Racing de Santander and Valencia shared the points in a 2-2 draw at El Sardinero on Javier Aguirre's debut in the Valencia dugout, as Yassir Zabiri and Iván Martín cancelled Dani Raba's early opener before teenage substitute David Otorbi levelled for the visitors.
Match facts
- Result: Racing de Santander 2-2 Valencia (half-time 1-1)
- Competition: Spanish La Liga, Matchday 8
- Venue: Campos de Sport de El Sardinero, Santander
- Attendance: 22,633
- Scorers: Racing de Santander - Yassir Zabiri 32', Iván Martín 47'; Valencia - Dani Raba 2', David Otorbi 65'
- Assists: Racing de Santander - Iñigo Vicente (32'); Valencia - Justin de Haas (2'), Javi Guerra (65')
- Red cards: None
- Table after: Racing de Santander 15th, 8 pts (2-2-4); Valencia 19th, 5 pts (1-2-5)
- Managers: José Alberto López (Racing); Javier Aguirre (Valencia, debut)
How the match unfolded
Valencia could hardly have started Aguirre's first night better. Inside two minutes Justin de Haas headed the ball on in a counter, and Santander-born Dani Raba slipped past two Racing defenders before finishing into the bottom corner for 1-0 — then apologising to the home crowd in his celebration.
José Alberto López's side gradually worked their way into the contest. Sergio Canales dragged a long-range effort wide and saw dangerous crosses cut out, while Matteo Prati fired off target from distance. Stole Dimitrievski claimed Zabiri's first long-range strike comfortably just before the half-hour, but the Racing forward was not denied again. In the 32nd minute Iñigo Vicente threaded a through-ball into the area and Zabiri beat Dimitrievski at his near post for 1-1 — his seventh goal of the campaign.
Just before the break Javi Guerra missed a clear chance, swinging a left boot at a José Gayà knockdown and firing the wrong side of the post. The teams went in level at 1-1.
Racing struck early after the restart. Less than two minutes into the second half a deflection ballooned up for Iván Martín on the edge of the box, and he guided a left-footed shot from outside the area into the net for 2-1.
Aguirre turned to his bench: Arnaut Danjuma replaced Mouctar Diakhaby at half-time, then David Otorbi and Harvey Elliott came on in the 58th minute for Filip Ugrinic and Raba. The changes paid off. In the 65th minute 18-year-old Otorbi, on for his senior opportunity, poked home from the edge of the six-yard box after meeting Javi Guerra's pass — his first senior goal — to make it 2-2.
From there either side could have taken all three points. Dimitrievski produced a string of important saves, denying Andrés Martín, catching a Jeanuël Belocian header and tipping another Andrés Martín effort over the bar as Racing mounted a late push. Pablo García even tried his luck from near halfway, floating harmlessly over. Deep in stoppage time Hugo Duro scrambled wide for Valencia when a late winner looked possible. There were no red cards; yellows went to Pablo Ramón, Jorge Salinas, Guido Rodríguez, Raba, Pablo Maffeo and Iván Martín.
What the result means
Racing stay 15th on eight points after eight games, with all of those points earned at El Sardinero, and extend their unbeaten home run. Valencia climb off the foot of the table to 19th on five points — still in the relegation zone, with only Málaga below them — but leave Santander with a point on Aguirre's debut and back-to-back away games without defeat. Both sides remain under pressure in the lower half after a night of four goals and no winner.