Racing Santander 0-3 Real Madrid: Ivorian Diomande scores, Güler pulls the strings

Racing had not yet lost at home this season. They held out for eleven minutes. Kylian Mbappé wins and converts a penalty, and the hosts respond straight away with a low shot from Iker Luque, turned away by Thibaut Courtois, back in goal after a bout of flu. It would prove their only shot on target of the match.

In the 21st minute, Arda Güler finds Jude Bellingham for 2-0. Álvaro Mantilla goes off as early as the 29th, replaced by Pedro Felipe. Seven minutes later, Yan Diomande, a starter with Vinícius Júnior suspended, scores the third. After the break, Mbappé hits the post. In the 72nd minute, the referee awards Racing a penalty for a handball by Aurélien Tchouaméni, then reverses his decision after consulting VAR. The score would not change.

Seven shots on target to one

Real had 22 shots to 10, 16 of them inside the box, and put 7 on target to 1. With 3.5 expected goals to 1.23, the gap matches the scoreline.

Possession (54% to 46%) and passes (529 to 457) point to a match less lopsided than the score. Racing had their share of the ball (46%) and 4 corners, but 6 of their 10 shots were blocked. With 6 interceptions for Tchouaméni and 4 for Marc Cucurella, Madrid's midfield and flanks snuffed out many of their attacks.

A penalty, an assist, a corner

11th: Mbappé converts the penalty he won himself. 21st: Güler slides in the assist, Bellingham finishes.

36th: from a corner, Diomande reacts first and scores from a tight angle.

Real won the game before managing their week

The turning point came early: the penalty in the 11th minute took away Racing's main asset, a crowd and a momentum that had kept them unbeaten at home. Courtois' save from Luque also counts, as it denied them an immediate equaliser. The second goal arrived ten minutes later, then Mantilla's exit forced José Alberto López to reorganise his defence.

The SNA reading lies in the fixture list. A week with three away games awaited José Mourinho, and this lead spared him from chasing the game: no goal was scored after the break. Racing were not ridiculous: they thought they had a penalty in the 72nd minute. But their single shot on target says it all about the gap between presence and threat.

Mourinho rests players without altering the course

Mourinho replaced Güler with Brahim Díaz in the 67th, Bernardo Silva with Eduardo Camavinga in the 77th and Diomande with Endrick in the 85th. Racing brought on Íñigo Sainz-Maza and Pablo García around the hour mark, then Giorgi Guliashvili and André Almeida in the 82nd, without testing the goalkeeper again.

Diomande settles in, Brahim Díaz manages the finish

Ivory Coast international Yan Diomande scored the third goal and played 85 minutes: 3 shots, 1 on target, 3 successful dribbles out of 5, 7 duels won out of 13. He also committed 3 fouls in a demanding role, on the flank left by Vinícius. Moroccan Brahim Díaz, who came on in the 67th, played 23 minutes with 12 passes and one attempt off target, in an ending that was already comfortable. For Racing, Moroccan Zabiri played 61 minutes with three shots, none on target. SNA rating: 6.

Third, three points behind Barcelona

Real Madrid make it four La Liga wins in a row and have 27 points, 3 behind Barcelona and 1 behind Atlético Madrid. Racing remain 16th with 11 points and a goal difference of -14. Mourinho takes his players to Athens to face AEK in the Champions League on Wednesday, then to Mestalla to take on Valencia on Saturday.

SNA man of the match: Arda Güler

Arda Güler played only 67 minutes and still created 6 key passes, the highest total of the match, including the one for 2-0. He also had 5 shots, 2 on target. Bellingham and Diomande scored, but Madrid's best moves went through him.