Real Madrid’s attacking trio did not need a second half to settle this one. Kylian Mbappé converted a penalty in the 11th minute, Jude Bellingham doubled the lead ten minutes later off a Arda Güler assist, and Yan Diomande added a third at the 36-minute mark to put the game to bed before the break. The 3-0 win at El Sardinero was as comfortable as the scoreline suggests, with José Mourinho’s side barely threatened in the second period.
Key Moments
- 11′, Kylian Mbappé steps up and converts a penalty to give Real Madrid the lead, making it a straightforward opener after Racing are penalized inside the box.
- 21′, Jude Bellingham makes it 2-0, finishing off a move that Arda Güler picks apart with a key pass through the Racing midfield.
- 29′, Racing are forced into an early substitution, with Álvaro Mantilla replaced by Pedro Felipe after just 29 minutes on the right of the backline.
- 36′, Yan Diomande completes the rout, slotting home to make it 3-0 and effectively end the contest before halftime.
- 72′, VAR cancels a Racing Santander penalty after a review involving Iván Martín, denying the hosts any foothold in the second half.
Tactical Breakdown
Real Madrid were the more purposeful team from the first whistle. Their 4-2-3-1 pressed high and exploited the space behind Racing’s full-backs early and often. The numbers back it up: 22 total shots to Racing’s 10, 16 of those inside the box, and an xG of 3.5 against a 1.23 for the home side. Arda Güler operated between the lines with freedom, finding pockets to collect and distribute before being replaced at the 67th minute, while Bellingham drove forward constantly from a nominally central-midfield role.
With the game wrapped up at the break, Mourinho rotated intelligently. Arda Güler came off for Brahim Díaz at 67 minutes, Bernardo Silva gave way to Eduardo Camavinga at 77, and Yan Diomande was taken off for Endrick at 85. Racing’s VAR-cancelled penalty at 72 minutes, involving Iván Martín, was the closest the home side came to getting anything on the scoresheet in the second period.
Racing Santander’s 4-2-3-1 simply could not get a foothold against Madrid’s pressing game. The early loss of Álvaro Mantilla at right-back disrupted the defensive shape, and by the time Jeanuël Belocian picked up a yellow card in the 34th minute, the hosts were already chasing the game. Their 46 percent possession share was acceptable on paper, but with only one shot on target and five saves from Julen Agirrezabala, the xG gap told the real story.
Player Ratings
Match Context
Standings
Head To Head
Verdict
Real Madrid move to 27 points after 11 games, sitting three behind Barcelona and one off Atletico Madrid in what is shaping up to be a tight three-way race at the top of La Liga. For Racing Santander, the afternoon was one to forget quickly: three goals down at the break, a penalty cancelled by VAR, and no real answer to Madrid’s intensity across either half.
Racing Santander
Real Madrid
Jude Bellingham
Kylian Mbappé