Rayo Vallecano 3-2 Racing Santander

The LaLiga clash between Rayo Vallecano and Racing Santander unfolded at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque in Leganés, Madrid, on 5 September 2026. Both sides entered the match looking to secure three points, and the atmosphere was charged from the first whistle.

How it unfolded

The opening stages were tense, with Óscar Valentín of Rayo booked for a bad foul in the second minute. Just two minutes later, Racing took the lead when Sergio Canales converted a free-kick, curling a left-footed shot into the top right corner (4').

Rayo responded before the half-hour mark. Andrei Ratiu, assisted by teammate Sergio Camello, struck from a tight angle on the right, sending the ball to the top left corner to level the score (17').

Racing’s Yassir Zabiri was shown a yellow card for a bad foul in the 25th minute, and three minutes later Pablo García restored his side’s advantage with a left-footed strike from outside the box into the bottom left corner (28').

Iñigo Vicente of Racing received a yellow card for a bad foul in the 35th minute, while Sergio Camello, who had provided the assist for Ratiu, was booked in the 39th minute.

The game turned dramatically just before the break. Unai López delivered a through ball that allowed Sergio Camello to fire a right-footed shot from the centre of the box into the bottom left corner, drawing Rayo level (43'). Four minutes later, following a corner, Camello again found the net, this time with a left-footed effort from a difficult angle on the left, completing his brace and giving Rayo the lead (47').

In the second half, Florian Lejeune of Rayo was booked for a bad foul in the 66th minute. The home side then endured a severe blow when Fran Pérez was sent off for violent conduct in the 85th minute. The pressure increased as Jorge de Frutos also received a straight red card just four minutes later (89'), leaving Rayo with nine men for the final stages.

Despite being reduced to two men, Rayo held on to the 3-2 advantage until the final whistle.

Standout performers

  • Sergio Camello – instrumental in Rayo’s comeback, providing the assist for Andrei Ratiu’s equaliser and scoring both the 43rd-minute and 47th-minute goals, the latter from a corner.
  • Andrei Ratiu – scored the vital equaliser in the 17th minute, capitalising on Camello’s vision from a difficult angle.
  • Sergio Canales – opened the scoring for Racing with a well-taken free-kick in the 4th minute.
  • Pablo García – restored Racing’s lead before half-time with a long-range effort in the 28th minute.
  • Unai López – supplied the decisive through ball and corner that led to Camello’s two goals.

Match facts

  • Final score: Rayo Vallecano 3-2 Racing Santander
  • Scorers:
    • Racing Santander – Sergio Canales (4'), Pablo García (28')
    • Rayo Vallecano – Andrei Ratiu (17'), Sergio Camello (43', 47')
  • Assists: Sergio Camello (Ratiu), Unai López (Camello 43', 47')
  • Bookings:
    • Óscar Valentín (Rayo) – 2'
    • Yassir Zabiri (Racing) – 25'
    • Iñigo Vicente (Racing) – 35'
    • Sergio Camello (Rayo) – 39'
    • Florian Lejeune (Rayo) – 66'
  • Sending-offs:
    • Fran Pérez (Rayo) – straight red for violent conduct, 85'
    • Jorge de Frutos (Rayo) – straight red, 89'
  • Venue: Estadio Municipal de Butarque, Leganés, Madrid

What it means

The victory secures three points for Rayo Vallecano, giving them a valuable win despite finishing the match with nine men. Racing Santander leaves the encounter with no points, having fallen short after leading twice.