No player in any of Europe’s top five leagues has created more chances this season than Arda Guler. The 21-year-old Turkey midfielder has 28 in La Liga, four more than Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and twelve more than the next tier of creators behind the pair, according to numbers compiled by Managing Madrid.

The per 90 numbers are the point. Guler averages 7.28 chances created per 90 minutes, a key pass every 12.5 minutes and a clear-cut chance every 43.6 minutes. He has done that on roughly 60 minutes a game, split between three September starts and one appearance off the bench.

Yamal has converted more of his volume into assists: four from an expected assists total of 2.71. Guler sits on two assists from an xGA of 3.01, which means his teammates have left creation on the table that he has not.

Five chances in 18 minutes

Guler’s most striking cameo came off the bench against Rayo Vallecano, where he produced five chances in 18 minutes on the pitch.

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Real Madrid named him their Player of the Month for September, ahead of Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham, Ibrahima Konate and Thibaut Courtois.

A central role under Mourinho

Jose Mourinho took charge at Real Madrid in July on a three-year contract, and Guler has become the player his midfield works through, feeding Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr in the final third.

Barcelona host Real Madrid in the first Clasico of the season at Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday 25 October. Kick-off is at 9pm local time.

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