Sofascore Serie A Gameweek 8: captains and best buys
Sofascore Serie A Gameweek 8 preview: best buys, captain picks and differentials
Sofascore Serie A Gameweek 8 opens on Friday 23 October, when Torino host Monza, and closes on Sunday 25 October with Udinese against Milan. It is the first of three gameweeks in ten days: Gameweek 9 is a midweek round from Tuesday 27 to Thursday 29 October, and Gameweek 10 follows from Saturday 31 October to Monday 2 November. Every team plays once in each of the three, so there are no blanks or doubles, but there is also very little time between deadlines. That makes this week's transfers count for three rounds, and the picks below are built on the Gameweek 8 to 10 programs rather than on this weekend alone.
Two things shape the decision. Inter, Atalanta and Como have the three best attacking runs in the league, and all three start at home this week. And Lazio and Juventus have the best defensive runs, which is where the best defender and goalkeeper picks come from. Every number below is a projected Sofascore points figure from our model. The full ranking sits on the Sofascore Serie A player picks page, and the optimal teams for Sofascore Serie A page solves the best squad live. Last week's picks are in the Sofascore Serie A Gameweek 7 preview.
Gameweek 8 programs: whose next three gameweeks are worth owning
The table ranks the top twelve teams by expected goals over Gameweeks 8 to 10, with this week's fixture on the left. The 3-gameweek CS column is the expected number of clean sheets across the three games, so 1.26 means a little more than one shut-out from three. Every team has three fixtures in the window.
| Team | GW8 fixture | Win probability | Expected goals | Clean sheet | Program GW8-10 | 3-gameweek xG | 3-gameweek CS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inter | [H]FIO | 69% | 2.46 | 38% | [H]FIO → [A]VEN → [A]MIL | 6.37 | 1.03 |
| Atalanta | [H]FRC | 59% | 2.18 | 30% | [H]FRC → [A]FIO → [H]PAR | 5.91 | 1.07 |
| Como | [H]SAS | 67% | 2.31 | 38% | [H]SAS → [A]TOR → [H]VEN | 5.68 | 1.18 |
| Roma | [A]NAP | 40% | 1.43 | 28% | [A]NAP → [H]CGL → [A]UDI | 4.97 | 1.05 |
| Juventus | [A]LEC | 67% | 2.02 | 48% | [A]LEC → [A]GEN → [H]NAP | 4.84 | 1.26 |
| Lazio | [H]PAR | 63% | 1.88 | 47% | [H]PAR → [A]SAS → [H]CGL | 4.70 | 1.13 |
| Milan | [A]UDI | 53% | 1.71 | 37% | [A]UDI → [H]BOL → [H]INT | 4.59 | 0.86 |
| Frosinone | [A]ATA | 20% | 1.22 | 11% | [A]ATA → [H]LEC → [H]TOR | 4.23 | 0.83 |
| Bologna | [A]CGL | 39% | 1.30 | 31% | [A]CGL → [A]MIL → [H]MON | 4.10 | 0.95 |
| Torino | [H]MON | 45% | 1.51 | 32% | [H]MON → [H]COM → [A]FRC | 3.84 | 0.79 |
| Napoli | [H]ROM | 33% | 1.28 | 24% | [H]ROM → [A]MON → [A]JUV | 3.77 | 0.92 |
| Genoa | [H]VEN | 46% | 1.55 | 32% | [H]VEN → [H]JUV → [A]LEC | 3.75 | 0.93 |
Inter have the best attacking run again: [H]FIO → [A]VEN → [A]MIL adds up to 6.37 expected goals, with 2.46 at home to Fiorentina this week alone, the highest of the round. The Milan derby in Gameweek 10 is the one to plan around, not a reason to stay away, because the first two weeks carry the run.
Atalanta are the team whose run starts now. Last week they were a buy for a week later; [H]FRC → [A]FIO → [H]PAR is now 5.91 expected goals with two home games, and 2.18 against Frosinone. Como ([H]SAS → [A]TOR → [H]VEN) have a 67% win chance against Sassuolo and 1.18 expected clean sheets, the second-best defensive run in the game.
Juventus have the best defensive program: [A]LEC → [A]GEN → [H]NAP adds up to 1.26 expected clean sheets, and their 48% clean-sheet chance at Lecce is the best of Gameweek 8. Lazio are close behind on 1.13 over [H]PAR → [A]SAS → [H]CGL, with a 47% shut-out chance against Parma. Those two teams supply most of the defensive picks below.
Frosinone are the odd one. [A]ATA is a hard opener with a 20% win chance, but [H]LEC → [H]TOR behind it is two home games, which is why their attackers project better in Gameweeks 9 and 10 than this week. At the bottom, Lecce (2.55 xG over [H]JUV → [A]FRC → [H]GEN), Parma (2.58) and Venezia (2.84) have the weakest attacking runs, and Fiorentina, Venezia and Parma sit around half an expected clean sheet. The full Sofascore Serie A schedule shows the run beyond Gameweek 10.
Best goalkeepers for Gameweek 8
Pierluigi Gollini (4.0m, ROM) is still the goalkeeper to own, on [A]NAP → [H]CGL → [A]UDI. He projects 5.1 → 5.6 → 5.3, a total of 16.0 and the best of any goalkeeper, and he keeps going at 5.4 and 5.6 in Gameweeks 11 and 12. At 4.0m and 1.2% ownership he has the best points per million of any goalkeeper in the game.
Here the round and the horizon disagree. Christos Mandas (5.5m, LAZ) has the top goalkeeper projection of Gameweek 8 at 5.5 against Parma, on [H]PAR → [A]SAS → [H]CGL, with Lazio's 47% clean-sheet chance behind him. Over three weeks he totals 15.4, so if you are buying one goalkeeper and keeping him, Gollini is still the buy; Mandas is the one if you want the Lazio defence this week. Marco Carnesecchi (6.1m, ATA), owned by 21.0%, is a hold on 4.8 → 4.8 → 5.5 over [H]FRC → [A]FIO → [H]PAR, with the Parma game his best week. Elia Caprile (5.2 → 4.7 → 5.0) is fine, but Cagliari visit Roma and Lazio after this week. Mike Maignan (33.0% owned) slips to 4.0 when Inter visit in Gameweek 10.
Best defenders for Gameweek 8
Nuno Tavares (6.2m, LAZ) is the best defender this week and over the horizon. He projects 6.6 → 5.4 → 5.5 over [H]PAR → [A]SAS → [H]CGL, a total of 17.5, with 0.15 expected assists against Parma and around 73 minutes. The 6.6 is the second-highest projection of any player in Gameweek 8. At 11.4% ownership he is not yet template, and the Lazio run makes him a buy now rather than later.
Gleison Bremer (7.3m, JUV) is the steady one at 6.1 → 5.5 → 5.3 over [A]LEC → [A]GEN → [H]NAP (16.9), on the best clean-sheet run in the league. He follows it with 5.1 and 5.9 in Gameweeks 11 and 12, so he is a defender you can keep for weeks. Owned by 29.4%, not having him is the risk.
Leo Østigard (7.0m, GEN) is the differential at 5.8% ownership. Genoa's [H]VEN → [H]JUV → [A]LEC goes 5.8 → 4.9 → 5.8 for 16.5, and the Juventus home game is the only dip. Jacobo Ramon (7.1m, COM) is the Como defender on 5.5 → 5.0 → 5.7 over [H]SAS → [A]TOR → [H]VEN (16.2), but Como visit Inter in Gameweek 11 and he drops to 3.9, so he is a three-week pick rather than a long hold.
Juan Miranda (7.0m, BOL) is the one to watch for Gameweek 10. He projects 5.2 → 4.4 → 6.2 over [A]CGL → [A]MIL → [H]MON, and his 6.2 against Monza is the top defender projection of Gameweek 10. At 2.6% owned he is a genuine differential. Yann Aurel Bisseck shows where this week and the horizon part ways: 5.5 against Fiorentina, then 5.1 at Venezia and 4.3 at Milan, so he is a short-term pick at best. Amir Rrahmani (4.9 → 5.7 → 4.8) and Wesley (4.9 → 5.8 → 4.9) are holds, with Gameweek 9 their good week.
For a budget defender, Yan Couto (5.0m, COM) projects 5.2 → 4.4 → 4.8 over [H]SAS → [A]TOR → [H]VEN, a total of 14.4 and 1.04 points per million this week. Pair him with Ramon only if you want a Como double-up on the 38% clean-sheet chance against Sassuolo. Gabriele Bracaglia (4.5m, FRC) is the cheaper one to buy a week late: 3.6 at Atalanta, then 5.2 at home to Lecce.
| Player | Price | Owned | GW8 | GW8 → GW10 | 3-gameweek total | Program (GW8-10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuno Tavares | 6.2m | 11.4% | 6.6 | 6.6 → 5.4 → 5.5 | 17.5 | [H]PAR → [A]SAS → [H]CGL |
| Gleison Bremer | 7.3m | 29.4% | 6.1 | 6.1 → 5.5 → 5.3 | 16.9 | [A]LEC → [A]GEN → [H]NAP |
| Leo Østigard | 7.0m | 5.8% | 5.8 | 5.8 → 4.9 → 5.8 | 16.5 | [H]VEN → [H]JUV → [A]LEC |
| Jacobo Ramon | 7.1m | 10.8% | 5.5 | 5.5 → 5.0 → 5.7 | 16.2 | [H]SAS → [A]TOR → [H]VEN |
| Juan Miranda | 7.0m | 2.6% | 5.2 | 5.2 → 4.4 → 6.2 | 15.8 | [A]CGL → [A]MIL → [H]MON |
| Yan Couto | 5.0m | 4.5% | 5.2 | 5.2 → 4.4 → 4.8 | 14.4 | [H]SAS → [A]TOR → [H]VEN |
Best midfielders for Gameweek 8
Nico Paz (9.0m, COM) is owned by 54.2% and still the best player in the game. He projects 7.2 → 5.8 → 6.5 over [H]SAS → [A]TOR → [H]VEN, a total of 19.5. His 7.2 against Sassuolo is the top projection of Gameweek 8, built on 0.42 expected goals and 0.21 expected assists, and the 6.5 against Venezia tops Gameweek 10. Keep him.
Giacomo Calo (5.5m, FRC) is the best value in the game. Over [A]ATA → [H]LEC → [H]TOR he goes 6.1 → 6.6 → 6.2, a total of 18.9 that is second only to Paz for 3.5m less. His 6.6 against Lecce is the top projection of Gameweek 9, and he holds 5.7 and 5.5 after it. The model gives him 90% of Frosinone's penalties, which is why even the Atalanta away game projects 6.1. At 2.4% ownership he is the differential most worth owning.
The round and the horizon disagree in midfield too. Mattia Zaccagni (6.8m, LAZ) projects 6.4 against Parma, more than Calo this week, on [H]PAR → [A]SAS → [H]CGL (17.7), with 85% of Lazio's penalties. Calo has 1.2 more over three weeks for 1.3m less, so if you are buying one and keeping him, buy Calo; Zaccagni is the better pick if you want Lazio's best week. Tavares and Mandas plus Zaccagni makes a three-man Lazio block, which is the club limit.
Christian Pulisic (7.0m, MIL) was last week's buy and stays a hold on 6.1 → 5.5 → 5.1 over [A]UDI → [H]BOL → [H]INT (16.7), with 77% of Milan's penalties. His run fades into the Inter game, so he is not a new buy at this point unless you have a spare transfer. Federico Bernardeschi (5.5m, BOL) is the deeper differential at 1.1%: 5.5 → 5.0 → 6.1 over [A]CGL → [A]MIL → [H]MON, with 78% of Bologna's penalties and the Monza home game in Gameweek 10 his best week. Franco Mastantuono (5.8m, FIO) is the flat one at 5.2 → 5.5 → 5.7 over [A]INT → [H]ATA → [A]SAS: Fiorentina's run is poor, but the model gives him all of their penalties, and he is still 5.6 in Gameweek 12.
Nicolo Barella (7.9m, INT) is the Inter midfielder at 5.7 → 5.2 → 4.7 over [H]FIO → [A]VEN → [A]MIL, but he falls with the run. For a budget midfielder, Darryl Bakola (4.6m, SAS) projects 4.4 → 4.8 → 4.4 over [A]COM → [H]LAZ → [H]FIO (13.6) at 0.4% ownership: two home games after a hard opener, and 0.96 points per million this week.
| Player | Price | Owned | GW8 | GW8 → GW10 | 3-gameweek total | Program (GW8-10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nico Paz | 9.0m | 54.2% | 7.2 | 7.2 → 5.8 → 6.5 | 19.5 | [H]SAS → [A]TOR → [H]VEN |
| Giacomo Calo | 5.5m | 2.4% | 6.1 | 6.1 → 6.6 → 6.2 | 18.9 | [A]ATA → [H]LEC → [H]TOR |
| Mattia Zaccagni | 6.8m | 7.8% | 6.4 | 6.4 → 5.6 → 5.7 | 17.7 | [H]PAR → [A]SAS → [H]CGL |
| Christian Pulisic | 7.0m | 6.3% | 6.1 | 6.1 → 5.5 → 5.1 | 16.7 | [A]UDI → [H]BOL → [H]INT |
| Federico Bernardeschi | 5.5m | 1.1% | 5.5 | 5.5 → 5.0 → 6.1 | 16.6 | [A]CGL → [A]MIL → [H]MON |
| Franco Mastantuono | 5.8m | 12.0% | 5.2 | 5.2 → 5.5 → 5.7 | 16.4 | [A]INT → [H]ATA → [A]SAS |
| Nicolo Barella | 7.9m | 14.2% | 5.7 | 5.7 → 5.2 → 4.7 | 15.6 | [H]FIO → [A]VEN → [A]MIL |
| Darryl Bakola | 4.6m | 0.4% | 4.4 | 4.4 → 4.8 → 4.4 | 13.6 | [A]COM → [H]LAZ → [H]FIO |
Best forwards for Gameweek 8
Marcus Thuram (8.3m, INT) is the best forward over the horizon. He projects 6.1 → 5.6 → 5.0 over [H]FIO → [A]VEN → [A]MIL, a total of 16.7, with 0.45 expected goals against Fiorentina. The run is front-loaded, so the time to own him is now, for the two best weeks of Inter's program. Only 13.2% have him.
Giorgi Kvernadze (4.6m, FRC) is the budget forward and the second-best forward over three weeks. He projects 5.0 → 5.4 → 5.0 over [A]ATA → [H]LEC → [H]TOR (15.4), and with Calo he makes Frosinone the cheapest attacking double-up for the Lecce and Torino home games.
Charles De Ketelaere (7.0m, ATA) is the forward whose run starts this week. Last week he was a buy for later; now Atalanta's [H]FRC → [A]FIO → [H]PAR has him on 5.2 → 4.5 → 5.2, a total of 14.9 at 6.0% ownership. Randal Kolo Muani shows the round-versus-horizon gap up front: 5.2 at Lecce is the joint second-best forward score of the week, but [A]GEN → [H]NAP behind it drops him to 4.2 and 3.8, so he is a one-week pick to sell again after Gameweek 8. Goncalo Ramos (17.7% owned, 5.1 → 4.8 → 4.5) is a reasonable hold but not a buy over Thuram or Kvernadze. Check the Sofascore Serie A predicted lineups before each of the three deadlines, because the midweek round makes rotation more likely.
| Player | Price | Owned | GW8 | GW8 → GW10 | 3-gameweek total | Program (GW8-10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marcus Thuram | 8.3m | 13.2% | 6.1 | 6.1 → 5.6 → 5.0 | 16.7 | [H]FIO → [A]VEN → [A]MIL |
| Giorgi Kvernadze | 4.6m | 4.3% | 5.0 | 5.0 → 5.4 → 5.0 | 15.4 | [A]ATA → [H]LEC → [H]TOR |
| Charles De Ketelaere | 7.0m | 6.0% | 5.2 | 5.2 → 4.5 → 5.2 | 14.9 | [H]FRC → [A]FIO → [H]PAR |
| Goncalo Ramos | 7.0m | 17.7% | 5.1 | 5.1 → 4.8 → 4.5 | 14.4 | [A]UDI → [H]BOL → [H]INT |
| Randal Kolo Muani | 6.3m | 10.2% | 5.2 | 5.2 → 4.2 → 3.8 | 13.2 | [A]LEC → [A]GEN → [H]NAP |
| Paulo Dybala | 7.8m | 27.4% | 3.4 | 3.4 → 4.5 → 4.3 | 12.2 | [A]NAP → [H]CGL → [A]UDI |
Gameweek 8 captain picks
Your captain's points are doubled in Sofascore Serie A, and Nico Paz (9.0m, COM) is the pick for Gameweek 8, with [H]SAS → [A]TOR → [H]VEN ahead. His 7.2 against Sassuolo is the highest projection of the week by 0.6 points, and Como's 67% win chance and 2.31 expected goals are the second-best attacking fixture of the round. He is the safe template captain at 54.2% ownership.
The alternatives are Nuno Tavares on 6.6 and Mattia Zaccagni on 6.4, both against Parma, then Marcus Thuram, Christian Pulisic, Gleison Bremer and Giacomo Calo on 6.1. Zaccagni is the differential captain at 7.8% ownership with Lazio's penalties. Looking ahead, Calo tops Gameweek 9 at 6.6 at home to Lecce, and Paz tops Gameweek 10 at 6.5 against Venezia, so owning both gives you the best captain in each of the next three gameweeks.
Who to sell before Gameweek 8
Lautaro Martinez (10.4m, INT) is still the first sale for the 57.5% who own him. He is listed out until mid-November and projects zero in every gameweek from 8 to 11. Why now: Inter's [H]FIO → [A]VEN → [A]MIL is the best attacking run in the league, and Thuram projects 16.7 over it for 2.1m less.
Mile Svilar (5.9m, ROM), owned by 22.6%, projects zero in every gameweek from 8 to 13 while Gollini starts in his place over [A]NAP → [H]CGL → [A]UDI. Why now: Gollini is the best goalkeeper run in the game today and costs less, so the swap gains points from the first deadline. Kenan Yildiz (16.9% owned) is the same case, listed out until December and projecting zero through Gameweek 13.
Donyell Malen (8.5m, ROM) is a sale for the 35.5% who own him. Roma's [A]NAP → [H]CGL → [A]UDI is a decent run, so this is not about fixtures; the model has him on around 30 minutes this week, for 2.7 → 3.3 → 3.2. Why now: three gameweeks in ten days is the worst time to carry a part-time forward, and Kvernadze projects 15.4 over the same window for 3.9m less.
Rasmus Højlund (7.4m, NAP), owned by 13.1%, projects 2.5 → 2.6 → 2.4 over [H]ROM → [A]MON → [A]JUV. The Monza trip is a decent fixture, but around 54 minutes keeps him low in all three. Why now: Napoli finish the window at Juventus, who have the best clean-sheet run in the game, so there is no good week to wait for. Scott McTominay (3.7 → 3.6 → 2.9) and Kevin De Bruyne (24.7% owned, 3.9 → 4.0 → 3.5) have the same Napoli shape, but with fewer transfers available, they come after the four above.
Paulo Dybala (27.4% owned) is the one you can wait a round on. The model has him on around 30 minutes for 3.4 at Napoli, but he climbs to 4.5 against Cagliari and 5.2 in Gameweek 11, so if your transfers go to Lautaro, Svilar and Malen first, holding him costs little.
Gameweek 8 transfer summary
The buys for the three-gameweek run are Tavares, Calo, Thuram and Kvernadze, with Gollini still the goalkeeper to own and Paz the captain. Østigard, Miranda, Bernardeschi and Bakola are the differentials. The sells are Lautaro, Svilar, Yildiz and Malen, with the Napoli attackers next in line. If you only have room for a couple of moves, the Sofascore Serie A optimal teams solver weighs the whole squad for you, and the Sofascore Serie A market probabilities page shows the odds behind every number. More analysis lives in the Sofascore Serie A preview hub and our fantasy guides.
FAQ
Who should I captain in Sofascore Serie A Gameweek 8?
Nico Paz is the captain for Gameweek 8, with a 7.2 projection against Sassuolo, the highest of the week. Nuno Tavares (6.6) and Mattia Zaccagni (6.4), both at home to Parma, are the alternatives, and Zaccagni is the differential choice at 7.8% ownership.
Who are the best differentials for Sofascore Serie A Gameweek 8?
Giacomo Calo is the best differential at 2.4% ownership, projecting 18.9 over Gameweeks 8 to 10 for 5.5m. Federico Bernardeschi (1.1%), Juan Miranda (2.6%) and Leo Østigard (5.8%) are the other low-owned picks with strong three-week programs.
Which budget defenders are best for Sofascore Serie A Gameweek 8?
Yan Couto (5.0m, Como) is the best budget defender, projecting 5.2 against Sassuolo and 14.4 over three gameweeks. Gabriele Bracaglia (4.5m, Frosinone) is the cheaper option to buy for Gameweek 9, when Frosinone start two home games.
Should I sell Lautaro Martinez before Gameweek 8?
Yes. Lautaro Martinez is listed out until mid-November and projects zero in every gameweek from 8 to 11, while Marcus Thuram projects 16.7 over Inter's next three games for 2.1m less.
Which Sofascore Serie A teams have the best fixtures for Gameweeks 8 to 10?
Inter have the best attacking run at 6.37 expected goals over [H]FIO → [A]VEN → [A]MIL, followed by Atalanta (5.91) and Como (5.68). Juventus have the best defensive run with 1.26 expected clean sheets, ahead of Como (1.18) and Lazio (1.13).
This preview was written by TheFantasyTool AI.