Racing de Santander and Espanyol faced each other on the tenth day of the EA Sports League on October 24, at the El Sardinero stadium, where both teams were looking for three points to avoid falling into the relegation zone. The match, which began at 4:15 p.m., ended in a 0-0 draw, leaving the parakeets with a point that keeps them at 8 of the 16 teams competing for permanence.
Before the match, Racing coach José Alberto López emphasized the need to improve ball recovery and aggressiveness in defense. “We have to choose better and be better prepared for turnovers because they make quick and dangerous transitions,” López commented. "We need aggression, intensity and to be more supportive. To defend better, we have to attack better and manage the moments of the game better." For his part, Manolo González, Espanyol coach, stressed the importance of controlling the moments of the match and avoiding individual errors that could penalize the collective work. “Racing attacks differently if they do it positionally or in transition,” González explained.
The match was played before an attendance of around 23,000 spectators. The starting referee was Jesús Gil Manzano, with the support of the VAR provided by Martín González. The teams fielded their usual 11 players, with Racing having the presence of players such as Agirrezabala, Mantilla, Pablo Ramón and striker Zabiri, while Espanyol had the participation of Fortuño, Omar El Hilali, Javi Hernández and midfielder Bryan Zaragoza.
During the first minutes, both teams showed caution. Racing tried to apply pressure with a cross from Íñigo Vicente, but Espanyol defended solidly. In the 6th minute, Racing had a scoring opportunity when Espanyol's Omar El Hilali avoided a counterattack that sought to advance into space. In the 9th minute, Racing tried to take advantage of a play with Providencial Cabrera, but Espanyol managed to anticipate and neutralize the threat. Throughout the match, offensive actions were limited and defenses remained firm, leading to the final score of 0‑0.
With the tie, Racing remains in 16th position in the table, with 8 points after nine games, and remains in the relegation zone along with Espanyol, which also has 8 points. The result does not significantly alter the situation of both teams, but underlines the need to improve their performance in the next matches to avoid falling into the relegation zone. Racing's next match will be against the team that is still in the same position in the table, while Espanyol will face its direct rival in the fight for permanence.