Racing Santander vs Villarreal prediction, H2H and probable lineups - December 17, 2025
One of the Spanish Cup Round of 32 clashes is set for Wednesday at El Sardinero Stadium in Santander, where the local side Racing will host Villarreal. I’m backing a bet on goals in this matchup—there’s real value here, given the quality of both teams.
Match preview
Racing Santander are having a solid campaign in the second division, going six matches unbeaten with four wins in that run. Their latest draw against Leganés slightly interrupted their winning momentum, but overall, the team continues to look stable. Showing maturity both in attack and defense, Racing are now among the main contenders for promotion to La Liga.
This clash with Villarreal isn’t just a fight for a spot in the next round—it’s a golden opportunity for the Segunda leaders to make a statement against a top-flight opponent. Villalibre and Vicente have been especially impressive, forming the backbone of Racing’s attacking line. However, despite their good form, the pressure in a game like this will be on another level.
Villarreal enter this cup tie after a tough Champions League defeat at the hands of Copenhagen—an exit that ended their European hopes for the spring. Still, the “Yellow Submarine” remain among the La Liga frontrunners, boasting a powerful attacking arsenal with pace on the flanks and a strong midfield core. The postponement of their last league match due to weather could even benefit them, giving the squad some extra freshness.
Despite their Champions League setback, Villarreal continue to play resilient football and have the squad depth to vary their approach. Their experience, class advantage, and renewed focus on domestic competitions after their European disappointment all make Villarreal the favorites here. But they can’t afford to take Racing lightly—this version of the Santander side is dangerous.
Probable lineups
- Racing Santander: Andreev, Mantilla Perez, Castro, Ramon Parra, Salinas, Geye, Puerta, Martin, Urtasan, Vicente, Villalibre
- Villarreal: L. Junior, Pedraza, Veiga, Marin, Navarro, Moleiro, Geye, Comesaña, Buchanan, Mikautadze, Pepe
Match facts and head-to-head
- Racing are unbeaten at home in their last six matches.
- Villarreal have won both previous head-to-head encounters with Racing.
- Both teams are in excellent form and regularly score more than two goals per match.
Prediction
Despite the hosts’ impressive form and the passionate support at El Sardinero, the gap in class between the sides is clear. With no European distractions, Villarreal will be motivated to go deep in the cup. The best value here is on “Both teams to score” at odds of 1.66.
