Cucho Hernández Emerges as Top Scorer for Real Betis in LaLiga

With his goal on Sunday at Mestalla against Valencia, Cucho Hernández has become the leading scorer for Real Betis in LaLiga this season. The Colombian forward has netted five goals in the domestic competition, surpassing Brazilian Antony by one and Moroccan Abde by two. Furthermore, the Colombian international is showing marked improvement in his performance.

To date, five goals represent his highest tally in a complete Primera División season. He achieved this feat during the 2019-20 season with Mallorca and last season with Betis. The difference this time is striking: he has scored these goals in just 12 matches, requiring ten fewer games than he needed with Mallorca to reach this figure, and three fewer than last season after joining the squad in the winter transfer window (he ultimately played 15 league matches between January and May).

When combining his goals with the two assists he has provided in the league, Cucho, who has started in all 12 matches played thus far, participates in a goal every 147 minutes of play. Ahead of him are 26 more matches this season to potentially surpass the records of four goals in 34 games with Huesca in 2018-19 and two goals in 23 matches with Getafe during the 2020-21 season, achievements he has already surpassed in less than three months.

Cucho Hernández has been showcasing his abilities at Betis in recent months, after a successful stint in Major League Soccer, where he was brought back by the sports management team led by Manu Fajardo. He has proven to be a well-rounded forward, contributing not just in terms of goals and assists but also playing a vital role in build-up plays, winning duels, aiding in team transitions, and providing defensive support through pressing and ball recovery.

In the 12 league matches played, the Colombian has successfully completed 196 out of 268 attempted passes, a high success rate considering his position on the field and the areas he typically occupies. His five goals, four scored with his right foot and one with his head, have come in various forms, with three scored inside the box and two from outside it. His ability to find shooting positions has made him a significant challenge for opposing defenses.

Only Kylian Mbappé (58 shots) and Marcus Rashford (39) have attempted more shots than Juan Camilo, who has accumulated 37 attempts, with 10 on target. The Colombian forward has created three significant goal-scoring opportunities and successfully completed 12 dribbles. Additionally, he has made invaluable contributions as a central striker, with 25 ball recoveries and 59 duels won from 129 attempts. This record is especially noteworthy when considering aerial duels, where he has won 22 out of 44 contests despite generally facing taller opponents (1.76 meters).

The €13 million, plus potential performance-based variables, that Real Betis invested in acquiring Cucho from Columbus Crew has now fallen below the market value of the attacker. At just 26 years old and with considerable experience at the elite level, his market value has reached €18 million on specialized websites like transfermarkt.com, which is lower than his actual market cost. Cucho is under contract until 2030 and has proven to be the type of forward that best fits Manuel Pellegrini’s playing system.

It remains to be seen what strategy the engineer will adopt during the weeks of December and January when he may not have Bakambu available due to the Africa Cup of Nations. Until now, Cucho has rested during midweek fixtures in the Europa League, making occasional appearances from the bench, and in the Cup. Without the Congolese player, he may have to log more minutes on the pitch—an opportunity to continue surpassing his own limits.