| Real Madrid vs Racing | |
| MATCH | La Liga |
| DATE | 01 - 11 - 2026 |
| TIME | 08.45 PM IST |
| STADIUM | Campos de Sport |
Racing Santander vs Real Madrid: Match Preview, Team News and Prediction
Match Preview
Racing Santander will be aiming to continue their impressive return to La Liga when they welcome Real Madrid to El Sardinero on Sunday. The hosts have enjoyed a promising start to the 2026-27 campaign, while the visitors arrive with renewed confidence after their victory in El Clasico.
Racing have recorded three wins, two draws and five defeats from their opening 10 league matches, collecting 11 points to sit 13th in the standings.
Jose Alberto Lopez's side secured promotion to the Spanish top flight after winning the Segunda Division last season. Their performances so far suggest they are capable of competing at this level, although maintaining consistency will be essential as the campaign progresses.
The Green and Whites have shown encouraging signs in recent weeks, winning their last two matches across all competitions. A 2-1 victory over Espanyol in La Liga was followed by a comfortable 2-0 success against Ribadesella CF in the Copa del Rey.
Those results will provide Racing with plenty of confidence ahead of one of their biggest challenges of the season.
However, their historical record against Real Madrid makes for difficult reading. Racing suffered a 4-0 defeat when the two teams last met in February 2012, while their most recent encounter at El Sardinero ended in a goalless draw in September 2011.
Racing's last victory over Los Blancos came in April 2007, when they secured a 2-1 home win. Lopez's players will now attempt to end that long wait and produce a memorable result in front of their supporters.
Real Madrid looking to build on El Clasico victory
Real Madrid head into the fixture after securing a significant 2-1 victory over Barcelona in El Clasico last weekend.
Kylian Mbappe scored his second goal of the match in the closing stages, helping Jose Mourinho's side claim three valuable points and move firmly back into the La Liga title race.
Los Blancos currently occupy third place in the standings, sitting just one point behind Atletico Madrid and three points behind leaders Barcelona.
Their league record stands at eight wins and two defeats from 10 matches, highlighting their strong start to the season despite a few disappointing performances.
Real Madrid have also improved their momentum in recent weeks, winning five matches across all competitions since their Madrid derby defeat against Atletico Madrid before the international break.
The victory over Barcelona will have further boosted the confidence of Mourinho's squad, who now have an opportunity to maintain their progress against newly promoted opposition.
The visitors will return to Champions League action next week against AEK Athens before travelling to face Valencia in their final match ahead of the next international break.
Real Madrid have won nine of their last 10 matches against Racing Santander, and they will be determined to add another victory to that impressive record.
With the title race becoming increasingly competitive, dropping points against a newly promoted side could prove costly for Los Blancos.
Team News
Racing Santander team news
Racing Santander will be without young left-back Jorge Salinas, who is suspended after receiving his fifth yellow card of the league campaign against Espanyol.
Goalkeeper Simon Eriksson also remains unavailable due to a shoulder injury.
However, Lopez is otherwise expected to have a strong squad available for the visit of Real Madrid.
Yassir Zabiri has been one of Racing's standout performers this season. The 21-year-old has scored eight goals in 10 La Liga appearances and is expected to continue leading the attack.
His performances will be particularly important against a Real Madrid defence that has shown occasional vulnerabilities this season.
Racing will need to remain organised defensively while taking advantage of any opportunities to threaten the visitors on the counterattack.
Real Madrid team news
Real Madrid will be without several players for their trip to Santander.
Rodrygo remains sidelined with a knee injury, while Ferland Mendy is dealing with a hip problem. Raul Asencio is also unavailable due to a leg injury.
Vinicius Junior will miss the match through suspension, leaving Mourinho without one of his most dangerous attacking options.
There is better news regarding Federico Valverde and Thibaut Courtois, with both players expected to recover from their respective hamstring and illness problems in time to feature.
Denzel Dumfries could be introduced at right-back, potentially allowing Valverde to move into a central midfield role.
Jude Bellingham is expected to operate behind Mbappe in the attacking setup, while Arda Guler and Yan Diomande could provide width from the flanks.
Despite the absence of several important players, Real Madrid still possess enough attacking quality to pose a significant threat to Racing.
Match Prediction
Racing Santander will approach this fixture with confidence after winning their last two matches, but the quality of the opposition represents a major step up.
Real Madrid's victory over Barcelona has strengthened their belief that they can challenge for the La Liga title, and Mourinho's players will be eager to maintain their momentum.
The hosts have shown that they can compete in the top flight, but their defensive organisation will be tested by Mbappe and Bellingham.
Real Madrid's impressive head-to-head record also gives them a psychological advantage heading into the contest.
Racing could make life difficult for the visitors, particularly with the support of their home crowd. However, Real Madrid's superior quality and attacking depth should ultimately make the difference.
Prediction: Racing Santander 1-3 Real Madrid
Real Madrid are expected to secure another important victory and continue their pursuit of the La Liga title.