Sofascore LaLiga Gameweek 10: captains and best buys
Sofascore LaLiga Gameweek 10 preview: best buys, differentials and who to sell
Sofascore LaLiga Gameweek 10 opens on Friday 23 October with Alaves against Malaga and peaks on Sunday night with Barcelona - Real Madrid. The round is the decision; the reason is what sits behind it. Gameweek 11 holds a double for two clubs: on current fixture data Sevilla and Alaves both play twice (they meet each other on Friday 6 November, inside the Gameweek 11 window), and neither has a Gameweek 12 fixture. That one quirk shapes almost every transfer you make this week, from which defenders to bring in to when to play the Quick Fix token.
This preview covers the best buys per position, the captain choice, the hidden gems and who to sell, all based on the model's projections for Gameweeks 10 to 12. For the full numbers see the Sofascore LaLiga player picks, and catch up on last week's calls in our Sofascore LaLiga Gameweek 9 preview.
Gameweek 10 to 12 programs: whose next three are worth owning
Barcelona have the best three-gameweek run in the game at 6.45 expected goals: [H]RMA → [H]ALA → [A]ATM. The Clásico is the round to plan around rather than avoid, because Barcelona still carry a 62% win probability and 2.65 expected goals at home to Real Madrid. Villarreal's [A]VAL → [H]ESP → [H]GET is the most balanced program, with 5.70 expected goals and 1.13 expected clean sheets, and the two home games come after this week's trip to Valencia.
Atletico Madrid have the single best fixture of the round. [H]COR gives them a 79% win probability and a 51% clean-sheet chance, both the highest numbers this week. Then comes [A]LEV → [H]BAR, which is much harder, so Atletico assets are a one-round buy unless you are happy to hold through the Barcelona game. Athletic Club have the best defensive run at 1.17 expected clean sheets ([H]GET → [H]RSO → [A]OSA).
| Team | GW10 fixture | Win probability | Expected goals | Clean sheet | Program GW10-12 | 3-round xG | 3-round CS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAR | [H]RMA | 62% | 2.65 | 23% | [H]RMA → [H]ALA → [A]ATM | 6.45 | 0.89 |
| VIL | [A]VAL | 44% | 1.61 | 27% | [A]VAL → [H]ESP → [H]GET | 5.70 | 1.13 |
| ATM | [H]COR | 79% | 2.63 | 51% | [H]COR → [A]LEV → [H]BAR | 5.67 | 0.91 |
| RMA | [A]BAR | 19% | 1.46 | 7% | [A]BAR → [A]SAN → [A]VAL | 5.14 | 0.82 |
| BET | [A]CEL | 37% | 1.42 | 25% | [A]CEL → [H]MAL → [A]ELC | 4.99 | 1.04 |
| RSO | [H]LEV | 55% | 1.92 | 32% | [H]LEV → [A]ATH → [H]RAY | 4.41 | 0.91 |
| ESP | [A]SAN | 35% | 1.42 | 23% | [A]SAN → [A]VIL → [H]COR | 4.18 | 0.79 |
| ATH | [H]GET | 57% | 1.64 | 46% | [H]GET → [H]RSO → [A]OSA | 4.12 | 1.17 |
| RAY | [H]ELC | 54% | 1.76 | 36% | [H]ELC → [H]CEL → [A]RSO | 4.07 | 0.90 |
| SEV | [H]OSA | 49% | 1.48 | 39% | [H]OSA → [A]GET + [H]ALA (both GW11) → no GW12 fixture | 3.51 | 1.16 |
| ALA | [H]MAL | 51% | 1.55 | 40% | [H]MAL → [A]BAR + [A]SEV (both GW11) → no GW12 fixture | 3.32 | 0.83 |
Sevilla and Alaves also play three games in the window, but two of them land in Gameweek 11, so their totals are front-loaded and drop to zero in Gameweek 12. At the bottom, Deportivo La Coruna ([A]ATM → [H]OSA → [A]ESP, 2.34 expected goals) and Getafe ([A]ATH → [H]SEV → [A]VIL, 2.43) have the weakest runs. The full fixture list with dates is on the Sofascore LaLiga schedule.
Best goalkeepers for Gameweek 10
Álvaro Vallés (6.0m, BET) is the best goalkeeper over three gameweeks at 5.1 → 6.1 → 5.1, 16.3 points in total, on a program of [A]CEL → [H]MAL → [A]ELC. The Malaga home game in Gameweek 11 is the peak, with Betis holding a 52% clean-sheet chance there. He is owned by 12.2% of managers.
Unai Simon (6.5m, ATH) is the alternative if you want the clean-sheet floor: [H]GET → [H]RSO → [A]OSA is the best defensive run in the game at 1.17 expected clean sheets, and Athletic have a 46% clean-sheet chance at home to Getafe this week. His projections run 5.1 → 4.8 → 4.6.
Jan Oblak is the most-owned keeper at 24.7%, and his 4.9 for [H]COR is a strong number this week. After that he drops to 3.8 and 3.7 for [A]LEV → [H]BAR, so over three gameweeks both Vallés and Simon are clearly ahead. The budget option is Alfonso Herrero (4.6m, MAL): 4.5 → 4.1 → 5.2 for [A]ALA → [A]BET → [H]SAN is close to 1.0 point per million this week and costs very little to hold.
Best defenders for Gameweek 10
This is the position where this week's ranking and the three-week ranking disagree most. Cristian Romero (6.1m, ATM) leads all defenders for Gameweek 10 at 6.8 points, thanks to Atletico's 51% clean-sheet chance at home to Deportivo La Coruna. His program is [H]COR → [A]LEV → [H]BAR and his projections fall to 4.6 and 4.2, so treat him as a one-round buy, or a hold if you are happy to ride the two harder fixtures. David Hancko (6.3m, ATM) follows the same shape on the same [H]COR → [A]LEV → [H]BAR program, at 6.4 → 4.3 → 4.0.
Over three gameweeks, the Sevilla defenders come out on top because of the Gameweek 11 double. Kike Salas (6.0m, SEV) projects 5.6 → 10.7 → 0 for [H]OSA → [A]GET + [H]ALA → no fixture, 16.3 in total, the most of any defender. Juan Iglesias (6.2m, SEV) is right behind on 15.9 (5.5 → 10.4 → 0) with the same [H]OSA → [A]GET + [H]ALA run. The Gameweek 12 blank is the catch: buy them now, and plan to move one on before Gameweek 12. If you only want one Sevilla defender, Gabriel Suazo (5.1m, SEV) is the cheapest route in at 5.3 → 9.7 → 0 and 2.4% ownership.
If you are buying one defender to keep, Alex Freeman (5.1m, VIL) is the pick. He projects 4.7 → 6.1 → 5.2 for [A]VAL → [H]ESP → [H]GET, 16.0 in total with no blank, and only 1.2% of managers own him. His 0.08 expected assists this week give him attacking upside on top of the clean-sheet chance. Teammate Renato Veiga (5.5m) has the same program and 15.1 points over three, at 11.2% ownership.
Budget defenders for Gameweek 10
Nicolas Valentini (5.1m, ALA) is the deep differential at 0.6% ownership. He projects 5.5 → 7.7 → 0 on [H]MAL → [A]BAR + [A]SEV → no fixture, so like the Sevilla players he is a two-gameweek buy with a planned exit before Gameweek 12. Alaves have a 40% clean-sheet chance at home to Malaga this week. Suazo and Freeman, both at 5.1m, round out the budget options.
Best midfielders for Gameweek 10
Lamine Yamal (13.1m, BAR) is the best player in the game by a distance: 10.4 → 9.1 → 8.1 for [H]RMA → [H]ALA → [A]ATM, 27.6 points over three. He carries 0.69 expected goals and 0.28 expected assists this week and a 60% share of Barcelona's penalties. With 52.0% ownership he is a template pick, so the decisions that separate managers are the spots after him.
Kang-In Lee (6.6m, ATM) is the best mid-price midfielder this week at 6.6 points, level with Mbappé. Atletico's [H]COR is the reason, and he carries 0.35 expected goals and 0.22 expected assists for the game. His program [H]COR → [A]LEV → [H]BAR takes him to 5.0 and 4.8 after that, so he is a buy for this week that you can still hold. Rodri (7.2m, BAR) is the steadier option at 5.8 → 5.5 → 5.1 on Barcelona's [H]RMA → [H]ALA → [A]ATM, owned by 5.9%.
Jude Bellingham (10.9m) projects 6.0 → 6.6 → 5.7 on Real Madrid's three away games and is a fine hold for the 23.7% who own him, but at 0.55 points per million he is not a priority buy over Kang-In Lee or Rodri.
Budget midfielders for Gameweek 10
Edu Exposito (5.5m, ESP) is the budget midfielder to hold: 5.3 → 4.8 → 5.5 for [A]SAN → [A]VIL → [H]COR, 15.6 in total, with a home game against Deportivo La Coruna, the team with the weakest program in the league, in Gameweek 12. Inigo Vicente (5.5m, SAN) has the higher score this week at 5.9 for [H]ESP, then 4.5 and 4.7 on [H]RMA → [A]MAL. He takes 42% of Racing Santander's penalties, and at 3.3% ownership he is a strong differential.
The hidden gem is Yeremay Hernández (5.0m, COR). Deportivo La Coruna have the worst program in the league, but he is their penalty taker (82% share) and holds 4.6 → 4.8 → 4.4 on [A]ATM → [H]OSA → [A]ESP. At 0.6% ownership he is close to unique. Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (7.6m, BET) at 2.1% is a pricier differential, peaking at 5.6 for [H]MAL in Gameweek 11.
Best forwards for Gameweek 10
Kylian Mbappé (12.6m, RMA) is the forward to own: 6.6 → 7.9 → 6.3 for [A]BAR → [A]SAN → [A]VAL, 20.8 in total, the most of any forward by more than six points. He takes 91% of Real Madrid's penalties. The Clásico is his toughest game of the three, and Gameweek 11 at Santander is where he peaks, so there is no reason to move him.
Sergio Camello (5.8m, RAY) is the value forward. He projects 5.4 → 4.7 → 4.1 for [H]ELC → [H]CEL → [A]RSO, with two home games first, and 0.39 expected goals this week. Roberto Fernández (5.6m, ESP) is the alternative with the better end to the run: 4.7 → 4.1 → 5.2 for [A]SAN → [A]VIL → [H]COR, plus 85% of Espanyol's penalties.
For the Gameweek 11 double, Lucas Boye (5.8m, ALA) projects 5.2 → 7.9 → 0 on [H]MAL → [A]BAR + [A]SEV → no fixture, with 0.49 expected goals this week. Jonathan David (7.8m, ATM) has the second-best forward score this week at 5.6 for [H]COR, but falls to 4.1 and 3.9 afterwards. He only makes sense as a one-round rotation pick. Check minutes on the Sofascore LaLiga predicted lineups before you commit.
Captain picks for Gameweek 10
Lamine Yamal (13.1m, BAR) is the captain, and with [H]RMA → [H]ALA → [A]ATM he stays the captain pick for most of the run. His 10.4 points for [H]RMA are 3.6 points clear of the next player, and with the captain scoring double that gap is worth about seven points. Barcelona's 62% win probability and 2.65 expected goals at home make this a strong captain week even in a Clásico.
The alternatives are well behind. Cristian Romero (6.8) relies on a clean sheet, and Mbappé (6.6) and Kang-In Lee (6.6) are level. Mbappé is the only realistic pivot from Yamal, and only for managers chasing rank.
Looking ahead, Yamal (9.1) is not the top projected player in Gameweek 11: Sevilla's Kike Salas (10.7) and Juan Iglesias (10.4) both pass him thanks to the double. If you own a Sevilla defender, he is a real captain option next week. In Gameweek 12, Yamal (8.1) is back on top ahead of Mbappé (6.3).
Who to sell before Gameweek 10
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (6.1m, COR) is the clearest sale. 21.4% of managers own him, but our availability data has him out until 17 November, so he projects zero for all three gameweeks. Why now: nothing in the window brings him back, and Deportivo La Coruna's [A]ATM → [H]OSA → [A]ESP would not justify holding him even if he were fit.
Julián Álvarez (8.5m, ATM) is the second sale. Atletico's [H]COR is the best fixture of the round, but his projection is built on only 22 minutes, so even that game gives him just 1.6 points. Why now: if the easiest fixture of the round only gets him 1.6, [A]LEV → [H]BAR will not do better (1.3 and 1.5). He is owned by 17.0%.
Alejandro Grimaldo (6.8m, ATM) is a sell for the same reason, with timing on top. [H]COR is a good fixture and 4.2 is a respectable return, but it is built on 42 projected minutes and drops to 3.3 and 3.7 as [A]LEV → [H]BAR follows. You are selling at his peak rather than after it, and teammate Cristian Romero is cheaper and projects 6.8 this week.
Vinicius Junior (11.2m, RMA) is out until 6 November, so on Real Madrid's [A]BAR → [A]SAN → [A]VAL he projects zero for Gameweeks 10 and 11 and 3.3 when he returns in Gameweek 12. Why now: two empty gameweeks is 11.2m doing nothing while Sevilla's double is there to buy. Raphinha (11.3m) is different. He is back from injury, Barcelona have the best program in the league, and his 4.3 → 4.2 → 4.4 is limited by 36 projected minutes. Sell him only if you need the funds for a Sevilla or Villarreal move; otherwise you can wait a round and see if his minutes rise.
Best Quick Fix team for Gameweek 10
If you play the Quick Fix token (Sofascore's Free Hit) this week, the best squad by Gameweek 10 projection is:
- GK: Alex Remiro (5.1m, 4.7), Alfonso Herrero (4.6m, 4.5)
- DEF: Cristian Romero (6.1m, 6.8), David Hancko (6.3m, 6.4), Kike Salas (6.0m, 5.6), Nicolas Valentini (5.1m, 5.5), Gabriel Suazo (5.1m, 5.3)
- MID: Lamine Yamal (13.1m, 10.4), Kang-In Lee (6.6m, 6.6), Inigo Vicente (5.5m, 5.9), Rodri (7.2m, 5.8), Edu Exposito (5.5m, 5.3)
- FWD: Kylian Mbappé (12.6m, 6.6), Sergio Camello (5.8m, 5.4), Ander Barrenetxea (5.0m, 4.9)
Yamal is the captain. But Gameweek 10 is a normal single round, and the model's best Gameweek 11 squad projects about a fifth more points than this one, because it can hold three Sevilla defenders plus Alaves' Antonio Sivera, Valentini and Boye for the doubles. Most managers should save the token for Gameweek 11. The live optimum, recalculated as projections update, is on the Sofascore LaLiga optimal teams page, and the bookmaker numbers behind the clean-sheet and goal figures are on the Sofascore LaLiga market probabilities page. More previews for this game are in the Sofascore LaLiga preview hub.
FAQ
Who should I captain in Sofascore LaLiga Gameweek 10?
Lamine Yamal. He projects 10.4 points for [H]RMA, 3.6 more than anyone else, and Barcelona have a 62% win probability at home in the Clásico. Mbappé (6.6) is the only realistic alternative.
Which budget defenders are best for Sofascore LaLiga Gameweek 10?
Alex Freeman (5.1m, VIL) is the best one to keep, at 16.0 points over Gameweeks 10 to 12 with no blank. Gabriel Suazo (5.1m, SEV) and Nicolas Valentini (5.1m, ALA) score more over the next two gameweeks thanks to the Gameweek 11 double, but both have no Gameweek 12 fixture.
Should I sell Aubameyang before Sofascore LaLiga Gameweek 10?
Yes. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is out until 17 November on our availability data and projects zero for Gameweeks 10, 11 and 12, yet 21.4% of managers still own him.
Best differentials for Sofascore LaLiga Gameweek 10?
Alex Freeman (1.2% owned, 16.0 points over three gameweeks), Yeremay Hernández (0.6%, Deportivo La Coruna's penalty taker), Nicolas Valentini (0.6%, an Alaves defender with the Gameweek 11 double) and Inigo Vicente (3.3%, 5.9 points this week).
Which LaLiga teams have the best fixtures for Gameweeks 10 to 12?
Barcelona have the best attacking run at 6.45 expected goals ([H]RMA → [H]ALA → [A]ATM), Villarreal the best balance ([A]VAL → [H]ESP → [H]GET), and Athletic Club the most expected clean sheets at 1.17. Sevilla and Alaves play twice in Gameweek 11 and have no Gameweek 12 fixture.
This preview was written by TheFantasyTool AI.