SoRare

Test your Fantasy Football skills in the free-to-play Sorare Academy tournament


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Back in September, we launched the free-to-play Sorare Academy @ Fantasy Football Scout for the new season.

Since then, we’ve grown to thousands of weekly players and given out thousands of pounds in prizes to 10 weekly winners, courtesy of Sorare.

It’s totally free to play and takes just a few minutes to enter a team; you have all the best stars across Europe to pick your best five from each week. 

Get started here 

The Premier League is back and we’ve got a full slate of football across the five big leagues for the Sorare Academy this weekend.

This week, we’ve got some tips from guest blogger, Ligue 1 expert Genesis, which should help you whether you’re participating in our free-to-play game or dipping your toe into the main Sorare game.

Over to you, Genesis!

 1

No matter the Sorare tournament, be it here at the Academy or on Sorare proper, when I am setting up my line-ups I always try and anchor my team selections with at least one ‘foundation’ player and sometimes two. This is a guy who can rack up very solid all-round scores. A guy who allows the other, more boom-or-bust players in your team to be a bit more… boom-or-bust. The foundation player gives the team some room for error. A solid start. A foundation to launch from.

However, for me, my foundation player is not simply a 50-points-per-week merchant. They are not regular goal scorers or assist providers but they are above average for their position. So, in addition to ensuring that you have a guaranteed weekly haul of points to anchor your tournament total, when they get those decisive actions you can start dreaming of hitting major scores and earning prizes!

If you’ve been playing Sorare for any amount of time it has probably become clear that ball-playing centre-backs are masters of building up heavy all-round scores. Dayot Upamecano is amongst the prime under-23 examples. Large passing volume, long balls, duels and some defensive actions can see modern centre backs like Upamecano hoard major points hauls. He is a strong weekly pick for the Academy tournament and equally so in the Sorare ones themselves. The same can be said for youngsters like Benoit Badiashile and Jules Kounde. However, they are missing a key facet of what makes a foundation player.

As noted above, we are looking for our foundation player to be able to amass these high all-round scores but, unlike most centre backs, have an above-average chance of a decisive action such as a goal or an assist. Better to look to another position group to find your foundation stone.

Let’s look at midfielders.  And specifically the all-action midfielder. Guys who can quickly pile up point-scoring actions, especially defensively. Guys like Bayern’s Joshua Kimmich. I love this sort of player. Just as likely to crunch into a tackle as they are to roar into the box late and rifle the ball home. They combine all that’s key for me on Sorare. Solid SO5 tournament utility and I love watching them. Owning them on Sorare enhances my enjoyment of football. It’s fun

However, with Kimmich being a popular pick (and an expensive one on Sorare), you might seek to be a contrarian, to pick against the masses, hoping to score points where they don’t. And there is one young monster in this category that we can take as our example. An under-23 French midfielder who is a scorer up and down the matrix – Monaco’s Aurelien Tchouameni. Not quite Joshua Kimmich in SO5 just yet but with stacks of potential and a very solid points-scoring history. Passes, tackles, interceptions, duels, shots – look up his stats and I think you’ll be impressed.

His work rate translates well on the Sorare scoring matrix – similar to Upamecano and not that far off Kimmich. He’s all but guaranteed to hit 50 and can reach big scores without a goal or assist. Take his performance against Nantes at the weekend for example, where he scored 72. He also has the ability to hit those much sought after perfect 100s.

Tchouameni is my guy. The player I rely on in the best team I put out each week to act as my foundation. The base from which my players more reliant on goals or assists like Moussa Diaby or Sofiane Diop can launch and hopefully combine to hit big overall scores and win prizes. Something like the below. A pretty aggressive double forward lineup with Tchouameni as the foundation.

However, what if you want to find someone different? Your own foundation player. Well, the template above is the start point from which we work back and this is where the fun starts. The part of Sorare that keeps me really engaged. Scouting for players to fit my SO5 requirements. Time to do a little digging and find some statistically similar players. I will be dropping some of my tips in a future article. In the meantime, I would love to hear about your strategy for the weekly tournaments, whether you employ a foundation player and, if you do, who are your go-to options?

Don’t forget to enter your team on the Academy for free, with a chance to win a card to start your trading journey. Make sure you don’t miss the 11am Friday deadline!

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Adam @ Football Trader Adam has been scouting for and trading in football games for far too long and for far too many hours. He has a particular interest in the big 5 European Leagues as well as lesser known ones like the Eredivisie, Primeira Liga and even the MLS. Before he managed to somehow make a living by writing about football, he spent ~10 years as a Ministerial adviser and project/risk manager for the UK Government including the Foreign Office and MOD. When not buried in xG spreadsheets he plays too many computer games, lifts heavy things in the gym and attempts to cultivate a handsome beard.

181 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Kaptenen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Amyone else thinking KDB in for Son ?
    Great captain option for next three after Chelsea (sou,BRE,nor)

    1. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Yes, but I’ll wait until next week

    2. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Good option for sure

    3. Boly Would
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Plan to bring him in for Mount next week

    4. The Mentaculus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Havent quite decided on Sterling/KDB but 1 of them is coming in for Son next week for me

  2. Devos
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    To free hit or not to free hit. Really can't make up my mind. I still have all my chips (5 in total) and I wonder if there will be enough good opportunities to use them. I'm a noob when it comes to gameweek schedules.

    What's your chip strategy? When do you use 2xFH, WC, BB and TC? And ofcourse, why then?

    1. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      I just can’t see the point in free hitting only to still have jota, Bowen, Ronaldo, Trent and king all in my team who I already own

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      I have all the chips too and have no plan for using them. I think I'll just take it as it comes. Could be some massive blanks up ahead.

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        This. Hard to plan especially in this current season with covid etc. Don’t think a FH is worth it but depends on current team situation

    3. Black Knights
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      There will be future GWs that we already expect to be affected by blank fixtures. Once the FA Cup progresses, we end up with a week of only 4-5 fixtures. That's always good for a FH.

      Then there will be DGWs that we are not as prepared for or where the SGWers have bad fixtures, so a FH could be used there too.

      There are still so many rearrangements to happen that there will likely be 4 or 5 more DGWs, and at least 2 more BGWs.

      If you have a reasonably good team this week, with Liverpools, West Hams, Evertons and some DGWers, your chips can be better used in the future.

    4. The Mentaculus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Theres a (brief) discussion of chip strategy in the opening few mins of The Wire this week if you want to check it out. Personally Im saving FHs for BGWs 27 & 30 I think

      1. Devos
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        OK, thanks for your reactions.

        So do you guys think this team can compete with FH teams the upcoming gameweek?

        DDG²
        TAA - Reguilon² - Alonso²
        Jota - Bowen - Gray - Foden
        DCL - Antonio - Dennis² (c)
        Bench: Guaita - Bernardo - Cancelo - Cash

        No Maddison, Ronaldo, Moura, Kane, ... give me alot of FOMO.

        1. Black Knights
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          You have a lot of players with excellent fixtures. Moura shouldn't be giving you FOMO at all. Maddison would be nice if you can (sell Bernardo) but really CR will be the one to fear and DCL has a game he can score in anyway.

          1. Black Knights
            • 12 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            And CR might not play in both, and Villa is a tough fixture, and United have been rubbish.

          2. Devos
            • 2 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            Yeah, I can't bring in Ronaldo for -4 while all 3 forwards have such nice fixtures.

            I have the same issue in midfield. Gray, Bowen and Jota need to play. Would you take -4 to get Maddison in for Bernardo and then bench Foden? It would open up a City spot for me to do Alonso > Dias next week.

  3. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    GTG here??

    DDG
    TAA Cancelo Keane
    Maddison Jota Bowen Foden
    Antonio Dennis Watkins

    Gunnar White Livra Gilmour

    9.0m itb, 0 ft

    1. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      9m itb wow. Looks good though.

    2. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Yes. Rolling FT?

      1. Bobby Digital
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Son -> Maddison my only transfer

    3. Im New Here
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Antonio or Watkins to Kane or Ronaldo for this DGW?

  4. The Red Devil
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Would you bench Dawson for Emerson?

    1. Kaptenen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

  5. Tmel
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    DDG
    ALONSO Cancelo Taa Coufal
    Jota Foden Bowen Gray
    KING Antonio
    (Foster Watkins Salah Livra)

    3 DGWERS, 1FT & both FHs left:

    a) Foden > Maddison
    b) Antonio > Dennis
    c) Antonio > Daka
    d) Salah & Antonio > Maddison & Ronaldo (-4)
    e) Play FH and stock up on 8/9 DGWers?

    Not sure it's the best FH week but also not wild about losing Salah/Foden/Antonio and then potentially getting them straight back

    1. Arn De Gothia
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      A

  6. pablo discobar
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Moura or Teillmans for the Pens? Have Reguilon, Kane and Maddison already.

    Any truth to Burnley postponement?

    Cheers

  7. baines is god
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    FH team
    Schmeichel (Okonkwo)
    Reguillon Maguire Alonso (Duffy, Tsimikas)
    Maddison Moura Mount Fernandes (Brownhill)
    CR7 (C) Maupay Kane

    Appreciate any thoughts or advice

    1. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Like although would probably avoid Mount or Fernandes for Lookman or maybe Trossard then Daka for maupay. Thoughts below?

    2. Biggsy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      I think you've got DGW fever and are ignoring a number of SGW players who could excel. Trent, Jota, Bowen for example

    3. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Would get Dennis over Maupay

    4. Im New Here
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Needs some Trent and Jota

  8. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    1.7 itb and 1FT

    De Gea
    Cancelo, Rudiger, TAA
    Salah Jota Bilva Bowen
    Antonio Broja Dennis
    (4.0, Foden, Coufal, Livra)

    Thinking Salah, Broja to Maddison, Ronaldo (-4)?

    1. Biggsy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Looks good unless Ralph suggests Ronaldo a doubt

    2. Kaptenen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Looks great, Ronaldo captain?

  9. Biggsy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    DDG
    TAA, Keane, Dalot (Cancelo, White)
    Bernardo, Bowen, Jota, Gray (Son)
    Ronaldo, Antonio, Dennis

    Son + Dalot to Madison + Regulion for -4 (and bench Bernardo) seems the sensible move?

    1. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Looks spot on. Thoughts above?

  10. bslater123
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Who to start this week out of Watkins, Foden & Cancelo?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Watkins

    2. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Cancelo or Watkins

      1. Sun God Nika
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        this

    3. Kaptenen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Watkins

    4. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      One of the City boys

  11. Fpl_Ludwig
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Pick 1 between Veltman, Ait nouri and Luke thomas (Rodgers said Thomas was back)

    I can’t decide

    1. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Thomas

    2. ilikewud
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Nouri long term - Veltman for this game week

  12. Pachi
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    On FH.. Good to go?

    De gea
    Tta rudiger emerson
    Jota moura maddison mount
    Ronaldo kane dennis

    Foster cucurella lowton sissoko

    1. Devos
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Looks good, but man in form Bowen plays at home against Leeds...

  13. Super John McGinn-
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    De Gea
    TAA, Cancelo, Alonso
    Son*, Foden, Jota, Bowen
    Ronaldo, Antonio, Dennis.

    Foster, Martinelli, Coufal, Livramento

    1 FT 0.8 ITB

    A) Son + Antonio > Tielemans/Moura + Kane (-4)
    B) Son + Antonio + Coufal > BDavies + Maddison + Kane (-8)
    C) Son > Maddison
    D) Other

    1. The Mentaculus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      C

    2. Boly Would
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      I'd probably just do C

  14. Rains of Castamere
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Is 6 double GW players around par? Not necessarily the 6 I'd choose, but can't see it being worth a chip.

    DDG (2)
    Alonso (2), Rudiger (2), Trent
    Gray, Bowen, Jota, Maddison (2)
    King (2), Ronaldo (2), Antonio

    Subs: Foster, Dawson, Cancelo, Brownhill

    1. Boly Would
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Looks good, definitely not worth a chip to change it.

    2. Black Knights
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      I think 6 will be more than average. I have 3 right now, and might get to 5 with a -4. Son has scuppered a lot.

    3. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      You're in good shape. Obvious omission is Spurs but presumably not enough $ ITB to get Kane in. You could roll the dice for example on Antonio & Brownhill -> Dennis & Moura for example, for a bit of fun, and probably bench Gray.

      1. Rains of Castamere
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        interesting shout, ta

    4. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Thanks all

  15. Eastman
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Dennis fit or safer to go with King?

    1. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Apparently "available". King would still seem a little safer (Dennis owner)

  16. FPL price manipulators are …
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    A lot of people will be caught out by the Friday deadline

  17. Warby84
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Who is everyone thinking as regards to TC? Anyone worth it this week? Ronaldo worth a punt?

    1. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Definitely not - too much risk of postponement. Ronaldo also a doubt, although think (and hope) he will be OK based on the comments.

      I'd save TC for Salah for a Liverpool DGW, hopefully further down the line when things may be (a little) more predictable.

    2. Black Knights
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Waiting for a Mo DGW.

      Dennis maybe.

      No.

    3. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Mo TC. Ronaldo never.

  18. Gunners in Haaland
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    1 ft and 0.1 itb

    DDG (Sánchez)
    TAA-Cancelo-Alonso (Keane-Dalot)
    Maddison-Bowen-Bernardo-Son-Jota
    Ronaldo-Antonio (Gelhardt)

    A) Son+Gelhardt -> Mount+Dennis (-4)
    B) Son+Antonio -> KDB+Dennis (-4)

    Cheers!

  19. AzzaroMax99
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Cavani would be great option for dgw if Ronny still injured :/

    1. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Not sure any United options are great with the way we are playing.

  20. squ1rrel
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Thoughts on King(c) over Dennis?

    1. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Yeah why not, good week to gamble (both would be a gamble and King must be safer!)

    2. AzzaroMax99
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      King on pens so...

  21. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Antonio & Son -> Kane & Maddison sound about right?

    DDG
    Reguilon, TAA, Dier*
    Jota, Gray, Bowen, Son*
    Antonio, Ronaldo, Dennis

    (Steer, Keane, Cancelo, Saka)

    Cheers

    1. AzzaroMax99
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Yup. Who would be your cap?

      1. Catastrophe
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers. Probably go boring with Kane.

  22. richarlison2348
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Son and Salah to who this week? Have Bowen, Gray, Martinelli

  23. waltzingmatildas
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Who would you bench out of these?
    A) raph
    B) antonio
    C) gray
    D) foden/sterling

  24. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    A

  25. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Whats up with Reguilón
    did he have a note?

  26. Devos
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    a) Bernardo > Maddison (-4) and bench Foden
    b) No hits, play Foden, bench Bernardo
    c) No hits, play Bernardo, bench Foden

    1. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      B

    2. Boly Would
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      B

    3. KUNingas
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      B

  27. gellinmagellan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    DDG (Foster)
    TAA Cancelo Coufal Livra White
    Foden Bowen Salah Jota Saka
    Antonio King DCL

    1 FT 1.3 ITB. 1 FH left. All over the place...

    A) Saka > Maddison
    B) Saka > Moura
    C) Saka + Salah > Maddison + Moura -4
    D) Salah + Antonio / DCL > Maddison + Kane -4
    E) Salah > Bruno

    1. KUNingas
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Dont like Bruno nor Moura.
      DCL will have DGWs and some tasty fixtures so would keep him.

      So maybe A

      1. gellinmagellan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks! Where I'm leaving, thinking Salah > KDB next week maybe

  28. KUNingas
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    1FT, 3.2 ITB

    A) FH
    B) Salah -> Maddison
    C) Gray -> Maddison
    If B or C, who to bench?

    DDG
    TAA, Cancelo, Reguilon
    Gray, Foden, Jota, Bowen
    Antonio, King, Toney

    Foster, Keane, White, Salah

  29. CLOD
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Evening All, would you play Gordon v Norwich or Watkins v Man Utd? Leaning towards Gordon at the moment. Thanks in advance!

    1. KUNingas
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Gordon

  30. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Arsenal are seriously depleted with injuries and Afcon.

    They should do what the other teams do and call it off tonight. Just need a covid case or two and you’re golden.