First Division - Day 25

Alavés 2 - Racing Santander 2

Alavés: Costanzo; Edu Alonso, Pellegrino, Sarriegi, Coromina; De Lucas, Astudillo, Juanito, Nené (Rubén Navarro 84'); Bodipo (Georgiev 73'), Aloisi. 4-4-2.
Racing: Dudu Aouate; Regragui, Garay, Pablo Alfaro, Ayoze; Vitolo; Felipe Melo, Matabuena (Antoñito 60'), Casquero, Oscar Serrano (Wilfred Dalmat 61'); Pinilla (Juanjo 87'). 4-1-4-1.

Team changes: Alavés: Sarriegi for Lacen / Racing: Regragui, Garay, Casquero for Pinillos, Moratón, Damià.

Goals:
1-0. 19. Nené. Ran on to De Lucas through ball to chip shot over Aouate.
1-1. 26. Pinilla (penalty). After Felipe Melo pushed over by Astudillo in area.
2-1. 34. Aloisi. Rounded marker and struck shot in off post from wide on the left.
2-2. 72. Wilfred Dalmat. Picked up Melo pass and drove long shot wide of keeper.

There were protests before and during the match between Alavés and Racing Santander after local club president Dmitri Piterman insulted the fans when they criticised the sacking of coach Juan Carlos Oliva for "insubordination" a few days ago. The controversial owner's remarks were not taken well by the supporters, who organized a 5,000 strong march before kick off and waited ten minutes before entering the ground to take their seats, armed with banners demanding he leave the club.

The fans missed nothing in the opening minutes, but with twenty minutes on the clock their side took the lead when Nené ran on to a De Lucas pass to lift the ball over Aouate and open the scoring. Soon afterwards though the visitors drew level after referee Pérez Lima awarded a hotly disputed penalty, Pinilla driving the resulting spot kick past Costanzo for his first goal for his new club.

Bodipo had a goal disallowed for offside soon afterwards, but a minute later Aloisi ran on to a pass from Nené to round his marker and slot the ball in off the far post from a tight angle. The visitors came out strongly after the break though, Costanzo saving well from Felipe Melo before substitute Wilfred Dalmat picked up a loose ball in his opponents' half and fired a long shot wide of the keeper to save a point. The result leaves the Cantabrians safely up in mid-table, and takes the Vitoria based side back in the relegation zone.