The match between Racing de Santander and Valencia at El Sardinero ended in a 2-2 draw that left both teams with more doubts than satisfaction. The match, which was played on October 11, 2026, was Javier Aguirre's debut as coach of Valencia and the first of his career in the LIGA. Despite Racing's comeback and the outstanding performance of their new coach, Valencia managed to secure a point that, in the final moments, was threatened by a mistake by their referee.
From the beginning, Valencia showed their intention to win. Just two minutes after the opening whistle, Dani Raba, who had been excluded from the team last season, scored the first goal of the game with a powerful right-footed shot after a candy in the area. Raba's entry into the starting eleven was a decision by Aguirre that surprised fans and the media. The goal was without celebration, but the forward was grateful to receive the ovation from his teammates. Just after half-time, Racing reacted with a goal from Yassir Zabiri, who took advantage of a filtered pass from Iñigo Vicente to tie in the 32nd minute. Racing's goal was accompanied by a great performance by its defense, which kept Valencia in the penalty area.
The second half became a battle of opportunities. Racing achieved a partial comeback when Iván Martín, after a clearance from the goal area, shot first and surprised Valencia's goalkeeper, Dimitrievski, to score the home team's second goal in the 47th minute. Racing's goal forced Valencia to react and look for a response. In the 65th minute, Javi Guerra, with great driving, passed the ball to David Otorbi, who shot first and scored Valencia's second goal, tying the score at 2‑2. Otorbi's goal was an example of Aguirre's ability to create opportunities from possession and constant pressure.
Referee Lluís Bestard was criticized for a ruling that left Racing without a chance to win the match. Hugo Duro, Racing's goalkeeper, missed a clear scoring chance at the last moment, allowing Valencia to maintain the tie. Despite the lack of celebration of Raba's goal and the lack of a clear victory, Valencia managed to maintain the lead in the LIGA table and avoid a drop in the standings.
Racing, for their part, showed great determination in the second half, but were unable to convert their opportunities into goals. The Racing players tried several times, but ran into the Valencia defense and Dimitrievski's goal. Valencia, for its part, was solid in defense and in goal, and managed to maintain the advantage in the LIGA table. Valencia's next match will be against Real Madrid, while Racing will play against Atlético de Madrid.