Racing Santander – Real Madrid: can La Liga newcomers stop the Madrid giants?
On November 1, 2026, Racing Santander will host Real Madrid in the 11th round of La Liga. The match will be played at El Sardinero, with kick-off scheduled for 16:15 Spanish time. On paper, the favorite is obvious, but the hosts should certainly not be written off in advance.
Racing Santander: a return to the top flight and a desire to establish themselves
This season has been a special one for Racing. After returning to the top division, the team has had the chance to test itself against the strongest clubs in the country. So far, the experience has been mixed, but far from hopeless.
Heading into the 11th round, the Santander side have 11 points from ten matches and sit in the bottom half of the table. At the same time, their home games remain their main source of optimism. In the previous round, the team managed to beat Espanyol 2-1, showing character and the ability to come from behind during a match.
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It is also worth highlighting that Racing's breakout star, Yasser Zabiri, has already scored eight goals in ten league matches. The Moroccan forward will carry much of the team's attacking hopes. His pace, ability to make runs in behind the defenders and confidence in front of goal could cause problems even for the Madrid giants' defense.
That said, against Real Madrid the hosts will have to focus much more heavily on defending. It will be especially important to prevent their opponents from quickly moving from midfield into attack. If Racing allow too much space, they could be punished almost instantly.
Real Madrid: El Clásico victory has boosted their confidence
Madrid head into the game in excellent spirits. In the previous round, José Mourinho's team secured a statement 2-1 victory over Barcelona at Camp Nou. The result not only earned Los Blancos three points but also allowed them to reduce the gap to the Catalans in the title race.
After ten rounds, Real have 24 points and sit third in the table. They are just three points behind leaders Barcelona, so dropping points against opponents from the bottom half is something Madrid will be desperate to avoid.
The visitors' main attacking force is Kylian Mbappé. The Frenchman has already scored 11 league goals and remains one of the most dangerous players in Spanish football. His combinations with Jude Bellingham and Arda Güler are capable of causing problems for virtually any defense. Real are dangerous not only through possession-based attacks, but also on quick breaks after winning the ball back.
However, Madrid do have some personnel problems. Rodrygo and Raúl Asencio will definitely miss the trip to Santander, while Vinícius Júnior continues to serve a four-match suspension. On the other hand, Thibaut Courtois and Arda Güler have returned to full training. Federico Valverde is also expected to recover from the muscular discomfort he suffered in El Clásico.
Head-to-head history
Historically, the advantage is overwhelmingly on Madrid's side. The teams have met 102 times in all competitions: Real have won 59, Racing 22, while 21 matches have ended in draws.
The last meeting between the sides took place in February 2012, when Madrid thrashed Racing 4-0. The most recent encounter at El Sardinero, meanwhile, ended goalless — 0-0 in September 2011. A lot of time has passed since then, however, and both clubs' squads and standings have changed significantly.
What to expect from the match?
Racing are unlikely to sit deep for all 90 minutes. The home crowd will surely give the hosts an extra burst of energy, while their recent positive results should help them believe in their own abilities. Nevertheless, the gap in individual quality is simply too large.
Real will surely look to seize the initiative from the opening minutes, control possession and stretch the opposition's defense. Racing's main task will be to maintain compactness between the lines and remain fully focused in defensive situations.
At the same time, quick attacks involving Zabiri could become their main weapon.
Given the visitors' attacking potential and Racing's defensive issues, an entertaining, high-scoring encounter could well be on the cards. The hosts are capable of creating chances of their own and taking advantage of Madrid's less-than-ideal squad situation.
Prediction: over 3.5 total goals.
