Super subs worth their weight in gold

When things aren’t going as planned in a match, every coach turns to his substitutes for a look at what his options are. In that precise moment, one of those players can pop up as the solution to all the team’s problems. Introduced as a sub, he changes the game just as his boss had been hoping he would – and ensures that his side get a positive result.

And, in front of goal, the player to bring the greatest impact as a substitute this season was Kevin Gameiro. The Sevilla FC striker netted six times off the bench, efforts that were worth three points overall to los hispalenses while, for the most part, rounding off winning scorelines. The most memorable of these six was his equaliser to earn the Andalusians a 2-2 draw against FC Barcelona at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán.

Just behind the Frenchman were Luciano Vietto (Villarreal CF) and Christian Stuani (RCD Espanyol) with five goals each. The Argentinian’s strikes on being thrown into the action helped los amarillos to a further four points, and he even bagged a brace against Rayo Vallecano on matchday 4. Stuani brought Espanyol three points with his goals as a sub, as well as capping two victories for los periquitos by making it 2-0.

With four goals as a substitute is José Verdú 'Toché' (RC Deportivo). They were only enough to deliver the Galicians one point, against Real Sociedad at the Estadio de Anoeta, but the forward had the privilege of scoring against Real Madrid, Getafe CF and Valencia CF. Meanwhile, players other than Vietto came on to hit doubles. They were Neymar (against Athletic Club on matchday 3), Javier Hernández 'Chicharito' (against RC Deportivo on matchday 4), Moi Gómez (against Real Sociedad on matchday 14) and Gerard Moreno (against Málaga CF on matchday 37).

Three men grabbed a total of three goals as subs: Pedro Rodríguez, Neymar (FC Barcelona) and Álvaro Negredo (Valencia CF). 11 players picked up two, with Fernando Torres (Atlético Madrid), who handed los rojiblancos three points in all as a substitute, and Adrián Embarba (Rayo Vallecano) – whose tally included his first ever goal in the Liga BBVA – particularly standing out. Finally, 60 more scored once after starting on the sidelines, with the goals of Ager Aketxe (Athletic), Isaac Success (Granada CF) and Theo Bogonda (RC Celta) the pick of the bunch since they were their maiden top-flight strikes.

Villarreal and Sevilla: the teams with the most productive benches

Looking at the figures team by team, Villarreal CF and Sevilla FC were the two clubs to notch up the most goals by substitutes, with 10. Vietto was to the fore for los amarillos’ scoring subs, but Moi Gómez, Gerard Moreno and Ikechukwu Uche were also on target. Gameiro led the way for los hispalenses, joined by Stéphane M’Bia, Vicente Iborra, Iago Aspas and Jorge Andújar 'Coke'.

The Catalan pair of RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona are next in the table with nine. Stuani was the chief source of such goals for los blanquiazules, accompanied by Felipe Caicedo, Francisco Montañés and Anaitz Arbilla. Barça boast the three each claimed by Pedro and Neymar, with Sandro Ramírez and Luis Suárez also chipping in as subs.

At the other end of the scale are Granada CF and Córdoba CF. The two Andalusian clubs managed the fewest goals off the bench, with just two. Isaac Success and Robert Ibáñez were the substitute scorers for los nazaríes, while Florin Andone and Francisco Jiménez 'Xisco' did likewise for los verdiblancos.