Athletic Club Cruise Past Racing Santander in Pre-Season Friendly

Athletic Club rounded off their pre-season preparations with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Racing Santander at the Campo de Sport de El Sardinero on July 30, 2026. The Basque side’s superior fitness and pressing game overwhelmed their Segunda División opponents in a one-sided International Club Friendly.

First-Half Dominance

Ernesto Valverde’s men wasted no time asserting control. In the 12th minute, Oihan Sancet opened the scoring with a crisp left-footed strike from the edge of the box after a clever lay-off from Nico Williams. Racing struggled to cope with Athletic’s high press, and the visitors doubled their lead just before half-time: Gorka Guruzeta headed home a corner delivered by Álex Berenguer.

Second-Half Composure

The second half saw Athletic manage the tempo, with Valverde rotating his squad to give minutes to fringe players. The third goal arrived in the 67th minute when substitute Asier Villalibre pounced on a defensive error to slot home from close range. Racing Santander, under new coach Guillermo Fernández Romo, showed glimpses of promise but lacked the final ball. Athletic goalkeeper Unai Simón was rarely tested, preserving a clean sheet.

What It Means

For Athletic Club, this friendly completes a strong pre-season with no injuries and sharp attacking play. Racing Santander will take lessons into their upcoming Segunda campaign, particularly the need for defensive concentration against top-tier opposition. Athletic now turn their attention to the La Liga opener, where they will seek to build on this momentum.