Racing is counting down the days to celebrate promotion to La Liga, which, if things continue as they are, will be direct and with several matchdays to spare. It was a hard-fought day, where they had to come from behind, but also managed to handle numerical superiority for much of the second half. Three more points and only four fixtures remain…
On the other hand, Huesca remains in the fight, but with little margin, and still in the relegation zone.
After the draw at the Alfonso Murube, José Alberto made only one change to the lineup, in defense, despite keeping a clean sheet: Pablo Ramón for Javi Castro. On the opposite side, José Luis Oltra, returning for the first time to his former stadium, opted for two changes: Dani Martín for the suspended Dani Jiménez, and Álvaro Carrillo for the injured Jorge Pulido.
The match started with Huesca taking the lead in the 4th minute. Following a corner taken by Dani Luna from the right, Carrillo got ahead at the near post to knock it back with a flick, and after a block on Gustavo Puerta, the ball fell easily to Óscar Sielva, who calmly beat Simon Eriksson by placing it into the far post.
Racing’s response was not long in coming. After a free kick taken by Andrés Martín from the three-quarter zone, shifted to the left flank, Jorge Salinas headed it but sent it softly into Dani Martín’s hands. The Cantabrians also threatened with a magnificent through ball from Iñigo Vicente to Mantilla, but the captain slipped, and Portillo arrived to cover and send the ball for a corner.
Sielva put Huesca ahead in the 4th minute. (LaLiga)
Before the quarter-hour mark, there was another scare. A back pass to Maguette, but the Senegalese player was caught napping, and the ball fell to Portillo, but Manu Hernando closed him down well to prevent a shot. The reply came in the 18th minute, with another free kick from Iñigo Vicente from the right flank, which the Palencia-born central defender sent over the Huesca goal with a header.
After that, Iñigo Vicente curled the ball into the area, and Andrés Martín met it at the penalty spot, hitting it first time and forcing an incredible save from Dani Martín, who flew to stop what seemed a certain goal. Huesca responded with a quick transition and a goal from Sergi Enrich that was ruled out for offside by Toni Abad. On the next play, Racing warned with a back pass from Guliashvili, and Andrés Martín’s shot sailed well over the bar.
Dani Martín was the star of the match. (LaLiga)
But the league leaders stepped up at the end of the first half. First, Maguette finished with a double attempt: a right-footed shot that went for a corner, and then a header that went softly into Dani Martín’s hands. Even clearer chances followed in the subsequent play: first Guliashvili hit the crossbar, and then Iñigo Vicente forced another great save from Dani Martín.
After the break, the introduction of Asier Villalibre was magical: the first ball he touched went into the net. Following a corner cleared by Iñigo Piña, the ball fell again to Andrés Martín, who delivered a curling cross that found the “Búfalo” alone at the goalmouth to beat Dani. It was the first minute of the second half. Huesca tried to hold on to the point and dropped back, but Iñigo Vicente holds the key to unlock any defense. The man from Derio, on the edge of the area, found Mantilla in space, setting up another threat.
