The goal debate is in the infirmary

Celta's five-goal deficit versus last season is entirely explained by Borja Iglesias's injury absence; the striker had scored that exact tally by this point last year.

Celta manager Claudio Giráldez has pushed back against negativity surrounding the club's start to the season, particularly criticism over a lack of goals. The team drew 0–0 against Levante on Sunday despite creating numerous chances, and similar frustration followed a 1–0 loss to Union Saint-Gilloise three days earlier.

However, statistical analysis reveals the goal drought has a straightforward explanation: the absence of striker Borja Iglesias through injury. Celta has scored five fewer goals in the first 12 league matches compared to the same period last season—precisely the tally Iglesias had accumulated by this stage last year.

His substitutes, Pablo Durán and Ferran Jutglà, are performing at their normal output levels, and other attacking contributors (Iago Aspas, Hugo González, Miguel Román) are matching or exceeding their previous-season tallies.

The numbers extend beyond goals: Celta sits 11th with 13 points from two wins, seven draws and three losses—identical to their record at this stage last season. Giráldez's message to the club's environment is that perspective and unity are needed to convert the team's efforts into victories.