Racing Santander 2 - Real Madrid 0

Racing: Ceballos; Pineda, Moratón, Juanma, Sietes; Ismael, Nafti; Pablo Sierra, Munitis (Diego Alonso 86'), Regueiro (Txiki 81'); Javi Guerrero (Benayoun 74'). 4-2-3-1.
Real Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado, Hierro, Iván Helguera, Roberto Carlos; Makelele (Morientes 55'), Cambiasso; McManaman, Guti (Solari 52'), Zidane (Portillo 72'); Ronaldo. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Racing: Pablo Sierra for Pablo Lago / Madrid: Michel Salgado, McManaman, Ronaldo for Miñambres, Figo, Portillo.

Goals:
1-0. 41. Regueiro. Turned shot low past Casillas after Nafti laid ball in from right.
2-0. 51. Munitis. Ran on to Javi Guerrero pass to lob Casillas from inside area.

A tired Real Madrid fell to their first defeat of the season, losing 2-0 at the hands of Racing Santander. Many of the Madrid players had played exhausting international games over the last week or so, with both Raúl and Figo unavailable after aggravating injuries whilst on international duty. Racing came in to the game more rested, with a line up showing only one change from the side which defeated Deportivo the game before. There was controversy before the match though as Munitis was included by Preciado despite a gentleman's agreement that the on-loan forward would not take part against the side who pay over half of his salary. It was to prove an important decision as Munitis played a vital part in the victory, scoring the second goal just after the break with a clever lob following a Javi Guerrero pass.

The difference in match fitness was evident in the first half, with Racing by far the better side. Javi Guerrero had two clear cut chances, the first a shot over the bar and the second when he won the ball off Helguera only to see his shot saved by Casillas. Madrid only went close once, a long shot from Ronaldo which Ceballos turned away for a corner. Then five minutes before half time Nafti got away down the right wing and laid the ball across for Regueiro to drive the ball wide of Casillas into the back of the net.

For a moment the visitors woke up, Zidane forcing a good save out of Ceballos and Roberto Carlos testing him again with a free kick either side of the interval. Then came the goal from Munitis, and after that Racing were back in control. Del Bosque brought on Solari and Morientes, but the Cantabrians came close to increasing their lead when Javi Guerrero again fired over the bar with the goal at his mercy. It was a humiliating day for the European Champions, who could drop out of the top four after Sunday's games. Racing are only a point behind them.