In our scout report for the 2023-2024 La Liga season, we turn our attention to Real Betis Center Back, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, who at 35 years of age, has shown a commendable mix of strengths and areas for improvement in his game. Predominantly a defensive bulwark, Sokratis came up robust in ball retention – his hold of play figures among the top 5% of defenders in the league. A testament to his experience and technical proficiency, this trait has been significant for Betis in setting up their attacks by ensuring smooth transition from defence to offensive play.
However, the Greek defender's stats reveal an alarming weakness in interception rate, sitting in the lowest 5% in La Liga. This combined with an extremely high incidence of yellow cards (among the top 10% in the league) possibly expose a tendency towards rash decision-making under pressure, potentially jeopardizing his team's solidity at the back.
Despite being more at home in the defensive third, Sokratis unexpectedly shines in showcasing a considerable goal threat when called upon to venture forward, raking in the top quarter percentile. His style of play indicates a directness in attack, as demonstrated by his above-average performance in goals scored per game compared to other center backs.
In closing, Sokratis remains a central figure at Real Betis, illustrating resilience and a strong knack for keeping possession, which could be his key contributions to the team. His low interception rate and high foul count, however, leave room for improvement in his defensive duties and discipline. It emphasizes a clear lesson: the wiser, experienced heads in football still have aspects of the game to master.
Sokratis Papastathopoulos Key stats
Sokratis Papastathopoulos Career Trend
Sokratis Papastathopoulos Shot Maps
Sokratis Papastathopoulos Shot Summary
In the 2023-2024 season, Sokratis Papastathopoulos took 2 shots, scoring 0 goals. This output came from an Expected Goals (xG) of 0.27, averaging 0.14 xG per shot.
Right Foot: 0 goals from 0 shots. A 0% conversion rate. 0 xG per shot.
Left Foot: 0 goals from 0 shots. A 0% conversion rate. 0 xG per shot.
Headers: 0 goals from 2 headed attempts. A 0.0% conversion rate. 0.13 xG per shot.
