Racing Santander 2-1 Espanyol: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings

How Racing Santander won it

Edu Expósito put Espanyol ahead in the 62nd minute, set up by Javi Hernández. Racing Santander levelled at 1-1 in the 69th minute through Jeanuël Belocian, set up by Sergio Canales. Racing Santander turned it round: Yassir Zabiri made it 2-1 in the 84th minute, set up by Álvaro Mantilla.

It was 0-0 at half-time, and the second half changed the result.

The lead changed hands once.

The referee, J. Gil Manzano, showed 9 yellow cards: 3 to Racing Santander and 6 to Espanyol.

Racing Santander: J. López Menéndez, 4-2-3-1 · Espanyol: J. González Álvarez, 4-2-3-1.

Moneyball's prediction against the result

The prediction was right. Moneyball's pick on the Match Board was Racing Santander 0.00, and on 2-1 it was right.

The estimate's most likely result was a Racing Santander win at 43%, and that is what happened. Its single most likely score was 1-1 (12%).

On goals the estimate was close: about 3.1 expected, 3 scored.

Over 2.5 goals had been put at 58%; with 3 goals the over came in, as the estimate leaned.

Both teams to score was 62%; both did, in line with the estimate.

The pre-match consensus had a Racing Santander win at 37%, the same lean as Moneyball.

Computed before kick-off from both sides' season goals and expected goals as of 2026-10-24, through a Dixon-Coles score model, and left as it was.

Why it went this way

On the day the expected goals were 0.69 for Racing Santander and 2.60 for Espanyol.

Racing Santander scored about 1.3 more than their chances were worth: clinical finishing, or a goalkeeper having a bad day.

Espanyol left about 1.6 goals' worth of chances on the pitch.

Espanyol created the better chances, 2.60 xG to 0.69, and still lost. On chances alone, the result could easily have gone the other way.

The run of play itself went against the pre-match reading: Moneyball expected Racing Santander to create more, and Espanyol did.

Racing Santander had 9 shots on target, Espanyol 1.

Espanyol's goalkeeper made 7 saves.

Racing Santander had 55% of the ball and turned it into the win.

Where the two sides stood before this match

Racing Santander came into it with 12 La Liga matches played, scoring 1.4 and conceding 2.5 a match, with 1.38 expected goals for and 2.18 against, and had won 33% of their matches.

Espanyol came into it with 12 La Liga matches played, scoring 1.1 and conceding 1.2 a match, with 1.19 expected goals for and 1.23 against, and had won 25% of their matches.

Racing Santander vs Espanyol: the match in numbers

Team statistics from Sportmonks.

Player ratings and man of the match

Man of the match: Ángel Fortuño (Espanyol), rated 7.8 by Sportmonks.

Racing Santander

• Andrés Martín 7.5
• Jorge Salinas 7.5
• Sergio Canales 7.4 1 assist
• Yassir Zabiri 7.3 1 goal
• Pablo Ramón 7.3

Espanyol

• Ángel Fortuño 7.8
• Omar El Hilali 7.8
• Edu Expósito 7.7 1 goal
• Vanja Drkusic 7.0
• Álex Calatrava 6.7

The lowest-rated starter was Julen Agirrezabala at 6.2. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.

What comes next

• Racing Santander: Racing Santander vs Real Sociedad Sunday 22 November 2026 · La Liga
• Espanyol: Athletic Club vs Espanyol Friday 20 November 2026 · La Liga

Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.

Questions about Racing Santander vs Espanyol

What was the score in Racing Santander vs Espanyol?

Racing Santander 2-1 Espanyol (half-time 0-0), La Liga, Saturday 24 October 2026.

Who scored in Racing Santander vs Espanyol?

Edu Expósito 62', Jeanuël Belocian 69', Yassir Zabiri 84'.

Did Moneyball predict Racing Santander vs Espanyol correctly?

The prediction was right. Moneyball's pick on the Match Board was Racing Santander 0.00, and on 2-1 it was right.

Who was man of the match in Racing Santander vs Espanyol?

Ángel Fortuño, rated 7.8 by Sportmonks.

Who refereed Racing Santander vs Espanyol?

J. Gil Manzano.