Rayo Vallecano - Racing Santander

Rayo Vallecano arrive at this matchday 4 fixture seeking a revival after a difficult start to the LaLiga campaign. Their recent form has been testing, highlighted by a heavy 5-2 defeat against Barcelona on 31 August 2026, following a hard-fought draw with Deportivo Alaves. Meanwhile, Racing Santander enter the contest with momentum after securing a dramatic 3-2 victory over Elche in late August. Having previously navigated a challenging 2-2 draw with Villarreal, they will look to build on that success despite the absence of the injured Andres Martin.

The two sides face each other at Estadio Butarque, a neutral venue for this encounter. Their history features several high-scoring affairs, most notably a 4-3 thriller in the Copa del Rey back in December 2011. Rayo Vallecano will look to the expected midfield presence of Alvaro Garcia and Pathe Ciss to control the tempo, while Racing Santander rely on the creativity of Sergio Canales and Inigo Vicente. With Rayo Vallecano missing Augusto Batalla and Isi Palazon, both teams must adapt quickly to secure points in this early-season clash.