Mikel Merino set a remarkable top-5 league season record in Real Sociedad’s win over Cádiz | OneFootball

A remarkable statistic, highlighting the excellence of Real Sociedad star Mikel Merino in the club’s recent meeting with Cádiz, has come to the fore online.

Sociedad, of course, were back in action on Friday, when they welcomed relegation-battling Cádiz to Anoeta for a La Liga clash.

When all was said and done, Imanol’s troops emerged comfortable victors, owing to a 2-0 result.

The aforementioned Mikel Merino, meanwhile, was amongst the goals in San Sebastián, notching inside the half-hour mark before Arsen Zakharyan sealed victory midway through the 2nd-half.

And yet, it was not the former’s decisiveness in the final third which saw him secure for himself the most head-turning of benchmarks on Friday.

Instead, as much came as a result of Merino’s battling qualities, particularly in the air.

As revealed by statisticians La Pausa, former Newcastle man Merino won a whopping 15 aerial duels en route to La Real’s downing of Cádiz.

This marks ‘the most by a midfielder in a game across Europe’s big five leagues this season’.

Is it any wonder so many clubs from across the continent are keen to lure the Spanish international away from Anoeta with a view to next season?

Conor Laird | GSFN