Disgusting? Not really. This concept appears as a sudden reaction with generally beneficial effects, applied across all living situations, including football and, this season, to LaLiga. Each campaign brings its own turbulence as teams juggle a tighter calendar, national team duties, and club commitments.
Days slip by and minutes rack up on players, especially in the legs. Coaches then deploy trusted substitutes from the bench to inject energy into the game, performing a 180-degree shift to spark a response when the stock of options feels scarce. These impact-ready players often surpass the average performer, yet they remain substitutes until called upon.
Joselu won the renewal and admiration of Ancelotti and Real Madrid fans with his work and goals
It is not just about filling a role; it is about versatility—the ability to adapt to multiple positions within minutes and to finish chances effectively. The dynamic striker mirrors the classic “9” in both directions, a trait shared by players like Joselu, Abdón Prats, Morales, Memphis, Álex Berenguer, and Vitor Roque.
Joselu and Memphis, the capital’s superheroes
Real Madrid approached Valdebebas knowing a secondary role awaited. Carlo Ancelotti faced the pressure of Mbappe’s potential move and Karim Benzema’s departure, yet Joselu arrived ready to demonstrate why he was among the league’s top scorers the previous season. The numbers speak for themselves: 12 goals in 1445 minutes, roughly 0.74 goals per 90 minutes, a rate that rivals top scorers who logged more minutes. He also proved decisive in key contests, coming off the bench to equalize in a derby and delivering moments that signaled his importance in European campaigns. He did not anchor himself to a single role; instead, he proved adept at impacting games as a starter or a substitute, including standout displays at the Colosseum and in high-stakes cup ties. He showed accountability to the Bernabéu faithful, apologizing when a misstep occurred and then delivering when it mattered most.
A few kilometres away, in Madrid’s western suburbs, Memphis Depay revived his scoring form after a long drought. The Dutch forward opened the season with goals but then suffered a muscle injury in September. Yet his return sparked Atletico’s revival, producing seven goals in 702 minutes, with five strikes in the final seven matches. His resurgence helped Atletico shift momentum in LaLiga, illustrating how a patient return can realign a team’s fortunes. Memph’s recent cup performances, including a double against Lugo and important strikes against Sevilla, underscored a renewed confidence. In the league, his scoring pace matched or exceeded notable forwards, such as Alvaro Morata, who tallied 19 goals in 2,177 minutes. (Source: Francisco Cabezas; Serremark: Kiko Huesca)
Vitor Roque, culé roar
Roque’s branding as a future star grew with each appearance. Nicknamed in Brazil as “Tigrinho,” his early goals for Barça delivered vital points to a side navigating a rough patch. He arrived at Gran Canaria Stadium with minutes to spare and nearly opened his account with a sharp early pass from Joao Felix. Weeks later, after a managerial shift, Roque continued to play a pivotal bench role, contributing to a 1-0 win over Osasuna as part of Barcelona’s continued push. His impact, while not always as a starter, has become a talking point around the Catalan club’s young core and the coaching philosophy that favors mobility and speed from the bench. (Source attribution: Enric Fontcuberta)
Ahead of Mendizorroza, the youthful trio—Roque, Fermin, and Yamal—formed part of Barça’s plan to engineer a late surge. The 18-year-old Roque has already shown a knack for impacting games in Montjuïc’s tough environments, delivering decisive moments and reinforcing the idea that youth can drive a team forward. His early minutes in LaLiga were markers of a strategic shift toward dynamic, high-energy football that rewards pace and precision. (Source: Francisco Cabezas)
Vitor Roque illuminates Barça’s darkness
Roque’s emergence offers a tangible explanation for Barça’s late-game magic, a spark that helps explain why fans remain hopeful even through rough patches. He embodies the club’s commitment to cultivating young talent into first-team contributors, a narrative that resonates with supporters who crave optimism and results alike. (Source: Francisco Cabezas)
Berenguer ‘gives orders’ in purest Morales style
When Inaki Williams left for the African Cup, his brother Nico, along with Sancet and Guruzeta, carried the flag for Athletic Bilbao. Alex Berenguer stepped forward to provide leadership and scoring, particularly in the Basque derby, where he netted twice to determine the result in San Mamés. He had already demonstrated his finishing instincts in cup ties earlier in January, netting twice against Eldense and showing that his influence extends beyond a single tactic. The seasoned attacker has become a reliable option for coach and club alike, capable of filling multiple roles while maintaining a strong goal-scoring threat. His impact is reflected in a steady average of goals per 90 minutes and consistent contributions to the team’s standings. (Source: Kiko Huesca)
Berenguer’s recent exploits, including the Copa del Rey semi-final, have reinforced his reputation as a dependable contributor when teammates scale back or rotate. His proficiency has translated into a solid scoring record, with a consistent impact relative to minutes played. Inaki Williams’ absence has highlighted Berenguer’s capacity to shoulder leadership and deliver crucial goals, including penalties when the moment demanded a decisive finish. (Source: Kiko Huesca)
Morales and Morata also share this narrative of productive reserve power. The forward line’s rotation and the ability to convert chances with minimal time on the ball have become a hallmark of their approach. Morales’ efficiency, including a notable record for shots and goals per game, underscores the value of a deep squad that can sustain intensity across a demanding schedule. (Source: European Press)
Abdón Prats, king of trophies
Mallorca advanced to the Copa del Rey quarter-finals and faced relegation concerns, with Abdón Prats playing a pivotal role. The forward, a longtime fan of the Balearic club, achieved a landmark moment by scoring the brace that propelled the team toward the cup semi-finals. Across the season, Prats has proven to be among the league’s most efficient strikers, contributing significant goal totals from limited minutes. His scoring rate—roughly 0.7 goals per 90 minutes—highlights the impact of a forward who can convert opportunities with sparse starting appearances. (Source: European Press)
With Muriqi sidelined in key fixtures, Prats often offered the team a reliable goal threat from the bench. Across league and cup competitions, he has proven to be one of the club’s most consistent scorers when called upon, providing the kind of finish that can shift a match’s trajectory. This season’s narrative reinforces the broader truth: the best teams maximize the quality of their substitutes, turning “garbage minutes” into moments of victory. (Source: European Press)
All in all, the larger picture is clear: the six monsters of the substitute bench, when used wisely, can steal the spotlight from the regular starters. They deliver not just minutes, but meaningful outcomes that lift the entire squad and remind fans that depth matters in football’s merciless calendar. They are the eternal press—ready to seize the moment and redefine a match with a single decisive touch. (Source: European Press)