Mikel Merino merits recognition for his commendable contributions in the heart of Real Sociedad's line-up. Acting in a versatile midfield role, Merino is a dominating presence, underlined by considerable ball recovery adeptness — a standout attribute marking him among the upper echelons of La Liga's midfield maestros. His eye for goal cannot be understated either, scoring consistently when given the opportunity.
However, the Spaniard falls somewhat short in carrying the ball progressively, but more than compensates for this through an impressive passing portfolio, often threading the needle to unlock defences. His role is not confined to the creative or defensive aspects but rather a more harmonized blend of duties seen through his decent distribution of possession areas, though his inclination towards the midfield isn't surprising.
Merino's aerial prowess is another positive aspect of his game, giving him an advantage in set-piece situations and in breaking up the play. However, this combative style does come at a cost, with a slightly concerning tendency to commit fouls and rack up yellow cards, a caveat that ought to be managed.
Finally, while not the most daring in terms of interceptive maneuvers, Merino's reliability in recovering the ball is commendable, enhancing his side's ball retention. Overall, Merino is a fine standard of a versatile midfielder with the grit and gusto to compete at the highest levels, but needs to fine-tune aspects of his disciplinary record to become an even more valuable midfield asset.
Mikel Merino Key stats
Mikel Merino Career Trend
Mikel Merino Shot Maps
Mikel Merino Shot Summary
In the 2023-2024 season, Mikel Merino took 30 shots, scoring 5 goals. This output came from an Expected Goals (xG) of 3.29, averaging 0.11 xG per shot.
Right Foot: 1 goals from 1 shots. A 100.0% conversion rate. 0.16 xG per shot.
Left Foot: 2 goals from 13 shots. A 15.38% conversion rate. 0.06 xG per shot.
Headers: 2 goals from 15 headed attempts. A 13.33% conversion rate. 0.15 xG per shot.
