Isco has once again been the driving force for Real Betis just before the club faces league leaders Barcelona. After a season marked by injuries that limited his participation to nine games, the playmaker has regained his form and has become the most outstanding player in the team's last two official matches, scoring three goals and generating 4.68 high-impact actions per game, according to data from LALIGA Beyond Stats.
Isco's return was evident in his double against Osasuna and in the penalty goal against Porto in the Champions League. These performances earned him the title of MVP in both matches and have allowed him to once again occupy a central place in Manuel Pellegrini's strategy. Despite being the ninth player in minutes on the squad, with 545 total minutes, his influence on the game is unquestionable. In the ten official matches of the season, Isco has been one of the five players most used by the coach, along with Valles, Antony, Riquelme and Deossa, and has contributed with three goals and one assist, placing himself only behind Cucho Hernández in offensive production.
Statistics reveal that Isco leads Betis in high-impact actions, surpassing Antony (3.28) and Riquelme (2.48) with 43% more impact. In the League, he ranks second in passes that lead to a shot, with 3.64 per game, only behind Arda Güler (5.85). Furthermore, his accuracy in crosses into the area reaches 50%, the best percentage on the team, and his success rate in the final third stands at 78%, with 98 completed passes and only 27 errors.
Compared to the previous season, Isco's improvement is evident. While last year he played only 241 minutes, with one goal and one assist, he has now participated in ten games, seven since the beginning, accumulating 545 minutes, three goals and one assist. His return to maximum performance coincides with the historic start of Betis' season, which has reinforced the confidence of the team and its followers.
With Barcelona scheduled to play at the Estadio de la Luz, Betis has a renewed Isco who promises to continue generating decisive moments. The next match will be key to consolidate the team's position in the table and demonstrate that the playmaker continues to be an essential element in the Betic offense.