Preview: Racing Santander vs. Espanyol · prediction, team news, line-ups

Racing Santander host Espanyol at El Sardinero on Saturday 24 October in LaLiga, with kick-off at 08:15 Mexico City time.

The two sides are level on 8 points after nine games. Racing sit 17th and Espanyol 16th in the 20-team table.

Match preview

Racing, under José Alberto, are enduring their worst spell since returning to the top flight. They have taken one point from the last 12 available and lost three of their last five matches.

The run reads 2-0 defeat at Osasuna, 2-2 draw with Valencia, 5-0 loss to Celta Vigo and 7-2 loss to Barcelona. Before that slump, they beat Alaves 2-1 on 12 September.

El Sardinero has been their refuge. They have won two and drawn two of their four home games, unbeaten, scoring 9 and conceding 7. On the road they have lost all five, scoring 4 and shipping 18. Both of their recent heavy defeats, against Celta and Barcelona, came away from home.

Zabiri leads the line with 7 goals. The problem is at the back, where Racing have scored 13 and conceded 25, a goal difference of -12.

Espanyol, managed by Manolo González, arrive under pressure. They are winless in four and have taken one point from the last 12: a 1-0 home defeat to Atletico Madrid, a 1-1 draw at Malaga, a 3-1 loss to Elche and a 2-1 defeat at Rayo Vallecano.

Their last win was a 2-0 success at Osasuna on 12 September. Away from home they have won one, drawn one and lost two, scoring 5 and conceding 5. At home they have won only once in five.

Roberto Fernández is their top scorer with 6 goals. Espanyol's goal difference is -1, far better than Racing's -12, which points to a side that is less fragile at the back.

The recent head-to-head slightly favours the Pericos. In the last five meetings, Espanyol won three and Racing two. The most recent was in the Segunda Division on 10 February 2024, a 2-0 home win for Racing. The last top-flight meeting in Santander was in October 2011, a 1-0 away win.

The context is one of urgency. Both teams are one point above the relegation zone, according to EFE, and neither has won since mid-September.

Team news

Racing have just one confirmed absentee in Eriksson, who is out with a shoulder injury. José Alberto has the rest of the squad available and changes in several positions are not ruled out.

Andrés Martín could return to the starting lineup in place of André Almeida, with Sergio Canales playing further forward.

Espanyol will be without Kike García, who has a muscle injury to his biceps femoris, and Jofre Carreras, who is dealing with physical problems. González has kept the same 24-man squad as last time out.

Javi Puado is back in the matchday squad after injury, though he still needs to regain a leading role. The main tactical question is in defence: a repeat of the back three with Drkušić, or a back four with Dolan on the right.