Real Madrid 3 - Racing Santander 1

Real Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado, Raúl Bravo, Pavón, Roberto Carlos; Cambiasso (Guti 63'), Iván Helguera; Figo, Raúl, Zidane; Ronaldo (Solari 72'). 4-2-3-1.
Racing: Ricardo; Coromina, Pablo Casar, Juanma, Neru; Diego Mateo (Afek 82'), Nafti; Morán, Benayoun (Txiki 85'), Regueiro (Jonathan 85'); Bodipo. 4-3-2-1.

Team changes: Madrid: Cambiasso for Beckham / Racing: No change.

Goals:
0-1. 16. Benayoun. Picked up pass from Morán and hit shot past Casiilas on turn.
1-1. 28. Zidane. First time volley from edge of area from left sided cross.
2-1. 78. Raúl. Fired shot in on far post after Figo curled cross in from right.
3-1. 91. Raúl. Stabbed ball into net after Ricardo palmed away Solari shot.

Real Madrid came from behind on a rainy night to beat a surprisingly good Racing Santander 3-1 and move up level with Valencia in second spot. It took a brilliant goal by Zidane and two opportunist strikes by Raúl though to turn the game around though, and without the injured Beckham they were lacking someone to take a grip of the game in the early minutes.

The visitors were lying fifth in the league after one of their best starts ever, and they showed that it was not just by chance when Benayoun collected Morán's pass to score past Casillas early on. And they kept it up after the goal, with Casillas having to save from Nafti and Benayoun a few minutes later.

With Cambiasso looking lost, it was left to Zidane to take up the mantle, and he dropped back to help out his midfield. The French midfielder was everywhere, and shortly after hitting the side netting, he produced a spectacular first time volley from Ronaldo's long cross to make it all square.

Visiting keeper Ricardo had to make a brilliant save to keep out Helguera later in the half, but otherwise the Cantabrians were matching the league champions, and could have scored themselves either side of half time. Queiroz replaced Cambiasso with Guti and then surprisingly took off Ronaldo to bring on Solari, the crowd unsure why he had taken off his front man with the game tied.

But it proved to be a good move as it gave the side more width and freed up Zidane for other duties, and a few minutes later Madrid were in front when Zidane sent Figo away down the wing for him to cross in to the ever attentive Raúl. And with the game going into injury time, Raúl was there again to poke the ball home after Ricado could only push away a shot from Solari. The galaxy of stars had won the game, but Racing went home with their heads held high.