Carrera: Real Sociedad B's penalty-free goal machine climbing the Pichichi charts
The 20-year-old striker has netted 11 goals from open play this season, making him the top non-penalty scorer in Spain's Segunda División despite being a rookie.
A young Real Sociedad B striker is making waves in Spain’s second tier without needing the penalty spot to boost his numbers.
From third tier to goal machine
Gorka Carrera is having a proper Bobby Dazzler of a season for Real Sociedad’s B team in LaLiga Hypermotion. The 20-year-old from Errenteria has netted 11 goals this campaign, placing him fourth in the race for the Pichichi trophy (Spain’s Golden Boot). But here’s the kicker - unlike his competitors, Carrera hasn’t scored a single penalty.
What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that just last year, the lad was playing in the fourth tier of Spanish football with Real Sociedad’s C team. Talk about a rapid rise!
Climbing the ladder
Carrera’s journey to prominence began last February when he became a regular for Sanse (Real Sociedad B’s nickname) in the third tier, helping them secure promotion to LaLiga Hypermotion.
This season, after starting on the bench, he quickly established himself in the team:
- Scored his first goal in matchday three against Almería
- Has found the net against sides including Cádiz, Granada, and Las Palmas
- Netted a crucial brace in a 3-0 victory over Andorra
- Four of his goals have come in the last five matches
Survival hopes boosted
Carrera’s goalscoring form has been vital to Sanse’s recent improvement. The B team has collected eight points from their last five games, lifting them three points clear of the relegation zone despite numerous challenges including:
- Injuries throughout the squad
- Players being promoted to the first team
- Stadium changes disrupting their rhythm
The penalty-free Pichichi
In the overall scoring charts, Carrera sits behind Almería’s Sergio Arribas (14 goals), Racing Santander’s Andrés Martín (13), and Sporting Gijón’s Jonathan Dubasin (12). However, when penalties are removed from the equation, the young Basque striker leads the way:
- Carrera (Real Sociedad B) - 11 goals
- Andrés Martín (Racing Santander) - 10 goals
- Adri Fuentes (Córdoba) - 10 goals
- Villalibre (Racing Santander) - 10 goals
- Embarba (Almería) - 9 goals
For a rookie in the division, Carrera’s impact has been nothing short of sensational. The young striker is proving that you don’t need penalties to make your mark in Spanish football’s second tier.