Real Madrid need to back up their Clasico win away at Racing
By Karl Matchett
The win over Barcelona leaves them three points off the leaders and third behind Atlético Madrid too, and they now face a Racing Santander team who are unbeaten at home this term.
Promotion and possibilities
End the season now and Racing would be utterly delighted with 13th place – it would be their highest finish since 2011. Just over a year later they finished bottom in Spain’s top flight, followed by 14 years in the wilderness which included half that time spent in the third tier.
After finally reaching LaLiga once more, they are enjoying themselves – home form is definitely looking key to surviving an immediate return. Two players in particular are standing out; 21-year-old Moroccan international striker Yassir Zabiri has scored eight goals in just seven starts, on loan from Rennes, while left-sided, right-footed attacker Iñigo Vicente is behind only Arda Güler and Lamine Yamal for chances created this term.
Individual honours or team achievements
Given the players they have and the money they spend, it’s slightly surprising they’ve gone four years without a Ballon d’Or winner. Last year Vinícius Júnior made an awful lot of negative headlines for his reaction to not winning, though the same hasn’t happened with Kylian Mbappé this time around – at least, not for that award.
But for Real Madrid, there’s something bigger than prestige at stake right now: the world’s biggest club haven’t won their own domestic title in approaching three years. Or the Copa del Rey in nearly four years. Next summer it’ll be three years since their last Champions League final too – with PSG having easily overtaken them as Europe’s top side. That’s the challenge facing José Mourinho this year, far beyond a one-off win over their biggest rivals.
Racing beat Espanyol last time out to halt a run of four games without victory and have won three of ten so far this term. Real have won five in a row in all competitions, though it’s three wins and two defeats on the road in LaLiga.
Team news
Jorge Salinas is suspended for Racing but they should otherwise be at full strength.
The visitors will be missing the suspended Vini Jr. too, with Ferland Mendy, Rodrygo and Raúl Asencio all out injured – but Thibaut Courtois and Federico Valverde should be fine to play after illness and a knock respectively.
Key player
By 12 September, Jude Bellingham had continued his amazing World Cup with a great domestic start, scoring three and assisting two in under a month of the new season – but since then he has only one further assist across seven matches.
He’s due a return to end-product form, given this term he’s ahead of 95% LaLiga attacking midfielders for line-breaking passes, 91% for big chances created, 94% for touches in the box and 100% for headed shots!
Prediction
A first home defeat for Racing, though perhaps not a hammering as they’ve suffered more than once on the road already: Racing Santander 1-2 Real Madrid.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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