Racing de Santander
Racing will face Villarreal in the opening round of La Liga 16 August 2026 at 11:00 EDT / 08:00 PDT at El Sardinero in Santander.
The hosts have returned to La Liga and will try to extend their impressive eight-match unbeaten run in the new competition. For the Yellow Submarine, this away trip will be a real test: despite their superior class, the team's away record raises plenty of questions.
The hosts come into the opening round in excellent form — 13 wins in their last 20 competitive matches and outstanding home numbers (25 wins in 40 games, scoring 2.23 goals per game). The Basque side's defensive unit was forced to reshape over the summer: Javi Castro and Mario García left, but the defensive trio of Manu Hernando, Jorge Salinas and Marco Sangalli, alongside new signing Facundo González, are ready to withstand the pressure. In midfield and attack, the creative Iñigo Vicente, Andrés Martín and striker Asier Villalibre will play key roles (48 goals between them).
However, it has not all been smooth — Racing won only once in six pre-season matches, losing four times. The hosts conceded in every game (11 goals).
Villarreal refreshed their squad during the off-season: veterans Dani Parejo and Alfonso Pedraza left the club, while Arnau Tenas secured the goalkeeper's position. In attack, hopes rest on the pairing of Gerard Moreno and Georges Mikautadze, supported by the active wide players Nicolas Pépé and Alberto Moleiro. The visitors' main problem is their poor away record: the Yellow Submarine have won only twice in their last 12 away matches. However, Villarreal performed well in pre-season friendlies — just two defeats in seven games and 11 goals scored.
Racing play on the front foot at El Sardinero and score regularly. Villarreal are superior individually, but their defensive vulnerability away from home should see the visitors concede. We expect both teams to score in this match.
Miguel Sesma (Spain)
Matches - 20 (La Liga, 2025/26);
Average fouls per match - 27;
Average yellow cards per match (including second yellows) - 3.6;
Matches with red cards - 0 out of 20;
Matches with penalties - 6 out of 20.
|
José Alberto López
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Julen Agirrezabala Astúlez
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Jorge Salinas Viadero
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Pablo Ramón
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Pedro Felipe
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Álvaro Mantilla Pérez
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Gustavo Adolfo Puerta Molano
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Sergio Canales Madrazo
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Sergio Martínez Montero
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Andrés Martín García
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Asier Villalibre
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Iñigo Vicente Elorduy
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Jorge Castellanos del Olmo
|
0 | 0 | |
|
Simon Olof Eriksson
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
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Carlos Sánchez Martos
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Facundo González Molino
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
José Manuel Hernando Riol
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Andrés Vallecillo Arce
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Diego Díaz Cacho
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Hugo Martín Pelaz
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Maguette Gueye
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Íñigo Sainz-Maza Serna
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Juan Carlos Arana Gómez
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Yassir Zabiri
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Íñigo Pérez
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Luíz Júnior
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Carlos Romero Serrano
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Juan Marcos Foyth
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Renato Veiga
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Santiago Mouriño
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Alberto Moleiro
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Pape Gueye
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Santiago Comesaña
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ayoze Pérez
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Georges Mikautadze
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Nicolas Pépé
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
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Substitutes
|
|||
|
Cheikh Ahmad Tidiane Thiam
|
0 | 0 | |
|
Péter Gulácsi
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Alexander Freeman
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Logan Costa
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Pau Navarro
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Sergi Cardona
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Willy Kambwala Ndengushi
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Carlos Maciá
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Gerard Moreno
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ilias Akhomach
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Tajon Buchanan
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Tanitoluwa Oluwaseyi
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
Copa del Rey 2025/26
Racing de Santander
Villarreal
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Barcelona
|
|
7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 31:7 | 21 |
|
2
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 16:7 | 16 |
|
3
|
Real Betis
|
|
7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 9:7 | 16 |
|
4
|
Real Madrid
|
|
7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 18:8 | 15 |
|
5
|
Sevilla
|
|
7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 10:9 | 13 |
|
6
|
Alavés
|
|
7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 11:6 | 11 |
|
7
|
Deportivo de La Coruña
|
|
7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 10:8 | 10 |
|
8
|
Real Sociedad
|
|
7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 9:13 | 10 |
|
9
|
Villarreal
|
|
7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 13:12 | 8 |
|
10
|
Athletic Bilbao
|
|
6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7:6 | 8 |
|
11
|
Getafe
|
|
7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4:7 | 8 |
|
12
|
Rayo Vallecano
|
|
7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 11:16 | 8 |
|
13
|
Osasuna
|
|
7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6:13 | 8 |
|
14
|
Celta
|
|
7 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 8:6 | 7 |
|
15
|
Espanyol
|
|
7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 10:10 | 7 |
|
16
|
Racing de Santander
|
|
7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 11:21 | 7 |
|
17
|
Levante
|
|
6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8:12 | 5 |
|
18
|
Elche
|
|
7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 11:17 | 5 |
|
19
|
Valencia
|
|
7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4:13 | 4 |
|
20
|
Malaga
|
|
7 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3:12 | 3 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 10:3 | 10 |
|
2
|
Barcelona
|
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14:4 | 9 |
|
3
|
Real Betis
|
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3:0 | 9 |
|
4
|
Real Madrid
|
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12:2 | 9 |
|
5
|
Alavés
|
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9:3 | 9 |
|
6
|
Getafe
|
|
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4:2 | 8 |
|
7
|
Rayo Vallecano
|
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6:4 | 7 |
|
8
|
Racing de Santander
|
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7:5 | 7 |
|
9
|
Sevilla
|
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5:7 | 6 |
|
10
|
Deportivo de La Coruña
|
|
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5:4 | 5 |
|
11
|
Athletic Bilbao
|
|
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5:4 | 5 |
|
12
|
Osasuna
|
|
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2:3 | 5 |
|
13
|
Real Sociedad
|
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2:4 | 4 |
|
14
|
Celta
|
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7:5 | 4 |
|
15
|
Espanyol
|
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6:6 | 4 |
|
16
|
Villarreal
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6:6 | 3 |
|
17
|
Levante
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7:6 | 3 |
|
18
|
Malaga
|
|
3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2:4 | 2 |
|
19
|
Valencia
|
|
4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2:9 | 1 |
|
20
|
Elche
|
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4:11 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Barcelona
|
|
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 17:3 | 12 |
|
2
|
Real Betis
|
|
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6:7 | 7 |
|
3
|
Sevilla
|
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5:2 | 7 |
|
4
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6:4 | 6 |
|
5
|
Real Madrid
|
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6:6 | 6 |
|
6
|
Real Sociedad
|
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7:9 | 6 |
|
7
|
Deportivo de La Coruña
|
|
3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5:4 | 5 |
|
8
|
Villarreal
|
|
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7:6 | 5 |
|
9
|
Elche
|
|
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7:6 | 5 |
|
10
|
Athletic Bilbao
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2:2 | 3 |
|
11
|
Osasuna
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4:10 | 3 |
|
12
|
Celta
|
|
3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1:1 | 3 |
|
13
|
Espanyol
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4:4 | 3 |
|
14
|
Valencia
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2:4 | 3 |
|
15
|
Alavés
|
|
3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2:3 | 2 |
|
16
|
Levante
|
|
4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1:6 | 2 |
|
17
|
Rayo Vallecano
|
|
4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5:12 | 1 |
|
18
|
Malaga
|
|
4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1:8 | 1 |
|
19
|
Getafe
|
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0:5 | 0 |
|
20
|
Racing de Santander
|
|
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4:16 | 0 |
