Goals set the pace

The Liga Adelante has a new leader after RC Deportivo de La Coruña's stumble against UD Las Palmas and Real Sporting de Gijón's victory on the road against Real Madrid Castilla.

The Asturian outfit, managed by José Ramón Sandoval, is looking down on the rest in the Liga Adelante thanks to a superior goal difference to that of Deportivo. Taking into account the fact that the Galicians have conceded 16 goals, while Sporting's keeper has been beaten 29 times, it becomes clear that it is the goals scored that have put the rojiblancos at the top of the table.

Sporting is the Liga Adelante's top goal-scorer having found the net 37 times and Stefan Šćepović, with 16 goals in the 20 matches played, is the most prolific member of the team, who have netted no less than 22 times in ten matches played in El Molinón.

With one goal fewer than Sporting, RC Recreativo de Huelva, the team that had its taste of the top spot between matchday 6 and 14, currently lies in the last Liga BBVA promotion playoff position with 33 points. The team managed by Sergi Barjuan does not have a Šćepović to rely on and its success therefore depends on contributions from midfielders.

Manuel Arana is a prime example of this. The player from Seville has scored eight goals in the 16 matches he has started, a stat that earned him a place in the LFP.es journalists' team of the first half of the season. Ángel Montoro, another of Recre's midfielders, has also contributed with five goals in 18 games.

Therefore, it is by no means an overstatement to say that goals have been vital so far in this season's Liga Adelante. The bread and butter of football is proving to be a deciding factor in the championship's standings.