Breaking down Real Madrid prodigy’s impressive display against Getafe in numbers | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s young talent, Arda Guler, was given a rare starting opportunity in a recent 1-0 victory over Getafe, and he made the most of it.

The Turkish international not only scored the match-winning goal but also showcased his talent in a deeper midfield role, providing a glimpse of his potential to fill the void left by Toni Kroos.

“I’m very happy with the goal and the three points,” Guler said after the match, reflecting his satisfaction with both his individual contribution and the team’s success.

A look at the numbers

Although Guler was positioned slightly deeper than his usual attacking role, he dominated the midfield battle, displaying the qualities that have made him one of Real Madrid’s most exciting young prospects.

In his 78 minutes of play, Guler completed 77 passes, with 67 of those finding their target, achieving an impressive passing accuracy of 87%.

His first-half performance was particularly remarkable, as he completed 56 passes out of 63 attempted, showing both accuracy and vision in key areas of the pitch.

Arda Guler scored a brilliant goal against Getafe. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

When compared to his previous outings for the club, Guler’s performance was a clear step up. In his 48 previous matches, he averaged 52.9 passes attempted and 47.1 successful passes per 90 minutes.

His performance against Getafe was far more effective in higher-risk areas, with 29 successful passes in the opposition half and 17 in the final third, where the game is often won or lost.

Praise from Ancelotti

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti was full of praise for Guler’s performance, highlighting his composure and quality in midfield.

“He played as an inside midfielder and did it very well, with quality, with idea, and with great composure,” Ancelotti stated, acknowledging that the young Turkish player brought both vision and control to the middle of the park.

With a system that suits Guler’s strengths in midfield, Ancelotti believes the 20-year-old has a brighter future in that position than in attack.

Interestingly, it won’t be too much to say that this match against Getafe could be a turning point in Guler’s Real Madrid career.