Yassir Zabiri was the hero for Racing Santander in a key 2-1 victory over Alaves at El Sardinero. The forward scored twice to overturn a one-goal deficit after Ville Koski had put the visitors ahead, ending the unbeaten run of Quique Sánchez Flores's side.
The match started with Alaves showing their best form. In the 18th minute, Ville Koski finished off an attacking move to beat Iván Villar and make it 0-1. The visitors, who arrived with a perfect home record, looked comfortable. However, Racing did not lose heart. In the 38th minute, Iñigo Vicente found Zabiri with a precise pass inside the area, and the attacker made no mistake to level the score.
The mistake that changed everything
The second half had barely begun when a defensive error from Alaves decided the contest. Nicolás Valentini, who had just come onto the pitch, lost the ball in a dangerous area. Zabiri, always alert, stole possession and finished coolly to complete his brace and seal the 2-1 win in the 53rd minute. From that point, Alaves, despite having 16 shots in total, failed to create any real danger against Villar's goal.
Racing manager José Alberto secured a morale-boosting win ahead of a demanding fixture. The team now sits 13th in LaLiga with 4 points from one win, one draw, and two losses. Their next challenge is huge: a visit to league leaders Barcelona on Wednesday, 16 September. For that trip, the squad will be without the confirmed absences of Andrés Martín and Simon Eriksson, details of which are on the club's injury report.
After the defeat, Alaves coach Quique Sánchez Flores was pragmatic. "Alavés has no choice but to turn the page and rely on Mendizorroza to prepare for Tuesday's clash against Valencia," he said. Racing's victory, their second in the last five matches, allows them to face the schedule with more confidence. Supporters can check the squad's progress on the squad page and the tough fixture list ahead, which includes the trip to the Camp Nou.
Racing coach José Alberto has expressed his satisfaction with the win over Alavés. He told reporters: "It seemed to me a very good match from the whole team". The manager also highlighted the mood of brace-hero Yassir Zabiri: "Zabiri will be on cloud nine, but he must keep working". The team, now 10th with 7 points, faces its next challenge.
