Two struggling sides could cancel each other out: Racing Santander vs Espanyol prediction
The tenth-round La Liga clash between Racing Santander and Espanyol will take place on October 24, 2026, at El Sardinero. Both teams have collected eight points from nine matches and are hovering just above the relegation zone: the hosts sit 17th, while the visitors are 16th. Neither side can boast good recent form, making this fixture particularly important in the league standings.
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Racing Santander: the Segunda champions are still adapting to the top flight
Jose Alberto Lopez's side have won two of their nine opening matches, drawn twice and suffered five defeats. Their last victory came on September 12, when Racing beat Alaves 2-1. Since then, the hosts have collected just one point from four league games, while their previous outing ended in a 2-0 defeat to Osasuna.
Despite their poor results, Racing have a player in attack capable of deciding a match on his own. Yassir Zabiri has scored seven goals in nine appearances and remains the team's main source of danger, while the experienced Sergio Canales is expected to operate in the No. 10 role once again. The only notable squad concern involves Simon Eriksson, who is struggling with a shoulder problem.
Espanyol: four matches without a win
The Catalan side have an almost identical record — two wins, two draws and five defeats. Last time out, Espanyol lost 1-0 to Atletico and also extended their winless run to four matches. Their last league victory came on September 12, when Manolo Gonzalez's team defeated Osasuna 2-0.
Roberto Fernandez, who has scored six goals in nine matches, will be the main attacking threat. Bryan Zaragoza is also expected to start. However, Kike Garcia will definitely miss the game through injury, while Jofre Carreras' availability will be assessed before kick-off.
Match facts and head-to-head record
- Both teams have collected just one point from their last four La Liga matches.
- Fewer than 3.5 goals were scored in 9 of Espanyol's last 10 away matches in La Liga
- The teams' last meeting, in February 2024, ended in a 2-0 victory for Racing.
Caution could outweigh the desire to win: Racing Santander vs Espanyol prediction
Both teams are under serious pressure and are unlikely to take excessive risks from the opening whistle. Racing have home advantage and can rely on Zabiri, who is enjoying a strong season, but the team's overall record remains inconsistent.
Espanyol are also capable of creating plenty of chances through Fernandez and Zaragoza, yet their current form makes it difficult to view the visitors as clear favorites. A tight, low-scoring contest ending with the points shared looks like the most logical outcome.
