Celta Vigo and Real Sociedad are leaning on academy production again, and the numbers around Ángel Arcos, Dani Díaz, Gorka Carrera, Álvaro Marín and Óscar Marcos explain why. Thirteen players in Celta's first squad have been formed at A Madroa, while only ten members of Real Sociedad's first squad are not academy players. That is a sizeable chunk of both squads built from within.

Celta's A Madroa pipeline

At Celta Vigo, the reserve side is not just stockpiling prospects. Álvaro Marín has seven goals and one assist, and the profile around him is already getting attention. Relevo described him as “7 little goals already for the killer ⭐️”, a nod to the scoring return that has made him hard to ignore.

Ángel Arcos is part of the same conversation, even if the brief only points to the broader group rather than a full statistical line for him. Óscar Marcos has three goals and one assist, while Gorka Carrera scored 15 goals last season in LaLiga Hypermotion. That spread is what stands out here, because Celta are not relying on one isolated hot streak. They have several attackers with different profiles, all knocking on the door.

Real Sociedad's reserve-side output

Real Sociedad's case is similar, but the balance is even more striking. Dani Díaz has started all 12 matches played by the Basque reserve side, and he has one goal and five assists. Relevo summed up his game with the line, “Dani Díaz: hold the ball for me.” That fits the numbers. He is not just playing, he is setting the tone for the side.

The same reserve group is helping explain why Real Sociedad's first team contains so few outsiders. Only ten members of the senior squad are not academy players. For a club already sitting fifth in La Liga, that is a clear sign that the pathway is not cosmetic. It is feeding the senior group with players who are already used to carrying responsibility.

The biggest reason this deserves attention is that both clubs are doing more than filling benches. Celta's academy count at first-team level and Real Sociedad's reliance on home-grown players show two different setups, but the same outcome. These reserve numbers are turning into genuine first-team options, and the next step for this group is to keep forcing the conversation.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →