Racing Santander 0-2 Real Madrid

Real Madrid locked up their second win of the season with a 0-2 victory over Racing Santander in El Sardinero on Sunday. Goals by De la Red and Van Nistelrooy give the Whites seven on the year heading into a midweek clash in the Bernabéu against Sporting.

Real Madrid landed in Santander with doubts as to who would cover ground along the flanks. The solution was found in three forwards, Higuaín, Raúl, and Van Nistelrooy, and a midfield comprised of Diarra, Guti positioned along the right and De la Red along the left. In attack, Higuaín stuck to his typical right wing and Raúl to the left. The home side was without the services of Munitis, who was injured in training on Saturday.

Few chances on either end
The first half was an all-out struggle between both sides with little quality football to talk about. Real Madrid were unable to find any open lanes to Racing's box, while Colsa fired the first warning shot for the hosts after a Serrano corner kick (4’).

López Muñiz played with ten men behind the ball in solid midfield play by Racing, who prevented Madrid from creating opportunities. Higuaín's cross-shot was easily trapped by Toño (11’) as was De la Red's strike from the top of the box following Guti's free kick (19’).

Casillas hunted down a Racing shot 30 minutes in, then saved a well-struck ball by Pereira (36') and another by Serrano (40’). The only Madridista answer came off the boot of De la Red, but grazed Colsa's head and sailed over crossbar (32’). Moments prior to halftime, Guti abandoned the pitch on a stretcher after suffering a knock to his right calf and was replaced by Van der Vaart.

Door slammed shut in the second
The same 22 men who finished the first half appeared on El Sardinero turf for the opening whistle of the second period. Eight minutes into the half, a broken up play by the Madrid defense resulted in a counter led by Gonzalo Higuaín, who carried the ball to the Racing box and found Rubén De la Red wide open. The Spanish international squeezed the ball between Toño and the left post to give the Whites the lead (53’).

Luccin replaced Lucen in an attempt to add more firepower to Racing's midfield. The hosts managed to reach Casillas' box but were unable to beat the keeper. Valera and Tchité were also called on to find the equaliser, while Madrid slowed the tempo and Schuster subbed Robben in for Raúl (68’).

A minute later, Colsa swung in a cross for Tchité, whose header was unsuccessful in front of goal. The Madrisidistas' response proved much more effective as Van Nistelrooy feinted around César Navas and curled the ball around the defender and between the keeper and the right post to put Madrid up by two (73’).

Racing had two more attempts before the final whistle, the first which Van der Vaart cleared off the line after a powerful Tchité header (77’). The second appeared to be dead on but deflected off Colsa. With the match in the bag, Higuaín sat for Saviola (83’) and Madrid locked up their second victory of the season.