Racing de Santander, Mallorca Thread

[Lance Knight]

Any news on Racing Santander to be posted here

[Lance Knight]

Racing Santander 0-2 Barcelona: FT Report

PA

SANTANDER, August 29 (Primera Liga) - Barcelona sent out an early warning to their rivals on Sunday with a comfortable win at Racing Santander to mark the start of their new campaign.

Barcelona have not lost on the opening day of the season for 10 years, and second half goals from debutants Ludovic Giuly and Samuel Eto'o ensured the visitors extended that record.

It was a new-look Barcelona side which took to the field and not only because Brazilian star Ronaldinho was missing with a toe injury.

Gone are the Dutch contingent of Patrick Kluivert, Marc Overmars, Phillip Cocu, Michael Reiziger and Edgar Davids while former Spain international Luis Enrique has retired.

Instead, Frank Rijkaard's spending spree has seen Portuguese midfielder Deco, French international Giuly and Brazilians Silvinho and Edmilson brought in as the club aim to end a five-year barren spell without trophies.

Former Celtic striker Henrik Larsson has also been added to the squad alongside Eto'o, with the duo expected to provide the goals along with Ronaldinho.

And right from the kick-off Barca showed they were a force to be reckoned with as Eto'o's early run and shot caused panic in the Racing defence.

It marked the start of 45 minutes of domination by the visitors with Larsson and Giuly in particular causing all sorts of problems for the opposition.

After 18 minutes the duo teamed up in formidable fashion with Larsson providing the perfect through-ball for Giuly, who slightly rushed his shot and launched it over the crossbar.

Moments later it was Deco's turn to try his luck as he struck the ball on the volley to force a great save from Racing keeper Dudu Awat.

Awat was in outstanding form and needed to be as a series of shots from both Larsson and Giuly were kept out of the hosts' net by the keeper.

And on the half-hour mark Swede Larsson was once more denied the opener when his powerful header was again plucked out of mid-air by the Racing stopper.

Barcelona had enjoyed all of the possession yet there was no goal to show for it, and it was starting to look as if the visitors would be frustrated in their attempts to find the opener.

Things looked even more ominous after 55 minutes when a rare Racing foray into the Barcelona area produced a goalmouth scramble before keeper Victor Valdes eventually denied Pablo Casar.

However, Barcelona finally found the breakthrough they were looking for when a cross into the area found Giuly at the far post, allowing the former Monaco star to unleash a shot into the back of the net after 68 minutes.

And just six minutes later, it was all over for Racing when Xavi was brought down in the area by Casar.

Cameroon international Eto'o stepped up to coolly slot home from the penalty spot and ensure an opening three points for Barca.

[Lance Knight]

Racing Santander have swooped for Italian centre back Alessandro Pierini.

The 31-year-old fomer Italy international defender joins on a season-long loan from Udinese where he had slipped out of the first-team picture.

The Cantabrian outfit completed a busy transfer deadline day by moving for Atletico Madrid striker Javier Arizmendi.

The 20-year-old hit-man has also agreed a season-long loan switch in a bid to gain valuable first-team action.

Arizmendi made the breakthrough to the Atletico first team last season, making four senior appearances, but has been allowed to leave to garner further experience.

Racing do not have an option to convert either of the deals into permanent transfers.

[Lance Knight]

Levante 3-1 Racing Santander: FT Report

PA

VALENCIA, September 12 (Primera Liga) - Levante celebrated their first home game in the Primera Liga for 39 years with an impressive defeat of Racing Santander.

Valencia's second club are expected to struggle this year following promotion last season but an opening day draw against Real Sociedad followed by this defeat of Santander suggests otherwise.

That they fell behind to a David Aganzo effort after 18 minutes makes their victory even more of an eye-opener.

Bulgarian Vladimir Manchev equalised at the start of the second half and goals from Nacho and Felix Ettien sealed the win.

Racing, who arrived at the Ciutat de Valencia with a depleted squad, started brightly and Aganzo almost opened the scoring after just five minutes.

The ball fell to him inside the area and he turned sharply only to see his shot blocked by Levante keeper Jose Luis Mora.

It took Levante 11 minutes to register an effort on goal when Diego Camacho's powerful right-foot effort was smothered by visiting keeper Dudu Aouate.

But just as Levante appeared to be playing their way into the game, the visitors struck.

Mario Regueiro picked out the striker in the area and Aganzo did the rest with a flashing volley which gave Mora no chance.

Racing were worthy of their lead and Mora had to be alert to keep out efforts from Fernando Moran, Aganzo and Javi Guerrero as half-time approached.

Home fans must have been expecting the worst after their team's first half showing but the atmosphere inside the stadium was transformed just after the re-start when Levante hit back with an equaliser.

Sergio Garcia led a swift counter-attack, running over the halfway line before picking out Manchev inside the area.

And former Lille striker Manchev showed commendable composure to pick out the bottom corner with his left foot.

Reguiero almost restored Santander's lead but his shot was weak and he was made to pay for his profligacy in the 67th minute when Levante moved in front.

Ettien burst down the right, reaching the box before pulling the ball back for Nacho who swept his shot past Aouate.

Joy was unconfined within the stadium and the cheers got even louder two minutes from the end when Levante added a third.

Another counter-attack, this time led by Mateu Jofre opened up the Santander defence and Ettien was the chief beneficiary as he was allowed time and space to slot the ball home from on the edge of the six-yard box.

Santander were outclassed by Barcelona in their opening game and this defeat will ask more questions of coach Lucas Alcaraz.

[Lance Knight]

Valencia 2-0 Racing Santander: FT Report

PA

VALENCIA, September 26 (Primera Liga) - Claudio Ranieri's Valencia maintained their excellent start to the season with another victory at the Mestalla Stadium, this time at the expense of 10-man Racing Santander.

First-half goals from Vicente Rodriguez and Stefano Fiore ensured Los Che move onto 13 points, a total that can be bettered by no-one this weekend.

Racing were not helped by the sending off of Lozano Oriol when the score was 1-0.

Valencia, meanwhile, are making a solid defence of the Primera Liga title which was won under Ranieri's predecessor Rafael Benitez last season.

Ranieri lived up to the ``tinkerman'' nickname he earned at Chelsea as he rotated his squad with next week's Champions League match with Werder Bremen clearly in his mind.

However, that did not in any way hinder the club that has won two of the last three Liga titles and also triumphed in the UEFA Cup and the European Super Cup this year.

They created the first chance after seven minutes as Miguel Angel Angulo fired a shot from outside the area and watched it skim over the bar.

Racing were finding it hard to get any possession at all as Valencia dominated the early skirmishes.

Vicente was very prominent in the early spell of Valencia dominance and he was the man who provided the opening goal after 24 minutes.

Valencia were awarded a free-kick when Santander's Juanma was penalised for a foul on their Mali international forward Mohamed Lamine Sissoko.

Vicente took the free kick and watched it cannon off the post into the net with Racing's Israeli goalkeeper David Dudu Aouate rooted to the spot.

Just when it looked like things couldn't get any worse for Racing they were reduced to 10 men as Oriol received a yellow card for a poor tackle but then saw it upgraded into a red as he disputed too vehemently the decision by referee Bernardino Gonzalez Vazquez.

Immediately before the interval, Valencia killed the match with their second goal of the evening.

Vicente was this time the provider as he dashed down the right before finding Italian midfielder Fiore who made no mistake as he fired the ball into the back of the net.

The second half was something of a non-event with Valencia clearly content to preserve their ascendancy with some neat passing that kept Racing out of the game without ever looking likely to end in a goal.

Finally they did carve out a chance for a third goal - and a good one it was as well.

Francisco Munoz Xisco played in Sissoko with an excellent pass but the African's shot was over the bar.

[Lance Knight]

Racing Santander set to land Valencia striker Tavano
November 22, 2006

Racing Santander are on the verge of sealing a loan deal for Valencia striker Ciccio Tavano.
The Italian will join Racing through to the end of this season with Valencia contributing to part of his wages.

Tavano, who joined Los Che in the summer from Empoli, has struggled to adjust to life at the Mestalla and is outside the first team plans of coach Quique Flores.

[Lance Knight]

Nastic strike deal for Racing Santander striker Castro
November 21, 2006

Nastic have struck a deal with Racing Santander for striker Ruben Castro.
The 25 year-old is on-loan at Racing from Deportivo La Coruna, but is moving to Nastic as an emergency signing.

[Lance Knight]

Nastic sack coach Cesar
November 27, 2006

Nastic have sacked coach Luis Cesar after Sunday's defeat to Real Mallorca.

President Josep Maria Andreu confirmed the decision after an extraordinary board meeting at the end of last night's defeat.

"Given the bad results of the team, the board made the decision to do without the services of Luis Caesar Sampedro," said Andreu.

Fitness trainer Xavier Bartolo, who has head coaching qualifications, and Cesar's No2, Kiko Ramirez, have taken charge of Nastic first team duties on a caretaker basis.

Andreu also confirmed that Nastic sports chief Jose Sicart had been told to immediately begin his search to replace Cesar.

[Lance Knight]

Zigic: Juve want me

Racing Santander striker Nikola Zigic has confirmed Juventus's interest in him as a possible replacement for David Trezeguet. With the French international likely to leave in the summer, the giant Serbian has been targeted to spearhead the Juve attack on their return to Serie A.

Didier Deschamps' side are top of the second tier despite a points deduction following last season's enforced relegation, and are already planning for next season.

"Juventus? Yes, I am aware of the fact they are following me," said Zigic. "Am I pleased? Who wouldn't want to play at Juve?"

Zigic has scored nine times in 19 Liga outings this term for Racing, while his hold-up play and all-round ability have contributed to the northern Spanish side's mid-table status.

Standing a colossal 2.02m, Zigic is even taller than another reported Juve target, Peter Crouch.

The England man has today been linked with Internazionale, a day after a relatively rare start for Liverpool was cut short by a broken nose.

[Lance Knight]

Marcelino: Racing Santander better without Zigic
November 11, 2007

Racing Santander coach Marcelino says part of their success this season is down to the sale of centre-forward Nikola Zigic to Valencia.
Marcelino explained: "His exit has not hurt us in the way people expected. Last season, our strength was at corners and set-pieces because of his presence.

"We are now beginning to put in practice a different way of playing. Now, Racing has another game model, different from the previous one."

[Snake]

i heard omar bravo was gonna come here

[Lance Knight]

Mallorca's Trejo open to loan exit
December 05, 2007

Real Mallorca attacking midfielder Oscar Trejo is open to a move to the Segunda Liga in January.
The 19 year-old has been frozen out this season by coach Gregorio Manzano and admitted: "Any kid wants to play and I do not know, we have to see what is best for everyone, whether to stay or go.

"It would be nice to go on-loan in the Segunda, but we must wait."

[Lance Knight]

Gonzalo Castro committed to Real Mallorca
- December 05, 2007

Gonzalo Castro has pledged his future to Real Mallorca.
The Uruguay international wing-back has struggled to make an impact this season, but says: "At no time has leaving Mallorca entered my mind. I have five years on my contract and I am not in a rush.

"I am adjusting more and more to my new environment and the Liga."

[Lance Knight]

Nantes striker Keseru in Racing Santander sights
December 01, 2007

Nantes striker Claudiu Keseru is being tracked by Racing Santander.
The 21 year-old Romania international is expected to leave Nantes in January and has offers from Racing and Dinamo Bucharest.

Keseru would favour a move to the La Liga.

[SiN]

Real Mallorca have communicated to have found an agreement with 23 year old defender Ivàn Ramis for the extension of his contract.