MADRID, MAY 17 (IANS): Racing Santander ended a 14-year wait to return to La Liga with a 4-1 win at home to Real Valladolid on Saturday.
Racing’s top scorer Andres Martin scored twice, and Asier Villalibre and Suleiman Camera also hit the target. Racing leads the Spanish second-division standings by seven points, securing one of the two automatic promotion places with two rounds remaining.
Racing also leads the scoring with 85 goals in 40 games, while having also conceding 59, reported Xinhua. Midfielder Peio Canales, who has spent the season on loan from Athletic Bilbao, also celebrated the promotion.
Racing de Santander’s last season in Spain’s top division was in 2011-12 and the club has suffered a tough spell since, even being relegated in back-to-back seasons in 2012-13. Racing spent seven seasons over the next few years in the third tier, playing in the First Federation during the 2013-14, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.
The club has steadily rebuilt its stature since earning promotion back to the Segunda Division for the 2022-23 season, finishing 12th, then 7th, and later 5th before mounting a serious title challenge this campaign. Racing are now edging ever closer to the 2025-26 Segunda title which could be wrapped up as soon as Sunday if Deportivo La Coruña fail to beat FC Andorra at home.
Racing’s 14 years outside La Liga saw the club drop as low as the third tier before returning to the second division in 2022.
The remaining two places for promotion to La Liga will be decided over the next fortnight, with one direct promotion spot and the other to be decided between the teams that finish between third and sixth in the second tier.
Saturday, May 30, 2026