Aguirre's Valencia is preparing for its first game after the arrival of the Mexican coach, who will have the opportunity to change the team's dynamic before the season break. The new coach, who joined after two and a half weeks of work during the international break, has used that time to get to know the squad, evaluate the weaknesses that have marked the disastrous start to the campaign and begin to introduce new concepts into training. Now, the pressure is focused on getting the results to the first match.
For the match against Racing de Santander, Aguirre has decided to strengthen the defense with the incorporation of Tárrega and Diakhaby, and will count on Danjuma, who has overcome ankle discomfort. Even so, the list of absences remains extensive: Luis Rioja, José Copete, Dimitri Foulquier, Umar Sadiq, Diego López and Sergi Canós remain injured. Valencia, which has four points, sees this match as an opportunity to regain confidence and begin to find solutions to the problems that have marked its start to the season.
Racing, for its part, arrives at Sardinero with the need to react after the two defeats it received before the break: 7-2 against Barcelona and 5-0 against Celta. The Cantabrian team seeks to feel the atmosphere of the stadium again and recover the feeling of the game that allows them to feel comfortable. The match will be a test both for Racing, which wants to turn the page, and for Valencia, which needs to show an immediate change on the pitch.
The meeting will bring together several old acquaintances. Julen Agirrezabala, who defended Valencia's goal last season, will once again cross paths with the team for which he played on loan the previous year. Sergio Canales, signed by Valencia in the 2011-12 season, and the loanee André Almeida will also do so. At Valencia, the focus will be especially on Pablo García, who will be the team's main offensive threat. The Sevillian already scored against the Valencians on the first day of the League, when he was playing for Betis, and arrives at the event after accumulating good minutes with the Spanish U-21 team.
The referee Luis Bestard, from the Balearic Committee, will be in charge of controlling the match. With Valencia looking for a turnaround in their form and Racing trying to regain their best form, the match promises to be a turning point for both teams before the season resumes after the break.