Racing Santander II secured a 2-1 victory over Real Avilés in a Club Friendly on Saturday evening. The result came as a surprise given the statistics, with the visitors controlling 63 per cent of possession. And here's the thing about friendlies — they rarely tell you everything you think they will.
The opening goal arrived almost immediately, struck in the first minute. Avilés looked caught flat-footed, unable to settle into any rhythm while Racing pressed forward. To be fair, this was only a warm-up fixture, but early momentum matters.
A. Santamaria doubled the lead in the thirty-sixth minute, capitalising on a defensive error. The goal stretched the back line and forced Avilés to chase the game from that point. Racing had found an answer to the pressure, even if only for a spell.
Avilés pulled one back in the sixty-sixth minute, showing they would not lie down. The response came from sustained pressure, with the visitors launching attack after attack. By then, Racing had learned to hold their shape and absorb the pressure.
The statistics told a different story entirely. Avilés registered 132 attacks compared to Racing's 64, with possession figures of 63-37 in their favour. They earned three corners to Racing's two, and dominated throw-ins 25-14. And here's the thing — numbers mean nothing when the result goes the other way.
This victory extended Racing's recent good form, following three consecutive wins in pre-season fixtures. Avilés, meanwhile, had drawn their last two matches before this defeat. The table goes out the window in these games, but you can still see patterns.