User blog comment:Piyush Banerjee/Shin DxD 2 discussion/@comment-2602:306:CD9A:C860:1896:46C0:1D50:41A4-20181226150049/@comment-36523287-20181228125027

Ravel's strategy is keeping Strada and Crom Cruach occupied which allow Issei to focus on figthing Rias. Though they suffered a setback, The rest of the match progressed as Ravel want. Strada had been fighting Xenovia, Irina and Nakiri for the entire match and Crom Cruach only arrived after Kiba was defeated. Issei and Grayfia faced Rias and Kiba. And althougth Grayfia was defeated, Issei managed to beat both Kiba and Rias.

The irony is that for Issei, fighting Rias was much easier than fighting Kiba. She couldn't even land a single hit on him.