Real Madrid

Casillas - 7: Called into action just once in the first half and was off his line to avert the danger. Similarly untested in the second period, but remained solid.

Sergio Ramos - 8: Ramos as we know him. An invaluable outlet going forward, worked his man in that regard as well and was strong on the ground and in the air at the back - but always suspect positionally from time to time when he gets too far forward and is susceptible to the counterattack. In the second half, however, he stayed back in defence and was simply unbeatable.

Cannavaro - 7.5: Looking stronger game by game as he comes back to full fitness. His nightmare start in Spain looks all but behind him. One somewhat shaky moment as he chose to head a low ball that was easier to kick, but was otherwise formidable in the challenge and unfortunate to get booked.

Pepe - 7: Still lacking a little bit of sharpness and looked like he could be exposed by the tricky nature of Racing's forwards, but ultimately his physical presence and power kept him ahead of the game.

Heinze - 6.5: Another one unfortunate to be shown the yellow card. Defensively solid in the first half, let nothing past him, but of course failed to provide much genuine width down the left as Marcelo has done in recent weeks. Was stretched in the second period upon Tchite's introduction, beaten too many times and allowed too many balls to find their way into the box.

Higuaín - 8: Despite his promising showings up front, again shunted to right-wing this evening, but made a better fist of it than usual. His running caused Christian problems, though his dive in the area certainly could have been done without. Proved decisive as he darted forward superbly down the right hand side and played a cool ball inside to de la Red to finish for the opening and all important goal.

Diarrá - 7.5: Rock solid as ever, let nothing past him and helped organise the defence fairly well against the Racing counterattacks. A little wayward on the ball, but it is hardly his speciality or necessarily required of him anyway.

De la Red - 8: Justified his inclusion with defensive discipline and some strong long shots. Did not pass as well as he can, but made up for it by darting forward on the counterattack with his team-mates and showing a cool head to finish the straightforward chance presented to him to get the opening goal.

Guti - 7: Will be content with his half's work. No end product to show for it, but with both de la Red and Diarra protecting him, Guti was able to play with a degree of freedom and made some good passes, as well as some smart set-plays. Unfortunately went off injured at the end of the first half.

Raúl - 7: Largely anonymous due to the nature of Madrid's counterattacking game in the second half, and in the first he was defended against very well. Nevertheless linked up tidily when he was involved and made a crucial run to drag defenders out of position which allowed de la Red the space to score the opening goal.

Van Nistelrooy - 7.5: Like Raul, very much anonymous, but he showed good defensive work rate - particularly in the first half - and besides all that, scored a magnificent goal to kill the game. Chasing a ball down the left, he cut inside and somehow managed to deceive absolutely everybody and fire it home at the near post. Sublime.

Substitutes:

Van der Vaart - 7: Did not make quite the impact he would have hoped, as Madrid played much of the second half on the counterattack. Nevertheless, he provided a sublime long ball along the floor for Ruud van Nistelrooy, who finished spectacularly.

Robben - 6.5: A relentless runner - as ever - but once or twice he could have been more effective if he had released the ball earlier.

Saviola - n/a.

Racing Off Slow

Racing Santander are one of only two teams who have yet to lose after two rounds but also yet to win. A 1-1 draw with Sevilla on opening day was followed up by a similar result – and performance – at Barcelona last weekend, as they won plaudits for their resolute defending and effective counter-attacking.

While they may not have come bursting out of the blocks, it is a very decent start nonetheless, considering they were up against inarguably the two most offensive-minded teams in the league in the first 180 minutes of the new season.

But it is a slow start by the Cantabrians in more ways than one. Their ultra-defensive approaches not only suggest that they are unafraid to play with ten men behind the ball, but their newly assembled squad, including a new coach, has yet to click into gear to play any kind of adventurous football.

They also transferred their form to Europe when they sneaked past unknown Finnish side, FC Honka Espoo 1-0 in the first leg of the UEFA Cup first round on Thursday in what was yet another cagey and cautious performance.

Coach, Juan Ramón López Muñiz has pretty much built on where Marcelinho left off from last season, relying on good old fashion teamwork and disciplined defending to get the desired results from his very modest squad. It is something that has worked supremely well for the last two seasons, it worked even better in the last two league games and chances are they will try and make it work again on Sunday.

Loose Cannons

Real Madrid’s style of football, as anyone would know, contrasts sharply from that of Racing’s. While the verdiblancos like to keep it tight at the back, the merengues prefer to keep it loose.

Their 2-0 triumph over Belarusian side BATE Borisov on Wednesday in the Champions League was in fact, their first clean sheet since the new term kicked-off eleven matches ago in the pre-season.

In terms of competitive games, they have already haemorrhaged ten goals in five outings. Granted, it is only the beginning of the campaign but it raises the question about whether or not Los Blancos are slowly slipping back to their old days of a leaky defence.

To be fair to Madrid, Bernd Schuster has yet to be able to call on his first choice backline. Players such as Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Cannavaro, Metzelder and Marcelo are not only just getting back up to speed after the off-season, but they are all on varying degrees of match practice and sharpness due to international commitments from the European championships to the Olympics and more recently, the World Cup qualifiers.

At least they are not having trouble scoring goals, which would have been the main concern after losing several attacking players during the transfer market. Schuster’s emphasis on the club’s failure to sign a proven back-up striker also triggered a sense of pessimism amongst the merengue faithful but so far, everything seems to be going like clockwork.

Although Raúl and Ruud van Nistelrooy’s fitness has yet to be really tested in this early phase of the campaign, the encouraging sign is that almost everyone in the team has the ability to score from any part of the pitch.

That may be the case but Madrid have to get a win at El Sardinero and that means scoring and then defending the lead. Their away form, including their pre-season showing, hasn’t been the best and they desperately need a victory on the road to start building up their confidence ahead of the tricky trip to Zenit St Petersburg on September 30 for the second matchday of the Champions League.

FORM GUIDERacing Santander

Sep 18 Racing 1-0 FC Honka Espoo (UEFA CUP)

Sep 13 FC Barcelona 1-1 Racing (LA LIGA)

Aug 31 Racing 1-1 Sevilla FC (LA LIGA)

Aug 27 San Fernando 1-2 Racing (FRIENDLY) Aug 23 Xerez 1-2 Racing (FRIENDLY)Real Madrid

Sep 17 Real Madrid 2-0 BATE Borisov (CHAMPIONS LEAGUE)

Sep 14 Real Madrid 4-3 Numancia (LA LIGA)

Aug 31 Deportivo La Coruña 2-1 Real Madrid (LA LIGA)Aug 27 Real Madrid 5-3 Sporting Lisbon (TROFEO BERNABÉU)Aug 24 Real Madrid 4-2 Valencia (SUPERCOPA)TEAM NEWSRacing Santander

Leftback Christian is doubtful for this clash after picking up an ankle sprain against Barcelona last week and sitting out the midweek UEFA Cup tie. His regular back-up, Luis Fernández is also an uncertainty as he continues to nurse a muscular injury, although he was expected to be back in action by Sunday. If neither passes a late fitness test, then new arrival, László Sepsi will be the natural replacement.

Young striker Jonathan Pereira has found himself in excellent form after scoring against Barça and Honka and he is expected to get the nod ahead of Tchité. Defender Ezequiel Garay is ineligible to play against the club that picked him up over the summer as per the expected clause on the loan agreement.Probable Starting XI (4-4-1-1): Toño – Pinillos, César Navas, Marcano, Sepsi – Valera, Luccin, Colsa, Serrano – Munitis (c) – Jonathan PereiraReal MadridThis might just be the first match of the new season where Schuster will be able to call upon his best backfour. Pepe, suspended for the midweek CL game, will be available for selection again, while Cannavaro, rested against both Depor and Numancia, should make his first 08/09 La Liga appearance.Defensive midfielder Fernando Gago is ruled out for a month after tearing a muscle on the back of his left thigh during the match against BATE. Wesley Sneijder remains sidelined but he may now be only two weeks away from a return.The main focal point, however, will be whether or not Schuster will in fact drop Raúl in favour of Gonzalo Higuaín in attack.Probable Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Casillas – Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Pepe, Marcelo – Diarrà, Guti (c) – van der Vaart, Higuaín, Robben – van Nistelrooy PLAYERS TO WATCHRacing SantanderEzequiel Garay would have been the danger man for Madrid had he been allowed to play. But Racing may have found another secret weapon anyway in the form of Jonathan Pereira. The 21 year old, on loan from Villarreal, has kicked-off his verdiblancos career in style, scoring crucial goals in his team’s last two games. He is precisely the kind of target striker that could trouble Madrid on the rare counter-attacks, as Barcelona will attest.Real Madrid

If given the chance to start, all eyes will be on Gonzalo Higuaín. Not only is he trying to prove that he is the man to succeed Raúl long term, but he also has to show Schuster that the team does not need another striker. To do that, he must rise to the occasion and deliver the goods on the scoreboard. His ratio of goals to playing time has been phenomenal thus far and he would want to keep that up by rattling in a few more on Sunday.