Panda Pain: Borja Iglesias Ruled Out for Celta's Oviedo Trip
Celta Vigo will face Real Oviedo without their top scorer Borja Iglesias after the striker picked up a back injury in their Copa del Rey clash against Albacete.
Celta Lose Their Goal Machine for Crucial Away Day
Celta Vigo have been dealt a proper kick in the teeth ahead of Saturday’s trip to Real Oviedo with the news that leading marksman Borja Iglesias will miss out through injury.
The man they call ‘The Panda’ picked up a nasty back knock during Celta’s Copa del Rey clash against Albacete, forcing him off the pitch before the final whistle. The club’s medical staff have now confirmed he won’t be available for the weekend fixture, though the good news is he’s expected to return after the holiday break.
Big Blow for the Galicians
Losing Iglesias is a right old spanner in the works for manager Claudio Giráldez. The 31-year-old has been in decent nick this season, bagging nine goals across all competitions to establish himself as the team’s main goal threat.
The striker’s absence comes at a tricky time as Celta look to improve their position in the table before the winter pause. They’ll need to find goals from elsewhere if they’re to return from Oviedo with anything to show for their efforts.
Squad Adjustments
Giráldez has responded to the situation by calling up B-team forward Hugo González to the senior squad. There’s some positive news in defence though, with Aidoo now back in contention after receiving medical clearance to play.
The absentee list for Saturday’s match includes:
- Borja Iglesias (back injury)
- Pablo Durán (injured)
- Carlos Domínguez (injured)
Celta will hope their squad depth can help them cope without their talisman as they face a challenging away fixture at the Carlos Tartiere Stadium.