Real Madrid Face Newly Promoted Racing Club: Opposition Preview

Later on today, Sunday the 1st of November, Real Madrid will take to the field for the first time since their superb win in El Clasico last weekend, which reduced the gap to league leaders Barcelona to just three points, when they take on newly promoted Real Racing Club on the road.

The task at hand today is much different, but difficult in its own right. So, what can we expect from the hosts? 

Having been promoted from La Liga 2 as league winners last season, Racing Club are in the top flight for the first time since all the way back in 2012. That season yielded a 0-0 draw in this fixture, and a 4-0 win for Jose Mourinho's side at the Bernabeu - which was the most recent meeting between the two sides - on the way to winning La Liga. 

The player in Racing Club's ranks that people will be most familiar with is attacking midfielder Sergio Canales. Having just spent three years on the other side of the Atlantic with Mexican side Monterrey, he rejoined his boyhood club in the summer, 16 years after leaving for Real Madrid. Pretty poetic stuff. 

Ironically, the former Spanish international actually scored against Los Blancos the last time he was an opposition player, for Real Betis back in September 2022, though goals from Vinicius and Rodrygo were enough for a 2-1 victory. The exact same situation also happened in January of 2019 - a Canales goal, but a 2-1 win for Real Madrid. 

That all being said, the key dangermen for Racing Club is without doubt Yassir Zabiri. The Moroccan international has scored eight La Liga goals already this season, more than any Real Madrid player other than Kylian Mbappe. 

His eight goals have been incredibly important too— winning Racing Club nine points. They currently sit in 14th place with 11 points, they would be rock bottom without his important strikes.

In terms of home form, Racing Club are yet to taste defeat this season. They are 5th in the home table, with 11 points from five games— meaning they have not picked up a single point on the road this season, showing just how important home advantage is to them. Mourinho’s men will be conscious of that.

Nevertheless, Real Madrid will  go into the game as heavy favourites, so a win will be expected despite the good home form. Possible Racing Club XI on Sunday: Agirrezabala; Mantilla, Ramon, Belocian, A. Martin; I. Martin, Prati; Garcia, Canales, Vicente; Zabiri.