 habit rather than big goal upside.

If you want upside from a Henan attack that funnels chances through one player, Bruno Nazário is the man; he already has eight league goals and an elevated xG profile this season, and he has been in the Starting XI consistently, with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks. He eats minutes and chances, averaging roughly 85 to 88 minutes per outing, and much of his service comes from Gustavo, Henan's leading assist source, so Bruno offers a sturdy floor from volume while carrying genuine match-winning ceiling. The matchup helps, too, because Qingdao Youth Island have been vulnerable at the back this campaign, conceding close to 29 goals in about 20 matches, which raises Bruno's probability of shots and penalty-area touches; treat him as a medium-confidence start with a high ceiling if Henan controls the game and a capped floor if they do not.

Stanciu's biggest edge is hot finishing; he has averaged 0.60 goals per match over the last five and made five appearances in the last 5 game weeks, which lines up well for a home date against Shenyang Urban, a side conceding 1.63 goals per match this season so there is genuine upside. He is a fixture in the Starting XI and plays heavy minutes (81 per game in your data), and the numbers back that usage. Six goals and three assists in 17 Chinese Super League appearances this campaign. So his floor is higher than a typical rotation midfielder. Sorare Edge pegs him at 79.4 points with medium confidence, meaning Stanciu offers a good ceiling for managers chasing attacking returns, but expect some variance; treat him as a preferred start when you want midfield scoring upside rather than a pure minutes-safe option.

Quiles is riding real finishing form and an unusually high shot volume for Tianjin, which makes him a high-upside start against a Shandong defense that has been prone to conceding. He has three goals and about 2.81 expected goals in six appearances this campaign, showing 0.47 xG per 90 and work that translates into real chances inside the box. Shandong concede roughly 1.8 goals per match and their matchups with Tianjin have a strong tendency toward both teams scoring, so Quiles' floor is a single attacking return and his ceiling is multiple-goal upside if Tianjin can sustain pressure. He is a trusted starter for Tianjin and plays big minutes, he has five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, which helps his baseline fantasy floor, and the Sorare Edge projection of 87.0 with medium confidence matches that upside.

Nelson da Luz is the most reliable attacking option for Qingdao Youth Island right now, leading the club’s scoring with eight goals this season and converting at a strong clip over his last five matches (0.80 goals per match in the supplied data), while being listed as a STARTER and logging heavy minutes. Qingdao Jonoon have been leaky at the back this campaign, which amplifies his ceiling in a home derby where Youth Island carry a measurable home edge and create the better xG chances. Sorare Edge projects 85.8 points with medium confidence, so treat him as a high-floor, high-upside play: he should make the Starting XI (five appearances in the last 5 game weeks; 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks) and is worth starting if you need a dependable source of goals, while acknowledging some variance if Qingdao grind out a low-scoring draw.

If you want a single decisive reason to start him, it is minutes and involvement: Maritu has started every match and is logging 90 minutes a game while producing 14 goals and six assists in 20 appearances, and he has five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, so his floor is bolstered by role security. Chengdu have conceded 20 goals this season, and Yunnan’s chief creator Alexandru Ionita (10 assists) has been feeding Maritu regularly, which explains a high-xG profile and why the striker offers a genuine ceiling rather than just matchup hope. This one is at Yuxi Plateau where Yunnan tend to be more aggressive, and the Sorare Edge projection (85.5, model confidence medium) lines up with the matchup; expect a high ceiling pick with a solid floor so long as he remains in the Starting XI, but keep a plug-and-play mindset if Chengdu clamps down on service.

Shenyang Urban concede 1.63 goals per match and register clean sheets only about 11 percent of the time, so this home date lines up well with Cephas Malele's striker profile and gives him genuine upside to hit a ceiling. Malele has turned chances into production this season, registering eight goals and four assists while piling up roughly 0.49 expected goals per 90, and he brings momentum into the match with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 12 appearances in the last 15 game weeks as a regular in Dalian's Starting XI. He is a locked starter and averaging 90 minutes, and with a Sorare Edge projection of 83.3 and model confidence marked medium you should view him as a high-upside start with a safe minutes-based floor but a probability of volatility in scoring output.

Davidson is as reliable as they come for Qingdao at the moment, a regular in the Starting XI who finishes matches and averages 90 minutes. That steady presence gives you a dependable floor and steady fantasy volume. He arrives to this home date off five goals and three assists on the season and a genuine chance-creation role, with 21 chances created and six big chances, so the ceiling is real when he gets service from the likes of Nelson da Luz and Zhang Xiuwei. This fixture looms as a favorable matchup because Qingdao Jonoon have been porous at the back, conceding 38 goals in 20 matches, so Davidson’s minutes plus volume-heavy role make him a high-upside start; Sorare Edge pegs him at 83.2 points with medium model confidence, which fits a profile that offers a solid floor and a matchup-driven ceiling. Note: he has five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, which reinforces the expectation he will start and play heavy minutes.