Verdict: Both teams to score
Best Odds: 10/11
Bookmaker: Luckster
Two camps who will know the importance of claiming a first-leg advantage, Racing Santander and Mirandes will get their respective play-off adventures underway on Sunday evening.
Racing Santander
Starting with the hosts, while Racing Santander might have wrapped up their play-off ticket with time to spare, Los Verdiblancos struggled to find much stability over the past few months. Despite g off their regular-season charge with a 2-1 victory against Granada last weekend, that was the only win that Jose Lopez’s camp mustered from their final five Segunda appearances. Likewise, along with winning just a trio of their previous nine showdowns, the Cantabria-based outfit have also collected consecutive victories on just a single occasion since the start of February. Knowing the importance of claiming a first-leg advantage here, Racing Santander are seeking some crucial defensive steel. In fact, Sunday’s hosts have failed to record a sole clean sheet from their last nine straight outings.
Racing Santander Team News
Still dealing with a long-term knee injury, Racing Santander will once again be without Inigo Sainz-Maza on Sunday evening. However, aside from their academy graduate, Lopez’s camp have reported a clean bill of health.
Coming off the bench and bagging the winner against Granda last weekend, veteran striker Marco Sangalli could be handed a full recall here. Completing a loan switch from Real Valladolid back in January, Victor Andres Cavas will partner Aritz Aldasoro in the middle of the park.
Mirandes
As for the visitors, while Mirandes might have eventually fallen short in the race to book an automatic La Liga return, Alessio Lisci’s men enjoyed what was a sensational end to the 2024/25 campaign. Last seen picking up some perfect momentum as they stormed their way to a 3-1 romp away at Cartagena, Los Rojillos have continued to receive a string of plaudits from across Spain’s second-tier. Including an action-packed 3-1 victory against Castellon, Sunday’s guests ed 16 points from their final six Segunda appearances. Impressing with their free-scoring performances in the final third, Mirandes have also continued to shine outside of Castile and Leon. In fact, Lisci’s side have won their last three consecutive showdowns away from the Estadio Municipal de Anduva by an aggregate score of 6-2.
Mirandes Team News
Ahead of their trip to Cantabria on Sunday evening, Mirandes have reported a clean bill of health and have no fresh injury concerns. While Andorra loanee Alejandro Calvo might have bagged a first goal of the season last weekend, the 21-year-old will settle for a spot on the bench.
Notching 20 Segunda strikes this season and reportedly attracting plenty of summer interest, Alaves loanee Joaquin Panichelli will play a leading role in the final third. Making a permanent switch from Granada last summer, veteran goalkeeper Raul Fernandez will start between the sticks.
Racing Santander vs Mirandes Key Factors to Consider
- When Racing Santander and Mirandes last met on March 22nd, Los Rojillos collected a 2-1 victory in Castile and Leon.
- Mirandes collected 16 points from their final six Segunda appearances.
- Likewise, Sunday’s guests won their last three consecutive showdowns away from the Estadio Municipal de Anduva by an aggregate score of 6-2.
- Racing Santander collected just a trio of wins from any of their final nine Segunda appearances.
- Los Verdiblancos also failed to record a single clean sheet in any of those last nine consecutive outings.
Conclusion
While Racing Santander might open Sunday’s first-leg showdown pencilled in as a standout contender, Mirandes are more than capable of pulling off an upset. Landing a 2-1 victory when they welcomed Los Verdiblancos to town for their most recent meeting on March 22nd, Lisci’s men also won their final three Segunda showdowns away from the Estadio Municipal de Anduva by an aggregate score of 6-2. It should also be noted, with Racing Santander seeing five of their last six home fixtures finish with both teams finding the net, we are expecting a similar outcome.
Verdict: Both teams to score
Best Odds: 10/11
Bookmaker: Luckster
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