Real Racing Club de Santander - Athletic Club

Another demanding week has come to an end for Athletic Club, with three friendly matches in four days, in the last of which they lost for the first time this pre-season. The match against Racing Club (2-1) was a good test for Garitano’s side, who had several chances to win, but came up against a great Luca Zidane in the Santander goal.

The home side got off to a good start with Yoda scoring an accurate header in the opening stages of the game. With both teams looking to adjust to the pitch, Racing’s goal put them ahead on the scoreboard. Garitano’s team did not let up, and they had several dangerous chances with a good header from Inigo Martinez, a high shot from Aduriz and another shot just wide of the post from De Marcos.

Before the 30th minute, Aduriz had his second chance with a good intertwined move between Ibai and Balenziaga that forced Zidane into a fine save from the San Sebastian native’s header. And the red and white striker would have one more clear chance on the stroke of half-time, after a great team move that culminated in a powerful shot and a classy save from Luca Zidane.

The second half began with a great save by Herrerín from a close range shot by Cayarga in what was Racing’s clearest chance for many minutes, followed by a clear domination by the red and whites, who accumulated chances with two saved balls by Ibai that did not find a finisher.

The clearest chance came from Larrazabal, after a long run, in a one-on-one with the Racing keeper, which he saved midway through the second half. Athletic made two changes and Nolaskoain and Sancet came on in quick succession, followed ten minutes later by Villalibre and Íñigo Vicente. As soon as the latter came on, Vicente had a great chance, but Luca Zidane was still in fine form and again saved another one-on-one before he got injured and was withdrawn to a standing ovation from the home fans.

Nolaskoain tested the new keeper as soon as he came on to add another chance for Athletic, who tried and tried again. And after half a dozen chances for the Red and Whites, the equaliser came from an own goal by Iñaki Olaortua. It looked like Athletic could stay unbeaten, but three minutes later came the definitive goal from Delgado, which Beñat could not equalise in the last great chance, in stoppage time.

Racing Club: Zidane; Buñuel, Olaortua, Figueras, Minero; Cayarga, Kitoko, Ortiz, Cejudo; Díaz and Yoda. Changes: Delgado and Siverio for Yoda and Díaz (46’), Gil and Hidalgo for Figueras and Cayarga (66’), Ruiz for Cejudo (69’), De Vicente for Kitoko (76’), Zidane for Díaz (81’) and Puras for Minero (89’).

Athletic Club: Herrerín; De Marcos, Vivian, I. Martínez, Balenziaga; San José, Beñat; Larrazabal, Vesga, Ibai; Aduriz. Changes: Nolaskoain and Sancet for Vivian and Vesga (62’) and Villalibre and Íñigo Vicente for Aduriz and Ibai (76’), Oleaga for Herrerín (79’) and Kodro for Lazarrabal (86’).

Goals:
1-0 M. 10. Yoda
1-1 M. 85. Olaortua (own door)
2-1 M. 88. Delgado

Referee: López Toca. Yellow card, Vesga (44’) and Aduriz (46’).
Stadium: El Sardinero (12.860 spectators)