Racing Santander vs VillarrealPrediction, probable lineups, recent form & season stats

El Sardinero opens the LaLiga season with Racing Santander, back in the top flight, against Villarreal. A Racing still finding their feet The Cantabrians closed pre-season with a 4-1 over Sporting Gijon and a 1-1 with Alaves, but also conceded three to Wolverhampton and three to Athletic Club, plus a 2-0 in Pamplona. It is a start that shows how big the step up is. A Villarreal already up to speed The Yellow Submarine arrive on three wins in five, including a 2-1 at Galatasaray and a 1-0 over Levante, with a single slip at Lens. Last December, though, Racing beat Villarreal 2-1, the only recent meeting between the two. The prediction may change in the hours before kick-off. Confirmed line-ups, late injuries, suspensions, rotation ahead of other fixtures and the state of the pitch and the weather can all alter the picture described above. In those cases the selection may be reviewed and updated within 12 to 24 hours of the match: this happens rarely, but when it does, the version published on this page is always the current one. The data and assessments here are provided for information and statistical purposes.