La Liga: Espanyol vs. Racing de Santander

Posted on | March 24, 2008 | No Comments

This is going to be a very important match to see who eventually qualifies for the UEFA cup next season. Racing de Santander bounced back from their King’s cup semi final exit to Getafe by beating Recreativo de Huelva at the weekend with two late goals. Espanyol however, seem to be in free fall mode as they crashed away from home to second from bottom Murcia on Sunday by four goals to nil. That defeat puts them in seventh position in the league, two points and two places below Racing, who are in fifth spot.
Espanyol are desperate for a win (or even a draw), as in the last eleven games they have only managed three wins and nine points, dropping twenty four points to teams they really should have beaten, and earlier on in the season, did. Coach Ernesto Valverde has blamed his many injury problems for his team’s poor performance, but with most of them now back in training this excuse just won’t wash anymore. His job isn’t in doubt at the moment, but anymore slip ups like Sunday’s four nil drumming and they will be.
Neither side has any injury problems now to speak of, but Espanyol’s Raul Tamudo clearly showed in the Murcia game that he has lost some of his speed and reflexes after being out with a broken arm for so long. He needs time and games to get back to his former best, and if he is lucky he might get that against Racing de Santander. I’m going for a draw here, mainly because Racing de Santander always seems to fail at the final hurdle. The last three matches against these two clubs also ended in draws, and I think both teams will be happy with a point at this stage of the season.
Prediction: Draw (1-1)

Related posts:

1. La Liga: Valladolid vs. Racing de Santander
2. La Liga: Racing de Santander vs. Sevilla
3. La Liga: Barcelona vs. Racing de Santander
4. La Liga: Racing de Santander vs. Atlético Madrid
5. La Liga: Valencia vs. Racing de Santander

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