What’s new with Sportmonks Football API – Premium Expected Lineups

Defining expected lineups 

Expected lineups are pre-match predictions of the starting XI, generated before official lineups are released. These forecasts are powered by Sportmonks’ predictive models, which combine:

– Injury & suspension data
– Player form
– Tactical patterns
– News & selection trends

This enables you to surface early lineup insights via API long before clubs confirm their selections.

Why it matters

– Fantasy & betting: Users get earlier prompts and decision-making support.
– Media & analysis platforms: Deliver lineups with visuals ahead of matchday releases.
– Club analytics tools: Allow anticipation of opposition strategies and tactical previews.

Endpoint overview: Premium expected lineups

Sportmonks now offers two specialised endpoints for accessing expected lineups directly by team or player:

Expected lineup by team

This endpoint allows you to get all the expected values we have available per team.

Endpoint:

GET https://api.sportmonks.com/v3/football/expected-lineups/teams/{team_id}?api_token=YOUR_TOKEN&include=fixture,team,expected

Expected lineup by player

This endpoint allows you to get all the expected values we have available per player (lineup).

Endpoint:

GET https://api.sportmonks.com/v3/football/expected-lineups/players/{player_id}?api_token=YOUR_TOKEN&include=fixture,team,expected

Limitations & considerations

Before fully adopting premium expected lineups, it’s important to understand the current limitations and best-practice considerations:

Predictions are not official

These lineups are based on Sportmonks’ algorithmic models using past data, squad lists, injuries/suspensions, and tactics. However:

– Late changes (e.g., last-minute injuries, tactical shifts) may not be captured.
– Until lineup_confirmed flips to true in the fixture endpoint, you’re working with a prediction, not an official lineup

Tip: Display predictions separately from confirmed lineups in your UI to manage user expectations.

Timing of data availability

Depending on your subscription tier (e.g., Advanced vs Standard), prediction availability may vary:

– Advanced plans might offer real-time expected lineups.
– Lower tiers may provide predictions only hours before kickoff.

Make sure your application logic accounts for potential data delays or absence.

Data gaps and edge cases

– If a player isn’t listed in the squad, you won’t receive any expected data, even if they’re a likely starter.
– For teams with frequent rotation or tactical experimentation, prediction accuracy may drop.

Tip: Pair expected lineup data with sidelined information to improve context around unexpected omissions.

Improve your app’s UX with Sportmonks

Take your pre-match experience up a level with Sportmonks’ premium expected lineups. Predict the starting XI hours before kick-off using smart data models that factor in past lineups, squad availability, and injuries. Whether you run a fantasy app, betting platform, or analysis tool, this gives your users a clear edge, before the official lineups drop.

Access team or player predictions with one simple API call. Upgrade now and unlock early lineup insights with Sportmonks.