Control without edge, ruthless finish: Racing floors the 2nd with a 2-1

Hitting with less

The upset isn’t just the 2-1, it’s the how: 13th beats 2nd with fewer shots and lower quality. Racing Santander took 11 shots to 16 and posted 1.46 xG to 2.04. Efficiency and resilience. Full stop.

The picture is clear. They kept the ball (57%) yet didn’t own the goalmouth: Alaves ended with 8 shots on target to the hosts’ 4. The difference was two finishes from Zabiri and a keeper in lock mode. Julen Agirrezabala held with 7 saves. That’s how a team with less can win.

A top-of-the-table fight, La Liga matchday 5, and a plot twist: the favorite was the visitor. The Champions zone spilled a glass at El Sardinero.

The turning point, minute by minute

Momentum splits the night in two. Alaves rules 0-30’. Ville Koski scores on 18’ and the game looks under control. The 3-5-2 gave them outlets and arrivals. Also volume: 10 shots in the box in the end, to Racing’s 8.

From 30’ to 60’ the pulse flips. Racing imposes its strong stretch. Zabiri equalizes on 38’ from an Iñigo Vicente assist. He strikes again on 53’: 2-1 and the league’s second-place side has to chase the wrong way. The plan breaks there.

The close also belonged to the hosts. From 75’ to 90’ Racing pushed again, with a pressure peak at 89’. In that hot zone, VAR on 88’ and André Almeida sent off on 89’. Down a man to the end. They hold. Curtain.

The number that flips the read

Nine offsides against Alaves. That’s not random, that’s a trap biting. A high line, timing, and focus to spring it. When the visitors got in behind, the flag dragged them back. Racing also blocked 3 shots and won the physical battle: 62 duels won to 55.

The contrast is stark: Alaves had 8 shots on target and 2.04 xG, yet only one goal. Agirrezabala’s 7 saves made it possible for the hosts to score 2 from 4 shots on target. The edge was in the boxes, not in midfield. That’s the difference.

Zabiri and his partners

Zabiri decides it. A double (38’ and 53’) and the best match rating: 9.01. Five shots, one key pass, zero dribbles. No frills, all impact. Two touches that cash the win.

He wasn’t alone. Iñigo Vicente built the 1-1 and delivered 5 key passes. He laid the platform; Zabiri struck the blow. And behind them, a huge keeper so the balance wouldn’t tip.

Table, context, and the streak broken

This one matters up top. Coming in, 2nd place had 10 points and the tag of favorite. Racing, 13th with 4, needed a plan explained on the pitch. They did it with goals and order. Three points that echo in the fight for Champions spots.

It also snaps a bad head-to-head: across the previous 5 clashes, Racing hadn’t won (0 wins, 2 for Alaves, 3 draws). Today, yes. With less volume, with more edge. Control without clarity, but a finish and craft. Sometimes, that’s football.