Racing Santander vs Villarreal: Match Preview, Predictions, and Crew Insights

Racing de Santander will face their greatest take a look at but after they welcome La Liga aspect Villarreal for his or her spherical of 32 Copa del Rey encounter at Estadio El Sardinero on Wednesday.

The hosts obtained previous Ponferradina within the earlier spherical, and they are going to be hoping to go one higher by defeating the Yellow Submarine on Wednesday.

Match preview

Racing Santander secured a hard-fought passage to the following spherical of the 2025–26 Copa del Rey, having wanted further time to dispatch Ponferradina 2–1.

Regardless of the gulf in high quality between the 2 sides, Jose Alberto Lopez’s prices couldn’t get the job carried out in regular time, needing Aritz Aldasoro’s 119th-minute effort to ship them by way of to the following spherical of the competitors.

Subsequent up for the Segunda Division leaders is Villarreal, and they are going to be aiming to take the scalp of the La Liga aspect; supporters of the Inexperienced and White might be fairly assured of their staff’s probabilities given their latest type.

The hosts are at present on a six-game unbeaten run, recording 4 victories and two attracts, scoring 13 occasions in that run.

That mentioned, the Mountaineers will do properly to be cautiously optimistic, having misplaced on the similar stage to a different La Liga aspect, Celta Vigo, within the earlier season.

Furthermore, they’ve an atrocious file in opposition to the visiting aspect, with solely two wins of their final 15 head-to-head encounters; their final victory was earned courtesy of a slender 1–0 success within the Spanish high flight in December 2011.

© Imago / IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire

Whereas Villarreal have struggled in Europe, they’ve been going robust in home competitions, together with La Liga and the Copa del Rey.

Of their final outing on this competitors, they wanted penalty kicks to get previous lowly-rated Antoniano within the earlier spherical; nonetheless, they may go into this contest as favourites to advance to the following part.

Their standing as favourites is additional justified by their file of 9 victories, three attracts and two losses throughout 15 aggressive matches in opposition to the hosts.

Though their La Liga fixture away to Levante final weekend was referred to as off as a result of unhealthy climate circumstances within the Valencia area, that state of affairs will afford Marcelino’s males further relaxation forward of this encounter.

Granted that the Yellow Submarine are within the combine for the La Liga title this season, their most reasonable path to silverware is the Copa del Rey; nonetheless, they haven’t gone past the quarter-final since they had been eradicated by Barcelona within the semi-final within the 2014-15 season.

Racing Santander Copa Del Rey type:

Racing Santander type (all competitions):

Villareal Copa Del Rey type:

Villarreal type (all competitions):

Crew Information

© Imago / Photograph Gamers Photos

Barring any new growth when it comes to participant availability, Jose Alberto Lopez is more likely to ship out the identical staff that began of their 1–1 draw in opposition to Leganes on the weekend.

With Jokin Ezkieta nonetheless out on the sidelines, Plamen Andreev is about to be named because the guardian between the sticks as soon as once more.

On the base of the midfield, Gustavo Puerta and Maguette Gueye ought to present cowl for the again 4 on Wednesday.

Up high, Asier Villalibre, who has notched 10 targets to date this season, is anticipated to get the nod to guide the road.

For the guests, regardless of not being in motion on the weekend, Marcelino may ring adjustments to his staff for this match, however just a few skilled heads are more likely to be included.

Nonetheless, there might be no place for Pau Cabanes (ligament), Logan Costa (ligament) and Gerard Moreno (muscle), who’re all injured.

Racing Santander potential beginning lineup:

Andreev, Salina, Ramon, Castro, Mantilla; Puerta, Gueye; Vicente, Canales, Martin; Villalibre

Villarreal potential beginning lineup:

Tenas; Altimira, Veiga, Marin, Cardona; Pepe, Partey, Gueye, Solomon; Oluwaseyi, Lopez

We are saying: Racing Santander 1-2 Villarreal

Racing Santander have been incomes outcomes, and it’s no shock that they’re dictating the tempo within the second tier. They’ve a knack for scoring targets, with 41 in 18 league matches to date, however the identical can’t be mentioned of their defensive setup, having conceded 26 occasions.

At house, they’re unbeaten in six matches in all competitions, however which may be about to alter with the superior firepower of Villarreal. Therefore, we’re backing Villarreal to assert a 2–1 win.

For information evaluation of the most probably outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click on right here.