Racing Santander 2 - Mallorca 1

Racing: Ricardo; Coromina, Moratón, Juanma, Neru; Nafti, Matabuena; Pablo Lago (Morán 60'), Benayoun, Regueiro (Jonathan 90'); Javi Guerrero (Bodipo 80'). 4-2-3-1.
Mallorca: Leo Franco; David Cortés, Nadal, Fernando Niño, Poli (Stankovic 68'); Nagore, Colsa (Campano 65'), Marcos (Jesús Perera 46'), Toni González; Eto'o, Bruggink. 4-4-2.

Goals:
1-0. 12. Benayoun. Controlled Javi Guerrero cross and hit low shot past keeper.
2-0. 69. Javi Guerrero. Took return pass from Morán and turned shot past keeper.
2-1. 91. Eto'o (penalty). After Eto'o himself brought down by Coromina.

Racing Santander seem to have recovered from the change of management, and they started the league season well, winning their opening game 2-1 against Mallorca. The boardroom battles between the unorthodox American businessman Dmitri Piterman and major shareholder Santiago Díaz appear to be over, with Piterman leaving the club in disarray, and their early failure in the Intertoto cup seems to be behind them as Lucas Alcaraz tries to pick up the shattered pieces. The ex Recreativo manager has had little time though to work on things, and he put out a side which only contained one new face, on-loan Manchester United keeper Ricardo.

The early start to the season did however have it's advantages, and a sharper looking side took the lead early on after Javi Guerrero laid the ball back for Benayoun to beat Leo Franco. With many new faces in the side, the visitors were clearly not yet up to full speed, although Bruggink did look dangerous and hit the post with a long shot later in the half.

Racing went further in front though after the break when Javi Guerrero combined with substitute Morán to fire his shot wide of the keeper. The striker has been linked with a big move to Galatasaray, and with the transfer deadline closing at midnight tonight, many fans expected not to see him again when he was substituted near the end. His replacement Bodipo quickly made his mark though, Leo Franco only just managing to tip his dangerous header over the bar. But with the game coming to a close, Coromina brought down Eto'o in the area and the Camerooni striker stepped up to convert the kick himself and make the scoreline look decent.