Yassir Zabiri’s brace gives Racing Santander a 2-1 win over Alaves

Racing Santander defeated Alaves 2-1 at Estadio El Sardinero on Saturday, earning the three points after a 1-1 half-time score. Yassir Zabiri scored twice for the hosts, while Ville Koski put Alaves ahead in the 18th minute.

Zabiri turns the match around

Alaves made the quicker start when Koski opened the scoring after 18 minutes. Racing responded before the interval, with Zabiri equalising in the 38th minute from an attack assisted by Iñigo Vicente. The teams went into half-time level, despite Alaves having already created a greater volume of shooting opportunities.

Zabiri completed the turnaround eight minutes after the restart. His second goal made it 2-1 in the 53rd minute and ultimately decided the match. The Racing forward finished with three shots on target and a match rating of 9.0 before being replaced by Giorgi Guliashvili in the 74th minute.

Alaves threaten, but Racing control possession

The statistics show a split contest. Alaves recorded 16 total shots to Racing's 11 and put eight attempts on goal, twice as many as the home side. Julen Agirrezabala was important for Racing, making seven saves as Alaves tested him repeatedly.

Racing were more secure in possession, holding 57% of the ball and completing 349 accurate passes compared with Alaves' 244. They also made 445 total passes to Alaves' 323. That control did not translate into more attempts, but Racing converted two of their four shots on target while Alaves scored once from eight.

Discipline and changes shape the closing stages

Alaves collected three yellow cards, with Nahuel Tenaglia and Pablo Ibanez Lumbreras booked during the opening eight minutes and Antonio Blanco cautioned in the 62nd. Racing's Zabiri and Jorge Salinas Viadero also went into the referee's notebook. Racing's André Almeida was sent off in the 89th minute, leaving the hosts to finish with 10 players.

Alaves made two half-time substitutions, replacing Ibanez Lumbreras and Tenaglia with Carlos Protesoni and Nicolas Valentini. Carles Aleñá and Toni Martínez later came on for Alaves, while Racing introduced Almeida for Pablo García before Zabiri's substitution.

Points and form

Racing started the round 13th with four points from four matches and now have seven points from five, improving their record to two wins, one draw and two losses. Their pre-match form was draw, loss, win, loss, so this result provides a winning latest entry. Alaves began second on 10 points with three wins and a draw; the defeat leaves them on 10 points with three wins, one draw and one loss. Their latest form now reads loss, win, draw, win, win.