Racing Santander's difficult start to the season continued on the road, with the Spanish side suffering another painful defeat in LaLiga.
With Moroccan international Yassir Zabiri leading the attack, Santander were beaten 5–0 by Celta Vigo in the seventh round of the championship, leaving the team with further questions to answer at the back.
The result highlighted a defensive weakness that has increasingly become one of the defining features of their campaign.
Santander's Defensive Problems Continue
The visitors struggled once again to contain their opponents, conceding five goals without finding a response of their own.
After seven league matches, Santander have now conceded 21 goals, giving them the worst defensive record in the competition.
Their attacking numbers tell a different story, with 11 goals scored so far, almost half of them coming from their Moroccan forward.
That contrast between the team's attacking output and defensive vulnerability has made it difficult for Santander to build consistency.
A Frustrating Afternoon for Zabiri
For the Moroccan forward, the afternoon never developed as hoped.
The 23-year-old struggled to make a decisive impact against a Celta side that controlled the contest, while the difficult circumstances around him appeared to increase his frustration.
At one point, his emotions boiled over following an unnecessary clash with a Celta defender.
The incident resulted in a yellow card, adding to an afternoon in which the attacker was unable to find the focus and influence he has shown during the opening stages of the season.
The Moroccan Leaves in the 75th Minute
After battling through a difficult match, Zabiri was eventually substituted in the 75th minute.
It was not his most effective performance, with the forward unable to add to his impressive goalscoring contribution this season.
His frustration was understandable given the scoreline, but the match ultimately became another difficult experience for both the player and his team.
Driouech Remains on the Bench
There was no Moroccan involvement on the opposite side either.
Couhaib Driouech remained among Celta Vigo's substitutes throughout the match and did not feature.
The Moroccan forward therefore watched from the bench as his side secured a convincing victory against his compatriot's team.
Santander Remain on Seven Points
The heavy defeat leaves Racing Santander temporarily in 14th place with seven points.
Interestingly, that is the same number of points collected by Celta Vigo after the seventh round.
For Santander, however, the immediate concern remains the defensive record.
With 21 goals conceded in seven matches, the team will need to find greater defensive stability if they are to turn their early-season campaign around.
A Difficult Moment in a Promising Season
For Zabiri personally, the result represents a frustrating interruption after a strong start to the campaign.
The Moroccan has already provided Santander with a significant share of their goals, but individual contributions have not been enough to compensate for the team's defensive struggles.
The challenge now is to regain focus quickly and return to the form that made him one of the standout attacking figures of Santander's opening weeks.
The season remains long, but Santander will need a response, both collectively at the back and individually from their attacking leaders.