Real Madrid head to El Sardinero on Sunday looking to make it four consecutive La Liga victories and keep the heat on league leaders Barcelona. Fresh off a stunning 2-1 Clásico triumph — a result that many outside the Bernabéu dressing room didn’t see coming — Los Blancos are flying right now, and this trip to Cantabria offers a perfect chance to build serious momentum.
The Situation Heading In
José Mourinho’s side currently sit third in La Liga with 24 points from 10 matches, just three points adrift of Barcelona at the top. That narrow gap tells its own story — Madrid were written off by plenty of pundits earlier in the season, but five wins from five across all competitions since the international break have completely changed the narrative. Beating Barcelona was the crowning moment of that run, but the squad knows that letting up now would be wasteful. Racing Santander, meanwhile, occupy 14th place on 11 points, having won three, drawn two and lost five of their 10 games. They’ve found some form at just the right time though — back-to-back wins against Espanyol in the league and Ribadesella CF in the Copa del Rey have injected belief into a side that was going nowhere fast before those results.
Racing haven’t dropped a single point at home in La Liga this season — five games, five results — which is exactly the kind of statistic Mourinho will have pinned on the training-ground whiteboard this week. The flipside for the visitors is that Real Madrid have lost two of their five away league games so far this season, suggesting the road hasn’t always been kind. Still, given Racing have conceded a jaw-dropping 17 goals across their last five matches — averaging 3.4 per game — the defensive frailties of the home side are there for all to see.
Team News & Probable Lineups
Mourinho has a handful of absentees to manage. Rodrygo is out with a knee problem, Ferland Mendy remains sidelined with a hip injury, Raúl Asencio is nursing a leg issue, and Vinícius Júnior is suspended. That’s a significant chunk of firepower missing, but the good news is that Thibaut Courtois returns to the starting XI after illness, bringing calmness and experience back between the sticks. Federico Valverde (hamstring) is also in contention to return, though Mourinho may opt not to risk him from the first whistle.
Real Madrid are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1: Courtois; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konaté, Dean Huijsen, Marc Cucurella; Eduardo Camavinga, Aurélien Tchouaméni; Arda Güler, Jude Bellingham, Yan Diomandé; Kylian Mbappé. Camavinga impressed with a lively cameo in the Clásico and could be handed a start here. Bellingham slots in behind Mbappé in the number ten role, which should be a mouthwatering proposition for Madrid supporters.
Racing Santander will be without suspended midfielder Jorge Salinas and injured winger Simon Eriksson (shoulder). They’re likely to set up in a 4-2-3-1 of their own: Agirrezabala; Mantilla, Ramón, Belocian, Felipe; Prati, I. Martín; A. Martín, Canales, Vicente; Zabiri. Veteran attacker Sergio Canales in the hole behind lone striker Yassir Zabiri will be the creative hub Mourinho’s defenders need to keep tabs on.
The Key Battle & What to Expect
Keep your eyes on Arda Güler. The young Turkish playmaker has been one of the stories of Madrid’s season under Mourinho, flourishing whether deployed as a right winger, a ten, or even in a central midfield role. Across 12 appearances and over 700 minutes of football, he has contributed to eight goals — a return that marks him out as one of the most effective and versatile creative players in Europe right now. Against a Racing side that struggles to keep things tight defensively, Güler has an enormous opportunity to shine again.
Tactically, Mourinho is likely to instruct his full-backs — the dynamic Trent Alexander-Arnold and Marc Cucurella — to push forward in numbers and exploit the space behind Racing’s wide midfielders when possession is turned over. The 4-2-3-1 gives Madrid defensive solidity through the Camavinga-Tchouaméni pivot while allowing Bellingham the freedom to arrive late into goalscoring positions. For Racing, their best hope is to stay compact, stay patient, and try to catch Madrid on the break — their unbeaten home record suggests they know how to be stubborn at El Sardinero.
Ultimately though, form, quality and firepower all point in one direction. Racing’s defensive numbers are alarming, and Madrid’s attacking options — even without Vinícius and Rodrygo — remain formidable. A comfortable away win feels the most likely outcome, and another three points would keep the pressure firmly on Barcelona heading into the business end of autumn. This is the kind of game where Madrid’s title credentials will be quietly but firmly strengthened. Don’t miss it.
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