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. Bang Average
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Evening all

    Looking for some opinions on the following alternatives for this GW only:

    1) Toney +4 or Ronaldo
    2) Gray +4 or Maddison

    Much appreciated

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

      1 - CR
      2 - Mad

      1. Bang Average
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        thanks. Wanted someone to confirm that taking the hit wasn't a bad idea.

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

    Is Ramsdale to DDG worth a -8?

    1. Bang Average
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Definitely not imo. Ramsdale has burnley next week

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

      Its Only -4

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

        Yeah but it will be my -8 transfer if I take him out hehe.

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

          Still only -4. So if ddg gets 6 or more, assuming rams get 2 its a win

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

            True

    3. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      No

  3. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    With Ramsdale having a tough gw22, blanks in gw25/27, what would you recommend

    A: Play Foster (back in training but i doubt he starts)
    B: Foster >> Sanchez (-4)
    C: Ramsdale >> Ddg (-4)

    1. Bang Average
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Is ramsdale out? I think its well within the realm possibilities that spurs-ars ends 0-0.

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

      None. I'd play Ramsdale then play Foster when he blanks.

    3. DannyDrinkVodka
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      I actually would play Foster

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

      I'm playing Ramsdale

    5. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      If Villa get a double next week I'm thinking of a hit to Martinez, excellent fixtures coming up.

  4. lekalatch
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Thoughts here?

    A) Son —> Bruno
    B) Son + Gundo —> KDB + Greenwood/Maddison (-4)
    C) Son + Gundo —> Bruno + Greenwood/Maddison (-4)
    D) Son + Broja —> Kane/Ronaldo + Maddison/Greenwood (-4)

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

      B with kdb and mad

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

      D (Ronaldo + Maddison). If we get late news about Ronaldo being out, B

  5. C0YS
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Pick 2 transfers for -4:

    A) Antonio -> King (already have Dennis)
    B) Son -> Maddison
    C) James -> someone not Alonso/TAA/Cancelo/Reguilon

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

      BC

      1. C0YS
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers

  6. OptimusBlack
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Who out to get Dennies ??
    A- Antonio
    B- Watkins

    1. C0YS
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Had the same dilemma, will be taking out Antonio since he’s out of form + Watkins has good fixtures and a likely favorable DGW

      1. OptimusBlack
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers

        1. FOMFF
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Probably agree.

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

    Is Saka to Maddison worth a -4?

    1. C0YS
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Maddison will score more this coming GW but Saka is a long-term hold as long as he continues playing & performing. Anyone else you can sell?

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

        Only Mount really but plan is to replace him with KDB next week

  8. Beautiful Game
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Which one among these two options for DGW and going forward?

    A) Tielemans + Gray(Already have) + Kane + King

    B) Maddison + Moura + DCL(Already have) + Dennis

    1. C0YS
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      2

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

      B

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

      Very narrowly B

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

    Would you use FH with this team? Both FH still available

    Sanchez
    Tta cancelo coufal
    Jota foden maddison moura bowen
    Antonio king

    Stelee watkins dias white

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

      No need. If I made a FH team it wouldn't be far off your current one

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

      Wouldn't free hit, you have 4 DGWers already

  10. Siva Mohan
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    play Rams or Foster?

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Is Foster back fit?

      Thought he was a week or two away.

    2. FOMFF
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Probably Rams. Watford wont keep a CS.

      1. FOMFF
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Although maybe Fosters 4 pts from a double is better than Rams 2 because Spurs (Kane) will probably score

  11. rozzo
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    I will be wildcarding in a few weeks. Which team would you rather have? It will impact my transfers this week.

    A)

    Ramsdale SANCHEZ
    Trent LAPORTE Cancelo Alonso Tierney
    Salah Jota SON Bowen Saka
    Antonio Dennis BROJA

    B)

    Ramsdale SA
    Trent DIAS Cancelo Alonso Tierney
    Salah Jota MADDISON Bowen Saka
    Antonio Dennis WATKINS

    Cheers

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

      Are these WC teams (& from when?) or options for this week?

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

      A. You'll want Son for GW27 when Salah, Jota, Trent, Tierney, Saka are blanking. Most weeks you'll bench three of Laporte, Tierney, Saka, Dennis and Broja anyway, so it's worth investing extra in the first XI (and an extra captain option, Son).

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

      I like B more

  12. KieranKA
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    What to do with this team?

    1FT, 3.0ITB.
    Sánchez // Foster
    Trent Cancelo Reguilón Coufal // Livramento*
    Jota Bernardo Bowen // Brownhill Salah*
    Antonio Watkins King

    A: Salah → Fernandes
    B: Salah → Maddison
    C: Salah + Watkins → Maddison + Kane (–4)
    D: Salah + Watkins → Maddison + Ronaldo (–4)
    E: something else?

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

      B

  13. C0YS
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Rephrasing question above…pick 1 for -4:

    A) Son -> Maddison
    B) James -> someone not Alonso/TAA/Cancelo/Reguilon (who?)

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

      A, those are the defenders you'd want anyway. You can wait until next week to sell James

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

      A

    3. CABAYE4
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      A

  14. Boxwoods
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone considering Patson Daka now?

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

      Absolutely

    2. CABAYE4
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Would be very surprised if he started.

      Maddison, Barnes, Perez, Lookman all fit - why risk him coming back from injury?

  15. MShalkz
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    What do people think of this Wildcard?

    Ramsdale, Sanchez
    Trent, Cancelo, Davies, Cash, Kilman
    Jota, Maddison, Bowen, Raphinha, Gray
    Ronaldo, Dennis, King

    Left 5.8 ITB for an easy midfield upgrade to Salah or Dennis/King to Watkins in case Villa double in GW23

    1. FOMFF
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Gray is a troll
      Not sure 'd want Raph, Leeds are too hit and miss.

      1. MShalkz
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Not crazy on Gray either but cheap, has some good fixtures, and should hopefully have some doubles soon.

        I like Raphinha because everything Leeds do going forward goes through him, should also have some DGWs soon

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

      Looks good, assuming you plan to sell Maddison/Bowen/Raphinha to get Salah back.

      1. MShalkz
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah selling Maddison GW24 when salah should hopefully be back and Leicester face Liverpool was my thinking

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

      Good job. Feel like you can ride the nice fixtures with Gray then shift to Martinelli maybe after Arsenal blanks

      1. MShalkz
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah exactly my thought process, Arsenal have 3 unplayed fixtures so getting Martinelli or another of the Arsenal mids after the blanks was on my mind

  16. FOMFF
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Gallagher & Scarlett > Maddison & Dennis for -4?

    Sanchez,
    Cancelo, Rudiger, TAA,
    Maddison, Bowen, Bilva, Jota,
    Antonio, Watkins, Dennis

    Button, Dawson, Livra, Salah

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

      Absolutely

    2. CABAYE4
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Good moves

  17. L S P
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Foster
    TAA-Cancelo-Dias
    Salah-Jota-Bowen-Gray
    Watkins-Antonio-King

    Ramsdale-Saka-James-Livra

    Is the move simply Salah/Watkins->Ronaldo(C)/Maddison for -4 and leave it at that? Gives me 3 DGWers (maybe)

    1. FOMFF
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      I'm a Salah holder. I don't want the headache. And I'm backing Watkins to get points, United look terrible, something to prove and digne and coutinho could make instant impacts.
      I think Maddison is essential.

      1. L S P
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        My gut says Maddison would be essential with a full complement of teammates but I'm willing to take the 2-week punt.

        But I don't trust him or any of my other players as a C option thus: Ronaldo. I'd have no problem taking another hit in 24 to bring Salah back either.

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

      That is my plan! You can also sell James for Reguilón/Emerson/Shaw/Varane, all should make back the -4

      1. L S P
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        I've considered it tho I'm more likely to go with a Brighton DEF but taking hits for defenders, esp this GW, doesn't sit easy with me...

        1. Max City
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          I did James >> Dawson last GW and it gave me 3 points and a better squad

          1. Max City
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            For a hit*

            1. L S P
              • 8 Years
              2 years, 2 months ago

              Congrats

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

          Brighton blank in GW24, I'd avoid. Any DGW defenders should get 4+ points though, enough to justify the hit. No guarantee that Dias gets anything vs. Chelsea

          1. L S P
            • 8 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            I disagree with almost all of this but that's ok.

  18. TheYogaDaddy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    What to do here?

    De Gea (Foster)
    TAA Cancelo Dias (Johnson) (Livramento)
    Jota Son* Salah* Bowen (Brownhill)
    Antonio Watkins King

    1 ft, 0.0 itb

    1. TKC07
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      I would get Maddison & Lucas for a hit

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

      Some options:
      – Son + Salah → Maddison + Fernandes (–4)
      – Son + Salah → Maddison + de Bruyne (–4)
      – Son + Salah → Maddison + Mount (–4)

      In each case, you can plan to bring back Salah in GW24 for either midfielder. I'd prefer Mount in these conditions to take advantage of DGW, then plenty in the bank for Salah

    3. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      * & * > Maddison & Bruno/Mount/etc

    4. CABAYE4
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Son to Maddison and Livra to Spurs defender of choice

  19. CABAYE4
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone want to take a guess at Kane and Ronaldo EO for top 10k for this GW?

    Planning on going without both and want to estimate what the risk is.

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Thinking of going without & C Maddison

    2. Max City
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Don't have both and feel alright

  20. Weak Become Heros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Likelihood of Foster starting both doubles? Or just get DDG in for free?

  21. Jet5605
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    2 FT and 0.4 ITB. If I transfer out Son then I have a bit of a benching headache as my current starting 11 have doubles or nice fixtures. Any thoughts on what to do?

    DDG
    TAA - Cancelo - Dier - Lamptey
    Son - Jota - Bowen - Maddison
    Antonio - Broja - King

    Bachman - Salah - Son - Coady

    1. Max City
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      You may bench Cancelo or Broja

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

      Salah + Broja → Lookman + Ronaldo is one option

      1. Jet5605
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        I'm 0.1 short for that

  22. Max City
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Who 2 would you play (the others will be benched)
    A) Dawson
    B) Cancelo
    C) Foden
    D) Antonio
    E) Watkins

    Cheers

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

      BD. Bench order: Foden, Watkins, Dawson

      1. Max City
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Ta

  23. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    I don’t mind keeping Salah, but it’s likely that if I do I would have to bench him for the best part of a month. Not ideal.

    Don’t want to FH just yet but don’t want to have to hit to get Salah back.

    So it’s looking like it’s a -4 to bring in CR7 and possibly Maddison.

    Could just do Maddison but seems pointless leaving all that money in the bank when Ronaldo is affordable and has a DGW.

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

      I'm also leaning toward the Salah + fwd → Maddison + Ronaldo move in GW22, then reversing it in GW24

  24. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Hope we get some positive Reguilon news. My BB depends on his availability.