The figure that situates Barça's Abde among LaLiga's best dribblers
The 19-year-old has burst on to the scene after joining from Hercules
Victories always come with good news. Barcelona struggled against Villarreal on Saturday but got the win in a game in which Ez Abde was one of the standout players.
Barça coach Xavi Hernandez handed the Moroccan his first start and the 19-year-old responded. He was, without doubt, one of the players that best understood Xavi's message to take more risks in the final third.
Abde's first 15 minutes were very good. He gave a lesson in character, taking the game to the opposition, one on ones and confidence.
Villarreal left-back Alfonso Pedraza suffered as he tried to stop him. Abde looked comfortable in both in positional play and in attacking transitions playing as a right winger, a position Xavi says is extremely psychological.
When Barça lost the ball, Abde had to make sacrifices in defence, which slowly reduced his effect in the final third. Villarreal found the best way to stop him was by attacking themselves.
The former Hercules player was taken off for Ousmane Dembele in the 66th minute after 37 interventions, 16 passes with 50 percent successful, seven duels won and 16 ball losses, all of them trying to create danger. And with three successful dribbles.
In fact, Abde is currently the player in LaLiga with the best dribbling numbers. He tries a dribble every seven minutes: he's made 12 in 131 minutes of action.
Samu Chukwueze, who equalised against Barça for Villarreal and put the Catalan side on the ropes, is second in the list with a dribble every eight minutes.
