Racing Santander 3-2 Elche: Match Recap and Result

Match: 28 August 2026, 17:00 UTC · Published: 28 August 2026 · 339 words

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Racing Santander beat Elche 3-2 in LaLiga after Y. Zabiri scored a first-half hat-trick and the visitors scored twice in successive minutes late on. The home side ran away with the opening period, then had to protect the lead after Elche's late reply.

Match Summary

Y. Zabiri had Racing Santander in front after 15 minutes, and he made it two before the game was 21 minutes old. I. Vicente was the provider when Zabiri completed his hat-trick in the 36th minute. Racing Santander went to the interval three goals to the good. F. Gonzalez and A. Mantilla were booked just before the break.

Elche found a late response. Buba Sangare scored in the 78th minute with L. Cepeda assisting, and F. Nino followed a minute later, Tete Morente the provider this time. Racing Santander still closed out the 3-2 result.

Key Moments

The first-half hat-trick set the terms. Racing Santander could defend a cushion instead of trading blows, and Elche had to open up for the rest of the night.

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The two Elche goals a minute apart late in the second half mattered because they reduced a three-goal gap to one and put the closing stages in doubt. Extra possession and extra shots finally told for the visitors, only after the match had already been shaped.

Racing Santander stayed at 11 men despite two first-half yellows, which mattered once Elche were throwing numbers forward.

Match Statistics

Elche held 60 percent of possession to Racing Santander's 40 and outshot the home side 17 to 13, yet both teams put six attempts on target. Racing Santander recorded 1.5 expected goals against Elche's 0.99, a gap that matches how clinical the first half was. Elche also led the corners 10-5. Racing Santander picked up two yellow cards and Elche one. There were no red cards.

What the Result Means

Racing Santander sit 12th in La Liga with 1 point from two matches and a goal difference of -1. Elche are 18th on the same 1 point from two matches, with a goal difference of -5. Each side has a draw and a loss in their last two.