Racing Santander host Villarreal in La Liga return at El Sardinero
Racing Santander's return to La Liga begins with a home fixture against Villarreal at the Estadio El Sardinero, marking the opening round of the new season. It will be the first league meeting between the two sides since 2012, though they met more recently in the Copa del Rey.
Form and recent history
Villarreal arrive with the stronger recent record, having won three of their last five matches, drawn one and lost one. Racing Santander's form has been more uneven, with one win, one draw and three defeats in their last five outings.
The two clubs' most recent encounter came in December 2025, when Racing Santander beat Villarreal 2-1 in the Copa del Rey. Their last league meetings, though, stretch back over a decade: a 1-1 draw in April 2012 and a 1-0 Racing win in December 2011, either side of a 2-2 draw in February 2011 and a 2-0 Villarreal win in October 2010.
What is at stake
For Racing Santander, the fixture represents a first taste of top-flight football against Villarreal in league competition since that 2012 draw, and a chance to build on the momentum of their Copa del Rey win over the same opponents last December.
Villarreal, meanwhile, will look to carry their better recent form into the new campaign as they begin their La Liga fixtures away from home.