Sorare Football Picks for GW97 Aug 4-7: La Liga

Hot form is the hook here: Mbappé has averaged 1.20 goals and 0.40 assists per match over the last five and is listed as a STARTER, so he should again be the focal point of Real Madrid's Starting XI at Espanyol, the season opener on August 22, 2026. That recent burst builds on a monster 2025/26 campaign. 25 LaLiga goals and roughly 27 expected goals while averaging mid‑80s minutes per appearance. Which gives him an enormous ceiling against an Espanyol side that conceded 55 league goals last season and looks exploitable in transition. With appearances in the last 5 game weeks: 5 and appearances in the last 15 game weeks: 13, plus a team form index of 80 and a Sorare Edge projection of 84.5 with medium confidence, he is a high‑upside start with a reasonably strong floor; just keep an eye on late fitness checks after his recent ankle scare and on Real Madrid’s confirmed Starting XI before lock.

Vinícius arrives with serious upside. Five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and a last-five scoring rate of 0.80 goals per match make him a high-ceiling starter for Real Madrid away at Espanyol. He closed the 2025 2026 LaLiga campaign with 16 goals and an 18.19 xG, figures that underline both volume and quality of chances, and he also shows strong chance creation numbers that keep his assist upside intact. Espanyol conceded 1.45 goals per match last season, so the matchup leans toward shot and chance volume, and with service available from creators like Jude Bellingham Vinícius has a clear path to returns; the Sorare Edge projection of 82.2 with model confidence medium matches that profile. The floor is a modest one if Real rotate, but given 14 appearances in the last 15 game weeks his probability of a meaningful fantasy day is high.

Cucurella is arriving with his minutes locked down and his attacking output hot, so he profiles as a high-floor left back for Real Madrid's Starting XI. He played heavy minutes for Spain through the summer and completed full matches in major internationals, and he officially joined Real Madrid on July 1, 2026, so fitness and selection look settled. The matchup helps his ceiling. Espanyol were porous at the back last season, conceding heavily, which boosts Cucurella's assist upside; he has been producing assists lately (0.40 per match in the last five) and arrives off a campaign where he delivered multiple assists, so there is clear attacking value beyond clean-sheet potential. Combine that with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks, 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, a minutes-per-game profile that favors full matches, a team-form index of 80.00 and a Sorare Edge projection of 80.7 with medium model confidence, and you get a defender worth starting in formats that reward crosses and chances created; expect a safe minutes floor and a reasonable probability of attacking returns rather than a guaranteed haul.

Real Madrid just completed a surprise swoop for Carlos Espí after a genuine breakout season, and the most decisive fact for fantasy is that he arrives having scored 11 LaLiga goals and earning the league's Best Under-23 award, so he is coming into this fixture with clear momentum and club backing. The numbers that matter for this Espanyol trip back that up: his non-penalty xG per 90 sits around 0.75 and he ranks extremely high for touches in the box, traits that should feed chances against an Espanyol defense that conceded 55 goals and kept just 10 clean sheets last season. Combine that profile with your data. Five appearances in the last 5 game weeks, 14 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, 0.60 goals per match over the last five, 89 minutes per game and Starter status. And you get a high-ceiling Starting XI option who projects well on short-term upside (Sorare Edge 80.4) but carries a medium confidence grade and a capped floor while he settles into Madrid and fights for permanent minutes.

He is scorching right now, scoring at a 1.00 goals per match clip over his last five and listed as a STARTER, which makes him a clear high-ceiling play away at Espanyol. Bellingham has six goals and four assists in LaLiga this season and an 8.47 expected-goals figure that underlines how much danger he is generating, and your data shows five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks while averaging 78 minutes per game, so his floor is strengthened by secure minutes in the Starting XI. Espanyol were porous last season, conceding about 1.45 goals per match, which boosts his upside; Sorare Edge projects 77.3 with medium confidence, so expect strong upside but also some variance if he is redeployed deeper or Real control long spells.

Celta's goalkeeper spot is firmly his to lose, and that reliability is the clearest reason to start him: he is the STARTER, averaging 90 minutes and registering five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks after arriving in Vigo in 2025. That steady workload has produced real fantasy upside. He has racked up 111 saves and nine clean sheets this LaLiga season. So against Osasuna, whose main threat Ante Budimir has 17 goals, Radu offers a ceiling from volume saves and a reasonable clean-sheet floor at home; Sorare Edge gives him an 83.0 projection with medium confidence, which makes him startable in most formats where you need a dependable minutes-locked keeper.

Courtois shrugged off the recent groin scare and was cleared after testing, so he arrives at Espanyol on August 22, 2026 listed to play and very likely to be in the Starting XI. He is Madrid’s first-choice keeper and brings a high clean-sheet floor, having recorded 13 clean sheets in 32 LaLiga appearances last season while posting roughly a 71 percent save rate. Factor in his 92 minutes per appearance and a Sorare Edge projection of 75.5, and you get strong upside for shutout points and saves; the groin flag keeps model confidence at medium, so treat his ceiling as excellent and the floor as slightly reduced if the issue flares.

If you want reliability, Sivera is about as dependable as they come. He captained Alavés and featured in every LaLiga match last season, so you get an every-minute keeper against a Getafe attack that mustered just 32 goals and failed to score in 17 fixtures. He has five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, and he turned those starts into five clean sheets across the campaign, which gives him a solid floor for fantasy lineups at Mendizorroza on August 15, 2026. The Sorare Edge projection of 75.2 points with medium confidence fits the profile of a safe starter whose ceiling comes from the occasional shutout against low-scoring teams; pick him for stability, but expect upside only if Alavés control the expected-goals battle.

What makes Soria a clean fantasy play is his combination of ironclad minutes and true shot-stopper upside: he started and played every minute for Getafe last season while posting 12 clean sheets and roughly 118 saves, so you get both shutout ceiling and a steady floor of saves. Facing D. Alavés away should mean plenty of work rather than an easy shutout, since Alavés conceded 56 goals (1.47 per game) in 2025/26, which boosts Soria's upside in formats that reward saves even if the clean-sheet probability is tempered. He is listed as a STARTER, has five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, and his Sorare Edge projection sits at 74.0 with medium confidence, so treat him as a dependable Starting XI option with a solid floor and a decent ceiling when Getafe is forced into work.

He has firmly claimed the Starting XI goalkeeper spot at Valencia and looks like the safe play this week at home, a status the club and local coverage have flagged heading into 2026/27. Five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, with a full 90 per match, give him a high floor for minutes and counting stats. There is upside too; he is an active shot-stopper (about a 67% save rate, 52 saves and five clean sheets across 20 appearances last season), so he can pile up fantasy points even when Valencia concede, and that matters against a Celta side built around Borja Iglesias as a primary threat. Sorare Edge scores him 73.8 with model confidence medium, which matches the profile of a dependable starter with a realistic clean-sheet ceiling rather than a boom-or-bust punt.

Celta have handed him the keys to the back line, he’s been a dependable 90-minute starter and has featured at the end of the team sheet in each of the last five matches, which gives him a sturdy floor for clean-sheet points at home to Osasuna. Osasuna conceded 50 goals last season, so this is a matchup that offers a realistic ceiling for defensive returns and bonus points if Celta control possession and close out the game. He has five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and nine appearances in the last 15 game weeks, the club has rewarded him with a long-term renewal which underlines his role, and the Sorare Edge projection of 83.4 points (model confidence medium) makes him an appealing starter when you want a steady floor rather than a boom-or-bust punt.

Cucurella is arriving with his minutes locked down and his attacking output hot, so he profiles as a high-floor left back for Real Madrid's Starting XI. He played heavy minutes for Spain through the summer and completed full matches in major internationals, and he officially joined Real Madrid on July 1, 2026, so fitness and selection look settled. The matchup helps his ceiling. Espanyol were porous at the back last season, conceding heavily, which boosts Cucurella's assist upside; he has been producing assists lately (0.40 per match in the last five) and arrives off a campaign where he delivered multiple assists, so there is clear attacking value beyond clean-sheet potential. Combine that with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks, 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, a minutes-per-game profile that favors full matches, a team-form index of 80.00 and a Sorare Edge projection of 80.7 with medium model confidence, and you get a defender worth starting in formats that reward crosses and chances created; expect a safe minutes floor and a reasonable probability of attacking returns rather than a guaranteed haul.

If you want attacking upside from a defender, Dumfries is the call this week; he has been supplying chances at a high rate (0.40 assists per match in the last five) and even produced a two‑assist outing for the Netherlands at the World Cup, which makes Espanyol’s porous backline, guilty of 55 goals conceded last LaLiga season, a favorable matchup. Real Madrid completed his signing on July 5, 2026 and Mourinho has already folded him into preseason squads, so the combination of five appearances in the last 5 game weeks, 13 appearances

If you want guaranteed minutes and a safe defensive floor, Cubarsí is the pick; he is a fixture in Barcelona's Starting XI and is averaging 96 minutes per appearance, with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 12 appearances in the last 15 game weeks. He comes in on form and minutes, backed by a season that included 13 clean sheets and about 0.83 goals conceded per 90, so there is clear upside for shutout points and defensive bonus against weaker attacks. Elche conceded 57 goals and managed just eight clean sheets in 38 matches last season, which boosts Cubarsí's ceiling here, though the Sorare Edge projection (79.0 points) and medium model confidence reflect that his upside is probable rather than certain.

Sevilla's Kike Salas is as close to a lock for the Starting XI as you can get, logging 90 minutes per game and with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 14 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, which gives him a high floor from guaranteed minutes and clean-sheet opportunity at home. He also brings real scoring upside on set pieces, with two goals this season and strong duel numbers that make him a live threat when Sevilla presses for corners, a useful ceiling against a Rayo Vallecano side that conceded 44 goals (about 1.2 per match) last season. Salas had a calf issue in March but has been back with the group in training recently, so treat him as low risk but price in a modest injury premium; Sorare Edge's 77.3 projection with medium confidence reflects that mix of steady minutes and occasional attacking payoff.

He is arriving with real timing, having ripped the opener against Sevilla that sealed Celta's Europa spot and also delivering a goal and an assist in the 3-2 comeback at Valencia, so the ceiling here is a big attacking return from midfield rather than just tidy passing. That attacking upside is backed by consistent minutes and trust from the coach, he usually finishes games and plays around 70 minutes a match according to season logs, so expect him in the Starting XI and able to influence the final third; he has four appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 13 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, and the Sorare Edge projection sits at 77.8 with medium confidence. This fixture helps his case, Osasuna conceded roughly 50 goals last season and have been vulnerable enough to give a box-arriving midfielder chances, so his floor is a steady minutes driven score and his probability of delivering a multi-category outing at home is meaningful even if you should cap expectations for total volume.

Blanco is essentially locked into Alavés Starting XI minutes right now, with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, and he finished the league campaign with 2,936 minutes, two goals and three assists. The matchup helps his case. Getafe conceded 38 goals in LaLiga 2025/26, and with the Mendizorroza fixture coming up Blanco offers a high floor thanks to those dependable 90-minute turns and a reasonable ceiling for a goal or an assist on the day given how often he is involved.

He is scorching right now, scoring at a 1.00 goals per match clip over his last five and listed as a STARTER, which makes him a clear high-ceiling play away at Espanyol. Bellingham has six goals and four assists in LaLiga this season and an 8.47 expected-goals figure that underlines how much danger he is generating, and your data shows five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks while averaging 78 minutes per game, so his floor is strengthened by secure minutes in the Starting XI. Espanyol were porous last season, conceding about 1.45 goals per match, which boosts his upside; Sorare Edge projects 77.3 with medium confidence, so expect strong upside but also some variance if he is redeployed deeper or Real control long spells.

Most compelling detail first: he buried a brace against Celta at Mestalla in April, so this matchup already fits his instincts and finishing moments. He is a reliable fixture for Valencia, averaging full matches and coming into this one as a STARTER, with five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, which gives him a sturdy floor in minutes and chances to get on the scoresheet. Those minutes matter because he has four goals this season, three of them at home, and Celta have been vulnerable defensively. Conceding roughly 1.26 goals per match. So his ceiling at Mestalla is meaningfully above average for a midfielder. Expect a reasonable probability of shots and a goal threat; treat him as a safe minutes play with upside rather than a one-shot punt.

Olasagasti is riding a clear creator spike, averaging 0.40 assists per match over the last five and coming into an away date with Espanyol who have been vulnerable at the back, conceding roughly 1.4 goals per game this season, so he offers a higher-than-usual ceiling for chances created and assists. He is a regular in Levante’s plan. 5 appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 14 appearances in the last 15 game weeks. And his season totals (five assists and strong expected-assist numbers) back up that role, which makes him a safe play for underlying production rather than a boom-or-bust punt. The Sorare Edge projection (76.3, model confidence MEDIUM) matches the on-field picture: dependable minutes and consistent involvement give him a solid floor, while Espanyol’s leaky defense raises the probability he can deliver assist or key-pass returns.

Hot form is the hook here: Mbappé has averaged 1.20 goals and 0.40 assists per match over the last five and is listed as a STARTER, so he should again be the focal point of Real Madrid's Starting XI at Espanyol, the season opener on August 22, 2026. That recent burst builds on a monster 2025/26 campaign. 25 LaLiga goals and roughly 27 expected goals while averaging mid‑80s minutes per appearance. Which gives him an enormous ceiling against an Espanyol side that conceded 55 league goals last season and looks exploitable in transition. With appearances in the last 5 game weeks: 5 and appearances in the last 15 game weeks: 13, plus a team form index of 80 and a Sorare Edge projection of 84.5 with medium confidence, he is a high‑upside start with a reasonably strong floor; just keep an eye on late fitness checks after his recent ankle scare and on Real Madrid’s confirmed Starting XI before lock.

Vinícius arrives with serious upside. Five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and a last-five scoring rate of 0.80 goals per match make him a high-ceiling starter for Real Madrid away at Espanyol. He closed the 2025 2026 LaLiga campaign with 16 goals and an 18.19 xG, figures that underline both volume and quality of chances, and he also shows strong chance creation numbers that keep his assist upside intact. Espanyol conceded 1.45 goals per match last season, so the matchup leans toward shot and chance volume, and with service available from creators like Jude Bellingham Vinícius has a clear path to returns; the Sorare Edge projection of 82.2 with model confidence medium matches that profile. The floor is a modest one if Real rotate, but given 14 appearances in the last 15 game weeks his probability of a meaningful fantasy day is high.

Real Madrid just completed a surprise swoop for Carlos Espí after a genuine breakout season, and the most decisive fact for fantasy is that he arrives having scored 11 LaLiga goals and earning the league's Best Under-23 award, so he is coming into this fixture with clear momentum and club backing. The numbers that matter for this Espanyol trip back that up: his non-penalty xG per 90 sits around 0.75 and he ranks extremely high for touches in the box, traits that should feed chances against an Espanyol defense that conceded 55 goals and kept just 10 clean sheets last season. Combine that profile with your data. Five appearances in the last 5 game weeks, 14 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, 0.60 goals per match over the last five, 89 minutes per game and Starter status. And you get a high-ceiling Starting XI option who projects well on short-term upside (Sorare Edge 80.4) but carries a medium confidence grade and a capped floor while he settles into Madrid and fights for permanent minutes.

Put simply, Yamal's ceiling is enormous against a defense this porous; Elche conceded the most expected goals in LaLiga in 2025‑26, which makes Barcelona's wide attackers obvious threats. He arrives with the production to match, having been a talisman for Barca this season with 16 goals and 11 assists while leading the team in chance creation, so he consistently gets the shots and chances you want from a forward. He's in the Starting XI for the trip and has been relied on heavily recently, averaging big minutes and showing five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and nine appearances in the last 15 game weeks, which gives him a solid floor while the Sorare Edge projection of 79.5 points (model confidence medium) captures his high upside, but expect some volatility tied to finishing.

Antony is a true matchup play at home against Real Sociedad, not a volume-floor plug; he finished 2025/26 with eight goals and six assists while averaging about 77 minutes a game, so when he starts in the Starting XI he brings genuine shot volume and chance-creation that can explode against a leaky back line. Real Sociedad were among LaLiga's more vulnerable defenses last season, which raises his ceiling on set plays and wide chances, and he arrives with continuity. Five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 14 appearances in the last 15 game weeks. So you are getting regular minutes rather than a rotation gamble. Sorare Edge pegs him at 77.9 points with medium model confidence, which matches the practical read: play him where you need upside and can stomach a capped floor if Betis get crowded out, but avoid him as a safety-first spot when you need a guaranteed low-variance return.