Racing Santander 2–1 Deportivo Alavés | La Liga | 12 September 2026

Result Summary

Racing Santander claimed all three points at home, overturning a first-half deficit to defeat Deportivo Alavés 2–1 in a competitive La Liga encounter. Mohamed Yassir Zabiri was the decisive figure, netting twice in the second half to seal a comeback victory for José Alberto López Menéndez's side after Ville Koski had given the visitors an early lead.

Match Analysis

Alavés made an electric start but were almost immediately undermined by indiscipline. Both Nahuel Tenaglia and Pablo Ibáñez Lumbreras received yellow cards within the opening eight minutes for fouls, setting a fractious tone early on. Despite those cautions, Enrique Sánchez Flores' side took the lead in the 18th minute when Ville Koski converted with a right-foot shot to give Alavés a deserved advantage — one backed up by the statistics, as the visitors would go on to register 16 total shots and 8 on target compared to Racing's 11 and 4 respectively.

However, Racing's greater control of possession — 57% to 43% — began to tell as the first half wore on. With ten minutes to go before the break, Zabiri equalised courtesy of a precise left-foot finish, assisted by Iñigo Vicente, though the moment was slightly soured by a yellow card for the goalscorer himself following an argument shortly before the goal.

Racing took the lead for the first time eight minutes into the second half. Zabiri completed his brace in the 53rd minute, this time finishing with his right foot from an assist by Jorge Salinas, giving the hosts a lead they would not relinquish. Alavés' 58 dangerous attacks — more than double Racing's 29 — speak to the pressure Flores' men applied in search of an equaliser, but they were frequently let down by poor positional discipline, registering 6 offsides throughout the match.

The closing stages grew increasingly feisty. A double booking for both Antonio Blanco Conde (Alavés) and Jorge Salinas (Racing) on 62 minutes illustrated the mounting tension. The most significant moment came late on when substitute Domingos André Ribeiro Almeida, who had entered the pitch in the 65th minute, was dismissed via a VAR review in the 88th minute — leaving Racing to see out the final moments with ten men. Despite a chaotic seven minutes of added time, the home side held firm.

Prediction Review

Our pre-match forecast pointed to a 1–1 draw, with Racing Santander assigned a 39% probability of victory and the draw at 27%. The prediction proved incorrect, as Racing's clinical finishing — particularly Zabiri's double — proved the difference. The underlying statistics, with Alavés generating the greater volume of dangerous opportunities, did support the case for a more balanced or visitor-friendly outcome. However, Racing's efficiency in front of goal and their composure in possession ultimately told a different story. Our confidence level of 50/100 correctly reflected the uncertainty in this fixture.

Key Takeaways

• Zabiri's brace was the defining contribution of the match — a player capable of turning a game on its head, even after picking up a booking
• Alavés' early card trouble may have disrupted their defensive organisation at a crucial stage
• Despite being outshot significantly, Racing's ability to maximise their opportunities on target (4 shots, 2 goals) proved decisive
• The late red card for Almeida could carry disciplinary consequences heading into Racing's next fixture
• Alavés will take some encouragement from their attacking output but must improve their finishing and positional discipline to convert dominance into results