Friday, May 18th, 2012
The Marcelino effect continues. Having defeated Sevilla and Getafe in the two fixtures since his return to Cantabria, Racing produced a display of intensity and commitment that deserved – but did not reap – a third win in three.
In a highly enjoyable encounter at the El Sardinero stadium in Santander, Villareal could not repeat the performance produced in victory over Napoli in the Europe League during the week. However, the lacklustre nature of the visitors’ display should not detract from a Racing team which, under Marcelino, appear to be a side heading upwards. Most noticeable in the immediate improvement that the returning coach has brought is an almost frightening work-rate and, for large periods of the match Villareal appeared suffocated when in possession, unable to cope with the relentless pressure exerted by their opponents.
The energy instilled in the home team was palpable as they took an immediate lead, an excellent build-up culminating in right full-back Pablo Pinillos laying the ball across the six-yard box for Argentinian striker Ariel Nahuelpan to apply an easy finish. However, Villareal did offer some initial response. Cani worked a neat one-two with Giuseppe Rossi on the edge of the Racing penalty area but, presented with a promising shooting chance, looped his effort over goalkeeper Toño’s bar.
Having survived muted signs of a Villareal reaction, the ageless Racing captain Pedro Munitis began to exert an increasing influence on the game’s flow. Twice he produced excellent work on the left wing, only for his dangerous centres to go to waste. Next it was Kennedy’s turn to serve an inviting, in-swinging cross simply begging to be converted. Again, it came to nothing. Yet it was evident that the spirit in the side remained undimmed: on the counter attack, Ariel could have been forgiven for throwing his arms up in despair as Swede Markus Rosenberg’s miscued attempt at a through pass went astray, but when his arms were raised to the air it was to applaud his colleague’s endeavour.
Before the break Cani, again from a one-two with Rossi, once more wasted a highly presentable shooting opportunity, yet his profligacy was dwarfed by that of the home side in the opening exchanges of the second half. Within thirty seconds of the restart, Ariel should have scored from the ever-excellent Munitis’ cross. Moments after, the Argentine was again left with just goalkeeper Diego López to beat, only to fail badly to deliver the clever, chipped finish he desired. A minute later, it was Rosenberg who could not direct left-back Christian’s wonderful cross goalwards.
When visiting coach Juan Carlos Garrido was sent to the stands for an altercation with the match officials, Villareal’s disappointing evening continued. Racing were indubitably the better side, yet the intensity of their performance led one to question whether such energy levels could be maintained for the game’s duration. Indeed, the Cantabrians did appear to be tiring as the match moved into its final half hour, while Villareal slowly began to cause the home defence some discomfort. Santi Cazorla, not in the starting eleven but introduced in place of Cristóbal on the hour, produced an instant effect, his intelligence in attacking possession earning the space for Jose Catalá to cross and forward Marco Rubén to glance his header past Toño’s despairing dive.
Having played with such endeavour and, it must be noted, been the better side, one could have forgiven Racing for showing their deflation. However, the resolve Marcelino has brought to his team was once more in evidence. Two minutes after the concession of the equalising goal, Munitis again provided the decisive pass, this time to find substitute Giovani dos Santos racing through, eyeball to eyeball with López. The Mexican’s low, driven finish was emphatic, and Racing’s lead was restored
Nevertheless, the happy ending that Santander’s performance deserved was not to be. First Rosenberg wasted yet another golden opportunity from yet another accomplished piece of creative play from Munitis (in conjunction with dos Santos). And, when dos Santos also found himself unable to locate the net when running through on goal, Villareal began to sense the opportunity for an unlikely point. As the clock ticked into stoppage time, late pressure forced a corner on the left. Substitute Nilmar, brought on as Garrido moved to increase his team’s attacking intent, was on hand to scramble in an ill-deserved equaliser. Indeed, he might even have completed the turnaround a minute later, but that would have been harsh on a fast improving Racing side that had outplayed its opponent, and that promises better times ahead.
FT: Racing 2 (Nahuelpan 2, Giovani Dos Santos 68) Villareal 2 (Marco Rubén 66, Nilmar 92)
