Real Madrid 1 - Racing Santander 2

Madrid: Casillas; Diogo, Pavón (Baptista 89'), Iván Helguera, Roberto Carlos; Sergio Ramos, Pablo García; Beckham, Robinho (Soldado 46'), Zidane; Ronaldo. 4-2-3-1.
Racing: Dudu Aouate; Regragui, Moratón, Oriol (Neru 69'), Ayoze; Antonio Tomás (Juanjo 80'), Matabuena; Raúl Martín (Wilfried Dalmat 75'), Felipe Melo, Oscar Serrano; Antoñito. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Madrid: Diogo, Pablo García, Zidane for Michel Salgado, Guti, Baptista / Racing: Oriol, Ayoze, Antonio Tomás, Matabuena for Pinillos, Neru, Casquero, Vitolo.

Goals:
0-1. 21. Ayoze. Fired long free kick past Casillas and in to top corner of net.
0-2. 27. Felipe Melo. Picked up short pass from Antoñito and ran on to score.
1-2. 67. Ronaldo. Header on far post after Roberto Carlos throw-in headed on.

Further problems for Real Madrid, a 1-2 defeat at home to a depleted Racing Santander leaving them out of the Champions League spots down in fifth place. López Caro's side had the better chances early on, especially when Aouate somehow kept out Robinho and Sergio Ramos, and Ronaldo drove the follow up shot just wide. But despite having four of their first choice players suspended after last weekend, Ayoze put the Cantabrians ahead with a well struck free kick in the twentieth minute, and Felipe Melo picked up Antoñito's pass to cut a swathe through the defence and make it two soon afterwards.

With Salgado and Guti sitting out one match bans and an off-form Baptista left on the bench, the new coach turned to his old charges at Castilla, Soldado and Balboa coming on at the break for a disappointing Robinho and an injured Helguera (Balboa himself had played the full 90 minutes for the reserve side the day before). Ronaldo finally headed one back midway through the second half after Matabuena could only head back a Roberto Carlos long throw, but Oscar Serrano could have increased the lead had Casillas not stood his ground a few minutes later. After that Aouate and his defence stood firm, the Israeli keeper stopping efforts from Ronaldo and Soldado near the end to ensure three invaluable points.

Madrid's crisis continues, and with Arrigo Sacchi announcing his departure, Benito Floro is being brought in as the new director of football. Will he succeed after so many have failed before him? Only time will tell.