December: Tough Month
Noja 0-2 Racing Santander S.A.D.
Wednesday 4th December 2013 | La Caseta | Att. 2,728
Segunda Division B1
Racing Santander XI: Mario, Francis, Juanpe, Soria, Echaide, Granero, Andreu, Nieto, Inaki, Miguelez, Bolado
Racing Santander opened up the month against Noja away, ahead of their tough fixture against Barcelona, at El Sardinero. Throughout the match, Racing enjoyed large times of possessions, thanks to the tactic Raul Gonzalez employed.
As the match went on, and Racing pressed for their goal, they got it in the 61st minute, as Andreu was given some space by the Noja players, and he cracked a shot of his own, leaving Tete rooted to his spot. However, Racing went on for more goals, as the previous month had seen their winning run ended by title rivals, Real Oviedo.
In the final minutes of the game, Ivan Bolado was given the chance alone with Noja's goalkeeper, Tete, and he finished his one-on-one with a nice chip, that led the Racing away fans to raptures in their section.
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Subs On: Agustin, Ander Lafuente
Goals: Andreu (61), Ivan Bolado (77)
Noja Goals: None
Man of the Match:Andreu (Racing) 7.7
Racing Santander S.A.D. 2-2 F.C. Barcelona
Saturday 7th December 2013 | El Sardinero | Att. 22,124
Copa del Rey [4th Round]
Racing Santander XI: Mario, Francis, Juanpe, Soria, Corrales, Andreu, Duran, Lafuente, Gabilondo, Miguelez, Bolado
A packed stadium filled with Racing fans cheering for their team, they received Liga BBVA leaders, FC Barcelona in an entertaining match. Many Racing fans were feeling low about their chances against the team led by an inspired Lionel Messi, and Gerardo 'Tata' Martino
It was no surprise when Lionel Messi, labelled the best player in the world, opened the scoring in the 18th minute. With Raul seeing his team wasting clear chances, he decided to bring on Miguel Angel Nieto for David Miguelez, and his decision led to better play.
After the half-time break, an inspired Racing were pressing the Catalans, and Racing chants were heard all throughout the city. As the match wore on, a nice touch play between Ander Lafuente and Igor Gabilondo saw Racing equalize Barcelona in the 57th minute. Barcelona's manager, Tata, was yelling at his players, and for the first time in a very long time, Racing lead the Catalan outfit.
Igor Gabilondo latched on a pass by Andreu, and quickly chipped over Pinto, who had played all the Copa del Rey matches beforehand. Racing fans at El Sardinero were going crazy, but it wouldn't last for long, as Barcelona's summer signing, Cuadrado, brought the game back level in the 76th minute, leading to speculation about the capability that Racing and Raul have.
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Sub On: Ion Echaide, Miguel Angel Nieto
Racing Goals: Ander Lafuente (57), Igor Gabilondo (71)
FC Barcelona Goals: Lionel Messi (18) Juan Cuadrado (76)
Man of the Match: Ander Lafuente (Racing) 8.3
Aviles 1-0 Racing Santander S.A.D.
Saturday 14th December 2013 | Suarez Puerta | Att. 4,165
Segunda Division B1
Racing Santander XI: Mario, Francis, Juanpe, Soria, Corrales, Duran, Granero, Lafuente, Nieto, Miguelez, Bolado
Aviles hosted Racing Santander in what was the first defeat for Raul Gonzalez's side in the season. With Raul playing a full-side ahead of the key match against Barcelona away, many of their fans were hopeful of a win. But, it was a match where the players look tired ahead of their heroics against the Catalan outfit of F.C. Barcelona.
Throughout the match, Racing looked sloppy, and exhausted, and Aviles took full advantage, when full-back Javier Casas whipped in a cross and Francis headed home the goal into his own net. That proved to be the winning goal that would end Racing's unbeaten run, and would give Oviedo a chance to get closer to the Segunda Division B1 leaders.
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Sub On: Yeste, Nieto, Echaide
Racing Santander Goals: None
Burgos's Goals: Francis (59 OG)
Man of the Match: Mario (Racing) 7.3
F.C. Barcelona 5-2 Racing S.A.D.
Wednesday 18th December 2013 | Camp Nou | Att. 37,823
Copa del Rey [4th Round]
Racing Santander XI: Mario, Francis, Juanpe, Soria, Corrales, Lafuente, Granero, Duran, Gabilondo, Miguelez, Bolado
Racing Santander started out the same team that they fielded at El Sardinero against Barcelona last week, and Barcelona fans were given a scare by Racing.
Racing started out the match with an Ivan Bolado goal, in which he scored a one-on-one against Pinto, with the striker scoring his 9th goal in his 14th appearance for Racing this season. Racing fans were given another big boost when Ander Lafuente scored a fluke goal when he volleyed down an Igor Gabilondo cross from the left-hand side.
Before the half-time interval came, Sergi Roberto kicked Racing fans in the teeth when he scored a goal in the 43rd minute, leaving them one goal shy of equalizing the game. Raul Gonzalez tried to stop the Catalans from ragging them in the second half, with the manager changing his formation to a 4-5-1, in an attempt to progress to the 5th round. However, Barcelona had other plans.
Andres Iniesta, who had been brought in the 1st half, scored a goal in the 54th minute to equalize the game, leaving Racing in a weird position. Juanpe did not aid to his teams cause when he scored an own goal, with the Catalans now leading Racing.
However, Lionel Messi, who had scored in the 1st leg, put the game into sword when he scored a brace in 7 minutes to leave the aggregate score in favor of the Catalans (7-4), to see them pass to the 5th round of the Copa del Rey.
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Sub On: Ion Echaide, Miguel Angel Nieto, Yeste
Racing Goals: Ivan Bolado (16) Ander Lafuente (36)
F.C. Barcelona Goals: Sergi Roberto (43), Andres Iniesta (54), Juanpe (61 O.G.), Lionel Messi (69,76)
Man of the Match: Lionel Messi (F.C. Barcelona) 9.0
Racing Santander S.A.D. 5-1 Coruxo
Saturday 21st December 2013 | El Sardinero | Att. 13,332
Segunda Division B1
Racing Santander XI: Mario, Francis, Juanpe, Soria, Corrales, Lafuente, Andreu, Duran, Nieto, Miguelez, Bolado
Racing Santander hosted Coruxo in a match where Raul's side bounced back after two consecutive losses against Aviles and Barcelona respectively.
In the 2nd minute, Coruxo conceded a dangerous free-kick, in which Ruben Duran executed a fantastic play by passing the ball to Igor Gabilondo, who was left alone in the set-up to the free-kick. 2 minutes after the goal, Enrique Corrales was stretchered off, with loanee Ion Echaide coming on.
Racing quickly made incisive passes which led to Andreu's goal in the 7th minute. Some passes between Lafuente, Bolado, and the goalscorer, Andreu. Andreu would score another goal in the following minute. Yet again, Racing scored another well played goal, with Javi Soria getting the ball again, and the Racing players passing between each other, before Bolado assisted Andreu once again.
Racing slowed down in the following minutes, but had their fans in constant happiness as Ander Lafuente scored yet another goal in the 18th minute. The right-midfielder scored after 16 passes between the players, before nodding in the goal to make it 4-0 by the 18th minute. Once again, Racing calmed down, as requested by Raul, but they could not contain themselves from another goal before half-time, with Javi Soria scoring on his rebound after Fernando had denied him from a header.
Juanpe would have a moment to forget, as he scored an own-goal when his team-mate, Mario, tried to clear the ball away, only to hit Juanpe's back, and the ball to enter his own net. However, that goal would only serve Coruxo as a consolidation goal.
With this win, Racing have a grip between Oviedo, leading them by 5 points, but Oviedo do have a game to play.
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Sub On: Ion Echaide, Miguel Angel Nieto, Francisco Yeste
Racing Goals: Igor Gabilondo (2) Andreu (6,7) Ander Lafuente (18), Javi Soria (40)
Coruxo Goals: Juanpe (85)
Man of the Match: Andreu (Racing) 9.4