Sergio Arribas: The midfield maestro with a striker's instinct
Former Real Madrid youngster Sergio Arribas is leading the Segunda División scoring charts from midfield, proving to be Almería's unlikely goal machine.
Almería may have flogged their top scorer Luis Suárez to Sporting CP last summer, but they’ve found an unlikely goal machine in midfield ace Sergio Arribas, who’s currently topping the Segunda División scoring charts.
Midfield magician, goalscorer’s mentality
When the Andalusian outfit pocketed a tidy sum – potentially rising to €27 million – for Colombian striker Suárez, you’d have thought their goal-getting capabilities would take a proper battering. Not a bit of it! Instead, Arribas has stepped up from his attacking midfield position to become the division’s surprise Pichichi leader.
The former Real Madrid man has notched an impressive 13 goals in 25 matchdays, putting him clear at the top of the Segunda scoring charts. His nearest challenger, Sporting Gijón’s Dubasín, trails with 11 strikes, while several players including:
- Villalibre (Racing)
- Carlos Fernández (Mirandés)
- Chupe (Málaga)
- Gorka Carrera (Real Sociedad B)
All sit on 10 goals, alongside Arribas’s teammate Adri Embarba, who’s also chipping in with crucial goals from a non-striking position.
From Castilla to Andalucía
Arribas’s goal-getting ability was hardly a state secret during his time at Real Madrid Castilla. It’s precisely why Almería splashed the cash to bring him south, beating several top-flight clubs to his signature when they were still in La Liga.
But the 22-year-old keeps improving season after season. Beyond his eye for goal, he’s already provided seven assists this campaign – more than double his tally from last term. His 13 goals have already surpassed his previous best returns in an Almería shirt (nine in each of his first two seasons), though he’s still some way off the 21 he bagged for Castilla in 2022-23.
Breaking curses
Arribas demonstrated his scoring prowess once again yesterday, opening the scoring at Cádiz’s Nuevo Mirandilla stadium – helping Almería break their curse at a ground where they hadn’t won since 2002. That previous victory came when both sides were in Segunda B, making yesterday’s win their first professional triumph at the venue.
With Arribas conducting the orchestra, Almería appear to be shaking off their recent crisis. He might be a number 10 by position, but he’s got the Pichichi trophy firmly in his sights.