Málaga- Games
- 9
- 7 starts
- Minutes
- 572
- 64 a game
- Goals
- 0
- 0.1 xG
- Assists
- 1
- 0.3 xA
Player profile
572 min · vs 103 defensive midfielders · 3 Nov 2026 · Method
Archetype: Tidy-passing holding midfielder
Merino keeps the ball very well for Málaga and has a Copa del Rey assist. Almost everything else is at the bottom of the group: very few tackles, interceptions or recoveries, no headers or dribbles won, and no touches in the box. From 572 minutes.
Key strengths
Accurate passer. Pass accuracy 92.2%, top 11% of defensive midfielders.
Moves it forward. Passes into the final third 7.24 per 90, 51st percentile.
Areas for development
Light defending. Tackles 0.79 and recoveries 2.67 per 90, both 2nd percentile, with interceptions 0.63 (14th percentile).
No aerial game. Aerials won 0.00 per 90, the lowest in the group.
No box presence. Touches in the box 0.00 and dribbles won 0.00 per 90, both the lowest in the group.
Key strengths, areas for development and similar players
Key strengths
Accurate passer. Pass accuracy 92.2%, top 11% of defensive midfielders.
Moves it forward. Passes into the final third 7.24 per 90, 51st percentile.
Areas for development
Light defending. Tackles 0.79 and recoveries 2.67 per 90, both 2nd percentile, with interceptions 0.63 (14th percentile).
No aerial game. Aerials won 0.00 per 90, the lowest in the group.
No box presence. Touches in the box 0.00 and dribbles won 0.00 per 90, both the lowest in the group.
Against 104 defensive midfielders
Against the rest
How to read it. Each number is a percentile: the share of defensive midfielders with 450+ minutes this player beats on that measure. 90 means better than 90 out of every 100; 50 is the middle.80+ top fifth50 to 79 above the middleunder 50 below the middle
Top fifth in 1 of 14 measures.
Touches, shots and positions
On the pitch
Busiest in the own third, centre (18%), average spot centre, middle third. Hover or tap a zone.
Own thirdMiddle thirdFinal third
Own third 40%, Middle third 52%, Final third 8%
Brighter means more touches. The dot is the average spot. Attacking to the right.
By competition
The season
| Competition | Apps | Min | Goals | Assists | xG | npxG | xA | Shots | Key passes | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LaLiga | 8 | 482 | 0 | 0 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.13 | 1 | 3 | 6.29 |
| Copa del Rey | 1 | 90 | 0 | 1 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.19 | 2 | 0 | 7.89 |
9 games
