La Liga Gameweek 1
Racing Santander 2 - 2 FT Villarreal
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Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
16' ↓ Pedro Felipe ↑Manu
21' A. Martin
34' S. Martinez
P. Gueye (A. Moleiro) 45'
N. Pepe (G. Mikautadze) 45'+1
45'+4 G. Puerta
HT
J. Foyth 48'
↓ S. Comesana ↑G. Moreno 56'
↓ A. Moleiro ↑T. Buchanan 56'
↓ A. Perez ↑C. Macia 56'
62' J. Lopez
69' ↓ S. Martinez ↑M. Gueye
69' ↓ A. Villalibre ↑Y. Zabiri
P. Gueye 72'
75' P. Ramon
77' ↓ P. Ramon ↑F. Gonzalez
↓ N. Pepe ↑I. Akhomach 77'
77' ↓ S. Canales ↑D. Diaz
S. Mourino 87'
↓ S. Mourino ↑A. Freeman 88'
C. Romero 90'+3
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Racing Santander
Goalkeepers
Julen Agirrezabala 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Álvaro Mantilla 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Pedro Felipe
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
16
Total Mins
16
Entry
Pablo Ramón 
ARCHITECT
1
Key Passes
1
Key Passes
0
Assists
29%
Pass Acc
Jorge Salinas
ARCHITECT
1
Key Passes
1
Key Passes
0
Assists
30%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
Gustavo Puerta
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
62%
Pass Acc
Sergio Martínez 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Andrés Martín
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
20%
Pass Acc
Sergio Canales
LATE SHIFT
13
Late Mins
13
Late Mins
77
Total Mins
77
Entry
Iñigo Vicente 
MAGNET
80
Activity
80
Activity
66
Passes
14
Duels
Forwards
Asier Villalibre
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
69
Total Mins
69
Entry
BENCH
Simon Eriksson 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Manu Hernando 
SWEEPER
3
Cleanups
3
Cleanups
1
Interceptions
2
Blocks
Facundo González
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Carlos Sánchez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Maguette Gueye
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Diego Díaz
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Andrés Vallecillo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hugo Martín
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jorge Castellanos
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Íñigo Sainz-Maza
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mohamed Yassir Zabiri
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Juan Carlos Arana
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Villarreal
Goalkeepers
Luíz Júnior
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Santiago Mouriño
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Juan Foyth
SWEEPER
5
Cleanups
5
Cleanups
2
Interceptions
3
Blocks
Renato Veiga
MAGNET
88
Activity
88
Activity
81
Passes
7
Duels
Carlos Romero
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Midfielders
Nicolas Pépé
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
Santi Comesaña 
FRIENDLY FIRE
Pen Given
Mistake
Pen Given
Mistake
1
Fouls
6.5
Rating
Pape Gueye
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Alberto Moleiro 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
2
Key Passes
6.6
Rating
Forwards
Ayoze Pérez 
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
5
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Georges Mikautadze
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
2
Key Passes
6.2
Rating
BENCH
Péter Gulácsi
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Alexander Freeman
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
2
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Pau Navarro
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Willy Kambwala
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Sergi Cardona
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Logan Costa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Carlos Maciá
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Cheikh Tidiane Thiam
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tajon Buchanan
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Gerard Moreno
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ilias Akhomach
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tani Oluwaseyi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/17/2025 | Racing Santander | 2 - 1 | Villarreal | Copa del Rey | Estadio El Sardinero |
| 04/15/2012 | Villarreal | 1 - 1 | Racing Santander | La Liga | Camp El Madrigal (Villarreal) |
| 12/03/2011 | Racing Santander | 1 - 0 | Villarreal | La Liga | Campos de Sport de El Sardinero (Santander) |
| 02/27/2011 | Racing Santander | 2 - 2 | Villarreal | La Liga | Campos de Sport de El Sardinero (Santander) |
| 10/03/2010 | Villarreal | 2 - 0 | Racing Santander | La Liga | Camp El Madrigal (Villarreal) |
12/17/2025
04/15/2012
12/03/2011
02/27/2011
10/03/2010
Racing Santander Win
Villarreal Win
Draw
League Standings
| Pos | Team | P | Pts | GF | GA | GD | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Espanyol | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | +3 | WEspanyol 3 - 0 Levante (16-08-2026) |
| 2 | Alaves | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | +3 | WAlaves 3 - 0 Getafe (15-08-2026) |
| 3 | Atletico Madrid | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | +2 | WAtletico Madrid 2 - 0 Malaga (19-08-2026) |
| 4 | Sevilla | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | +1 | WSevilla 2 - 1 Rayo Vallecano (15-08-2026) |
| 5 | Villarreal | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | DRacing Santander 2 - 2 Villarreal (16-08-2026) |
| 6 | Racing Santander | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | DRacing Santander 2 - 2 Villarreal (16-08-2026) |
| 7 | Deportivo La Coruna | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | DDeportivo La Coruna 1 - 1 Elche (17-08-2026) |
| 8 | Elche | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | DDeportivo La Coruna 1 - 1 Elche (17-08-2026) |
| 9 | Rayo Vallecano | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -1 | LSevilla 2 - 1 Rayo Vallecano (15-08-2026) |
| 10 | Malaga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | LAtletico Madrid 2 - 0 Malaga (19-08-2026) |
| 11 | Levante | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -3 | LEspanyol 3 - 0 Levante (16-08-2026) |
| 12 | Getafe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -3 | LAlaves 3 - 0 Getafe (15-08-2026) |
League Standings
P: 7 GD: +24
P: 6 GD: +11
P: 6 GD: +2
P: 6 GD: +8
P: 7 GD: +1
P: 7 GD: +5
P: 6 GD: +2
P: 6 GD: +1
P: 7 GD: -5
P: 7 GD: -7
P: 7 GD: +2
P: 7 GD: 0
P: 6 GD: -5
P: 7 GD: -10
P: 6 GD: -1
P: 5 GD: -2
P: 6 GD: -4
P: 7 GD: -6
P: 6 GD: -8
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Racing Santander
Villarreal
Racing Santander
Villarreal
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
Fireworks on the Opening Day
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 41/100. An explosive 2-2 draw sets an aggressive tone for the new campaign, proving that early-season defensive structures remain entirely vulnerable.
Early Intentions
El Sardinero hosted an absolute cracker to kick off the campaign. The Stakes were palpable as Villarreal arrived hoping to lay down a marker for their Champions League ambitions. The visitors controlled possession seamlessly, pinning their hosts deep into their own half. Álex Baena orchestrated the midfield rhythms, probing for gaps in the defensive lines. Yet, the home side refused to be passive spectators in their own stadium. They defended with grit, waiting for the perfect moment to spring out of their shape.
Aerial Bombardment
A chaotic Intensity gripped the pitch. Racing Santander soaked up the pressure and hit back with sheer venom, vastly outperforming their 41% share of the ball to rack up 2.01 expected goals. Juan Carlos Arana led the line with ferocious energy, unsettling the visiting centre-backs. It quickly became a story of set-piece warfare. A staggering 16 corners rained into the penalty areas, turning both boxes into battlegrounds where aerial dominance dictated the tempo.
Heroic Resistance
Ultimately, the men wearing the gloves stole the show. With 8 collective saves, the goalkeepers performed heroics to prevent this from turning into a rugby score. This gripping 2-2 thriller carried genuine Upset Factor, as the underdogs matched a heavyweight side blow for blow. A point apiece feels entirely justified. It leaves the home fans roaring with local pride and forces the visitors to seriously ponder their defensive fragility on the road.
Key Questions
How many corners were taken in the match?
The teams generated intense set-piece pressure throughout, combining for a massive 16 corners over the course of the contest.
Did Racing Santander deserve a point against Villarreal?
Absolutely. Despite having less possession, they created superior quality chances, accumulating 2.01 expected goals compared to their opponents' 0.87.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
A Slow Start at Estadio El Sardinero
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 28/100. Opening day fixtures often lack fireworks, and this modest curtain-raiser feels more like a tactical dress rehearsal than an early-season classic.
The Setup
Racing Santander welcome Villarreal for this Matchday 1 clash on August 16, 2026. A Stakes rating that barely registers reflects the reality of an opening weekend where teams are still finding their legs. The visitors bring slight favoritism to Estadio El Sardinero, but a middling Balance metric suggests a tight, potentially sluggish affair. With a low Stars rating, this match will rely on grit rather than pure individual brilliance. Neither side enters with compelling Form, as early-season rust is expected to dictate the tempo rather than attacking fluidity.
Key Battle
Without marquee names dominating the narrative for the hosts, the match will be won or lost in the midfield engine room. Villarreal's central trio, anchored by the physical presence of P. Gueye and energized by the creative sparks of Alberto Moleiro and Yeremy Pino, must break down a stubborn home defense determined to grind out a point on opening day.
Our Prediction
Our take points toward a narrow away victory. Villarreal holds a slight edge in quality, but expect a cagey affair where the visitors wear down the hosts late in the second half rather than blowing them away in the opening minutes.