Racing Santanter 3 - Villarreal 1

Racing: Ceballos; Tais, Arzeno, Mellberg, Sietes; Julio Alvarez (Bestchastnykh 75'), Espina (Ismael 65'), Jaime, Amavisca; Manjarín, Preciado (Estévez 46'). 4-4-2.
Villarreal: López Vallejo; Galván, Berruet (Craioveanu 50'), Quique Álvarez, Arruabarrena; Jorge López (Escoda 75'), Amor, Cagna; Víctor (Gracia 59'), Marioni. 5-3-2.

Team changes: Racing: Arzeno, Manjarín for Txema, Bestchastnykh / Villarreal: Unai for Calleja.

Goals:
1-0. 36. Jaime. Headed his first goal ever from Espina's pass.
2-0. 41. Preciado. Controlled ball from right on his chest and fired past López.
2-1. 52. Cagna. Received ball in midfield and shot into top corner from 30 metres.
3-1. 81. Ismael. Scrambled ball past keeper after good work by Bestchastnykh.

Racing manager Andoni Goikoetxea saved his umpteenth match ball with a victory against Villarreal midweek. He was saved by two goals in five minutes in the first half, the first coming from ex Real Madrid and Deportivo midfielder Jaime, his first goal ever in the first division after 108 games at that level. Goiko brought back Arzeno for this match after his six game suspension for elbowing Jankauskas in the face, and included Manjarín in a position behind striker Preciado, a 4-4-2 which in reality was a 4-2-3-1, as practised in most sides in the Spanish first division at the moment. Villarreal's manger Víctor Muñoz is another who is under pressure to get results, having only picked up three draws in the last four games, and he decided on a change of tactic, bringing in a fifth defender Unai, at the expense of a midfielder. Víctor Fernández passed a late fitness though, to take his place up front alongside Marioni.

After a good start by Villarreal, Racing started to take control, and after Espina forced a good save out of López Vallejo, Jaime opened the scoring. The keeper was called upon to save again from Preciado, but he could do nothing a couple of minutes later when the Colombian forward controlled a ball on his chest and volleyed into the net. After the interval Víctor Muñoz went back to his old formation, with Craioveanu joining Víctor up front and Marioni dropping back. A minute later they pulled one back, Diego Cagna scoring his first goal in the first division with a cracking shot from outside of the area which gave Ceballos no chance. Craioveanu then almost levelled the scores, but this time Ceballos got a hand to his shot.

After that the visitors ran out of steam, and two of Racing's second half substitutes, Bestchastnykh (re-christened 'Best' by the papers to save on ink) and Ismael combined to restore Racing's two goal lead. With their second consecutive home victory, the Santander side join a group of five teams on eight points. Villarreal have a point more in thirteenth place, but have to navigate the Bermuda triangle next, with upcoming games against Deportivo and Real Madrid at home and Barcelona away, and Víctor really wanted a result here to build up a cushion. His frustration was evident, and referee López Nieto, having a remarkably quiet night for him, showed him a yellow card for dissent. It was the only card he produced in the whole evening. Must be the calm before the storm.