In the last decade, Marcelo has been one of the key players for Real Madrid. He was the first choice at left back. Real Madrid brought in players like Fabio Coentrao or Theo Hernandez, but Marcelo always was the first choice.
This season, the atmosphere around the club isn’t great. Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo left the club. Solari is their second manager this season after Lopetegui was sacked.
With Solari’s arrival, Marcelo’s position became insecure. Sergio Reguilon became the first choice for the left back position. In this piece, we will look at this season’s statistics of both players and compare them.
Player’s profiles
Credit: Wyscout
Marcelo is a 30-year-old Brazilian left back. He has played in 13 La Liga matches this season, 12 times as a starter. But, he started only one of the last six La Liga games. Also, in the Champions League match against Ajax, he was on the bench. Marcelo has scored three goals this season, two in La Liga. Also, he has recorded four assists, zero in La Liga. On his heat map, we can see how offensive he is.
Credit: Wyscout
Reguilon is a 22-year-old Spanish left-back. He was played in nine La Liga matches this season, eight times as a starter. With Solari’s arrive he became an important player for Real Madrid. When Lopetegui was a manager, he didn’t record one La Liga appearance. In the next 14 La Liga matches, he appeared nine times. He missed three matches because of an injury. Reguilon recorded two La Liga assists. He didn’t score yet. Interest thing is that this is his first La Liga season. Until this season, he played for Real Madrid B and for Logrones. He appeared in the third level of Spanish football. Reguilon made his La Liga debut at almost 22.
Defensive statistics
Credit: Wyscout
Marcelo has recorded 4.85 defensive duels per 90 minutes. He has won 18.4% of them. Marcelo has participated average in 1.18 aerial duels. He has won 14.4% of them. Successful of his sliding tackles is only 6.3% (he has recorded 0.63 sliding tackles per 90 minutes). Average Marcelo has recorded 3.04 interceptions and 4.73 recoveries (42.9% of them on opposition half). Also, he has recorded 0.89 clearances per 90 minutes.
Credit: Wyscout
Reguilon participated, on average, in almost three defensive duels more than Marcelo (7.57 vs 4.85). His success is better too (24.3% vs 18.4%). He has recorded more aerial duels than Marcelo (2.43 vs 1.18). Also, with more success (45.3% vs14.4%). Reguilon has recorded less sliding tackles, but he was more successful (34.1% vs 6.3%). He has recorded more recoveries (6.69), but Marcelo has recorded it more on opposition half. Also, Reguilon has recorded more interceptions (3.9) and clearances (1.62) per 90 minutes. Reguilon made more fouls than Marcelo (1.54 vs 0.68). Marcelo is a more offensive player than Reguilon. They had almost the same statistics when we talk about losses, but Reguilon has recorded much more losses on own half than Marcelo (41.8% vs 21.5%).
Attacking statistics
Credit: Wyscout
Credit: Wyscout
Marcelo is better than Reguilon in most attacking parameters.
Marcelo had recorded more offensive duels than Reguilon (6.25 vs 4.93). Also, Marcelo had more success. He won 64.8 % of them and Reguilon won 61.1 % offensive duels.
Reguilon has shot 0.59 times per 90 minutes, which is fewer than Marcelo’s 1.18 times.
Marcelo has dribbled more times than Reguilon on average (3.8 vs 2.43). But, Reguilon had more success with 81.9 % successful dribbles. Marcelo had a 77.6 % success.
Marcelo has recorded more crosses and also accurate of his crosses was better. 3.8 crosses per 90 minutes with 35.5 % success.
Interesting, Reguilon has recorded more progressive runs per 90 minutes. He had around double more progressive runs than Marcelo (1.44 vs 2.94).
Conclusion
Solari gave Reguilon a chance and he used his chance. Marcelo is a more offensive player than Reguilon and has better attacking statistics.
But, Reguilon has better defensive statistics. Solari can use him in more defensive tactics.
