Match Information
Match Overview
Racing Santander welcome Alaves to Estadio El Sardinero in Regular Season - 5, a fixture that already reveals a wide gap in early-season trajectories between these two sides. Racing sit 12th while Alaves occupy 2nd place, and the league table alone frames this as a clash between a team seeking stability and a side riding the crest of an excellent start.
Form is the dominant storyline here. Alaves arrive having won three of their last four league matches, including a 5-2 demolition of Osasuna on September 6 and a 1-0 win over Villarreal on August 28, with their only blemish a 1-1 draw away at Rayo Vallecano on August 20. That run has fueled their climb to 2nd in the table. Racing Santander, by contrast, enter this match having lost their last outing 3-2 away at Rayo Vallecano on September 5, following a 3-2 home win over Elche on August 28 that was sandwiched between defeats to Getafe and Rayo. José Alberto López's side have shown they can score, netting in every one of their last four competitive matches, but defensive consistency has been the issue, having conceded multiple goals in three of their last four outings.
The head-to-head record adds an intriguing subplot. The two sides met in a Club Friendlies fixture on August 7, 2026, which ended 1-1, suggesting a closely matched contest despite the current league standings gap. Historically, meetings between these clubs at competitive level have often been tight affairs, which could temper expectations of a one-sided result despite the form disparity.
With no injuries reported for either squad, both José Alberto López and Quique Sánchez Flores should be able to field their preferred personnel, making squad selection less of a factor and tactical execution and current form the more telling indicators heading into this Regular Season - 5 encounter.
Predicted Lineups
Racing Santander
Julen Agirrezabala; Álvaro Mantilla, Manu Hernando, Facundo González, Jorge Salinas; Iván Martín, M. Prati, Pablo García, Sergio Canales, Iñigo Vicente; M. Zabiri
Alaves
Sivera; N. Tenaglia, V. Koski, Jonny; Antonio Blanco, Angel Pérez, Pablo Ibáñez, Carles Aleñá, A. Rebbach; L. Boyé, M. Díaz
Team Form Analysis
Racing Santander
League Position: 12Racing Santander Form Analysis
Racing Santander's form since the season's opening weeks has been a mixed bag, with two losses, one win, and one draw across their last four La Liga matches. The most recent result, a 3-2 defeat away at Rayo Vallecano on September 5, continued a pattern of leaky defending, as the side has conceded multiple goals in three of its last four outings. On the positive side, Racing have found the net in every one of those matches, including a 3-2 home win over Elche on August 28 that showed genuine attacking quality. Draws against Villarreal (2-2 on August 16) and defeats to Getafe (1-0 on August 23) and Rayo Vallecano round out a start that places them 12th in the table. The underlying trend suggests a team capable of scoring against varied opposition but one that needs to tighten up defensively to convert competitive performances into points, particularly against a side currently in the form Alaves are showing.
Alaves
League Position: 2Alaves Form Analysis
Alaves have been one of the form teams of the early La Liga season, winning three of their last four league matches and sitting 2nd in the table as a result. Their September 6 performance, a 5-2 home win over Osasuna, showcased significant attacking firepower, while a tidy 1-0 win over Villarreal on August 28 and a 3-0 victory over Getafe on August 15 demonstrate defensive solidity has accompanied that firepower. Their only dropped points in this run came in a 1-1 draw away at Rayo Vallecano on August 20. Across these four matches, Alaves have scored freely against a range of opponents while conceding sparingly outside the Osasuna match, pointing to a well-balanced side under Quique Sánchez Flores. This combination of goals scored and matches won explains their table position and sets up an intriguing test against a Racing Santander side that has struggled to match that defensive consistency this season.
Head-to-Head
Racing Santander
Alaves
Recent Meetings
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-07 | Racing Santander | 1 - 1 6-7 pens | Alaves |
| 2024-07-17 | Racing Santander | 0 - 0 0-1 pens | Alaves |
| 2023-07-22 | Racing Santander | 1 - 2 | Alaves |
| 2023-01-21 | Alaves | 3 - 0 | Racing Santander |
| 2022-11-01 | Racing Santander | 1 - 1 | Alaves |
Memorable Matches
The most recent meeting between these clubs came on August 7, 2026, a 1-1 draw in Club Friendlies play that offered an early hint of competitive balance ahead of the new season. Looking further back, the January 21, 2023 encounter saw Alaves secure a comfortable 3-0 away win, one of the more emphatic results in this fixture's history. The July 22, 2023 meeting also went in Alaves' favor, a 1-2 away victory, while the July 17, 2024 match ended goalless at 0-0, and the November 1, 2022 clash finished level at 1-1. Collectively, these results show a fixture that has swung between tight, low-scoring affairs and occasional one-sided results.
For full statistical context, check out the see expert picks.
Venue Factor
Estadio El Sardinero provides Racing Santander with a home atmosphere that has historically been a source of pride for the club, and home advantage will be important for a side looking to arrest recent defensive issues. The venue's atmosphere, generated by a passionate home fanbase, can play a role in tight contests, particularly against a well-organized visiting side. For Alaves, who have shown strong away application this season, notably drawing at Rayo Vallecano on August 20, traveling form has been respectable, and Quique Sánchez Flores' side will look to carry their attacking form on the road. With both teams' recent meeting having come in a friendly rather than at El Sardinero itself, this competitive fixture offers a fresh test of how the home surface and crowd factor into proceedings between these two sides.
Injury Concerns
Racing Santander
Alaves
