Real Madrid beat Racing Santander 3‑0 at the El Sardinero Stadium, consolidating their sixth consecutive victory in LaLiga and the Champions League. The matchday, which was played on November 1, 2026, was marked by a refereeing controversy that generated debate among fans and experts.
The match began with a decisive moment after ten minutes, when referee Juan Munuera Montero declared a penalty on Kylian Mbappé. The Frenchman dropped into the area, although the referee had not seen the action, and the penalty was validated, giving Real Madrid an early lead. The decision was questioned due to the lack of evidence and the absence of video assistance, which caused the referee not to use VAR at that moment. Despite the controversy, Real Madrid took advantage and kept the pressure on Racing.
The Portuguese coach, José Mourinho, used a similar scheme to that of the Clásico, with the exception that Fede Valverde was not present and the right back was occupied by Trent Alexander-Morgan. The white team showed an effective combination between Gündoğan and Bellingham, which materialized with a goal in the 21st minute. Bellingham, following a pass from Gündoğan, overcame the defense and scored into an empty net, extending the lead to 2‑0.
The third goal came in spectacular fashion when Yan Diomandé, after a misplaced ball, found himself in the crescent of the area and finished with precision, sealing the final score of 3‑0. With the victory, Real Madrid remains at the top of the LaLiga table, while Racing suffers its first defeat at home after its return to the First Division.
In the second half, Racing tried to react without looking at the scoreboard, but Real Madrid regained control of the game. Mbappé had two scoring chances, but Racing goalkeeper Aguirrezabalaga made crucial saves. Racing also received a penalty that was annulled after a VAR review, which demonstrated the importance of technology in decision-making. In addition, the referee disallowed a Bellingham goal for offside, which left the Spanish team with the definitive advantage.
Real Madrid concluded the match with three additional points and a firm position in the fight for the title. Racing, for its part, will have to analyze its performance and look for improvements for the next day. With the season still underway, both teams have a lot to play for in the upcoming games.