Racing lead Villarreal by two at El Sardinero — and lose it before half-time
Andrés Martín and Sergio Martínez put the promoted side 2-0 up inside 34 minutes. Pape Gueye and Nicolas Pépé had it level by 45+1', and the second half produced nothing at all.
El Sardinero got the first 34 minutes it had been waiting years for. Andrés Martín scored from the penalty spot on 21 minutes, Sergio Martínez made it two on 34, and Racing Santander were beating Villarreal by two goals on their return to LaLiga.
Eleven minutes later it was 2-2.
Two goals in the space of a minute
Pape Gueye pulled one back on 45 minutes. Nicolas Pépé equalised at 45+1'. Villarreal walked off at the interval having erased a two-goal deficit inside the added time of the first half, and the second half never produced a third for either side.
The shape of the game is in the numbers. Villarreal had 59% of the ball and passed at 90%; Racing had 41% and 82%. But Racing took 17 shots to Villarreal's 12 and finished with the better expected goals figure, 2.00 to 0.87 — eight of their attempts were blocked, which is what a two-goal lead defended by a full-strength Villarreal box tends to look like.
Match facts
- 21' — Andrés Martín (Racing Santander), penalty
- 34' — Sergio Martínez (Racing Santander)
- 45' — Pape Gueye (Villarreal)
- 45+1' — Nicolas Pépé (Villarreal)
| Stat | Racing Santander | Villarreal |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 41% | 59% |
| Total shots | 17 | 12 |
| Shots on target | 3 | 7 |
| Shots blocked | 8 | 2 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 2.00 | 0.87 |
| Accurate passes | 315 (82%) | 485 (90%) |
| Corners | 6 | 10 |
| Offsides | 1 | 3 |
| Fouls committed | 14 | 14 |
| Yellow cards | 2 | 4 |
| Saves | 5 | 3 |
What's next
Racing go to Getafe on Sunday 23 August, against a side still on zero points and zero goals. Villarreal have the harder afternoon the same day: Atlético Madrid at the Metropolitano, who opened with a 2-0 win over Málaga.
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