Real Madrid 3 - Racing Santander 1

Madrid: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro (Michel Salgado 74'), Iván Helguera, Roberto Carlos; Diarra, Emerson; Raúl, Guti, Reyes (Robinho 67'); Van Nistelrooy. 4-2-3-1.
Racing: Toño; Pinillos, Garay, Rubén, Luis Fernández; Balboa (Aganzo 69'), Scaloni, Vitolo, Oscar Serrano (Momo 81'); Munitis, Zigic. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Madrid: Reyes for Robinho / Racing: Rubén, Balboa, Vitolo, Oscar Serrano for Oriol, Antonio Tomás, Colsa, Felipe Melo.

Goals:
1-0. 04. Sergio Ramos. Far post header down past Toño from Reyes corner.
2-0. 58. Reyes. Picked up Emerson pass on left and scored with angled shot.
3-0. 71. Diarra. Beat Toño at second attempt after Raúl crossed from right.
3-1. 76. Garay. Fired free kick past defensive wall and into far top corner of net.

Real Madrid recorded a comfortable 3-1 victory over Racing Santander on a night in which the club paid homage to the legendary Ferenç Puskas, who died the day before. Sergio Ramos headed Capello's side in to an early lead from a Reyes corner, but after that the visitors came close to equalising, with Casillas saving from Rubén's header, and then keeping a long shot from Oscar Serrano and a free kick from Garay before the break.

The locals were lucky as well to be let off two penalties for hand ball either side of half time, the first when by Sergio Ramos and the second by Roberto Carlos, but Reyes put them further ahead after a good team move ended with Emerson playing the ball out for the ex Arsenal man to beat Toño on the near post.

Diarra made it three soon afterwards, beating the keeper at the second attempt after connecting with a cross from Raúl, but Garay got one back with a well struck free kick which gave Casillas no chance. Madrid ended with ten men after Guti was sent off for a foul on Vitolo, and it could have been worse had referee Lizondo Cortés not let off Ramos with a yellow card after he brought down Aganzo. The result taking the hosts level with second placed Barcelona pending their game on Sunday, and ends Racing's seven match unbeaten run.