CD Mirandés – Racing Santander 12-06-2025

Who will win the battle where hearts will be broken?

The most dramatic first leg of this year's playoff was in Santander, where Racing and Mirandés shared six goals in a game that swung back and forth for 90+ minutes. Now the drama moves to Anduva, one of the most compact and intense stadiums in the Segunda División. With a 3-3 draw, both teams have every chance – but one of them has a mental scratch on their paint.

The first match gave us the answer to one thing: neither team is particularly comfortable controlling the game. The question now is who has learned the most – and who can use that learning to secure a place in the final.

Mirandes

It was Mirandés who for a long time seemed to take control of the match at El Sardinero. After an even opening, they took the lead 1–0 and 2–1, before increasing it to 3–1 on the counterattack. By then, there was only one team on the pitch. But a late final spurt from Racing – including a goal in extra time after an own goal – meant that the match ended 3–3. Nevertheless, Mirandés is left with the feeling that this is their duel to lose.

Coach Alessio Lisci has put a team in order that many predicted would be far down the table before the season. In a 5-3-2 formation, the team has become extremely compact, and they use strikers Panichelli and Izeta to create width and pace. Panichelli is also the top scorer and was involved in all the goals in the first match. He has delivered goals in five of his last seven matches.

Another name that deserves attention is midfielder Gorrotxategi. He has become a key figure in the build-up play, and rumours of interest from Real Sociedad and La Liga sides suggest he is performing at a high level. His ability to control the tempo of the game could be crucial against Racing's more direct attacking play.

Anduva also gives Mirandés a real advantage: At home they are 15-5-1 this season, meaning only one loss all season. It is a stadium where the intensity builds over 90 minutes – and where the small margin often falls in the home team's favor.

Racing Santander

For Racing, the first match was an emotional rollercoaster. They started brightly but were outplayed for much of the match. However, they showed mental strength and equalised towards the end – meaning they still have everything to play for.

Coach José Alberto López has tried to get the team to balance possession and direct play. It works at times, but the team has been too unstable. Only one win in the last five games before this match, and large variations in performance, mean that they do not appear as a team in good shape.

Andrés Martín and Inigo Vicente are the team's main attacking threats. Vicente controls much of the creative work from the left wing, while Martín has become a specialist in emerging at crucial moments. Juan Carlos Arana, the league's top scorer, has been more invisible in recent weeks, but is always dangerous in the box.

The problem for Racing is their defensive structure. Their 4-2-3-1 formation gives them plenty of attacking space but leaves space behind the wings – something Mirandés cynically exploited in the first leg. They also struggled to control transitions and stopped few of Mirandés' breaks. They need to be better organised or this game could slip away from them early.

Who will advance to the playoff final?

This is a match with two clear options: You can believe that Mirandés finishes the job at home – or that Racing takes the momentum from the comeback.

Mirandés have the advantage of home field, better form, and have won both previous meetings against Racing this season. They have also shown consistency and tactical flexibility. Racing have been inconsistent and give up too many easy chances, especially away from home. At the same time, they have a higher top level offensively, and can score in a short period of time.

The first leg produced 6 goals, but second leg matches are often more cautious – especially in the Segunda where many teams fear losing more than they dare to win. It is nevertheless worth noting that both teams have been involved in goal-rich matches recently, and that the first leg opened early.

They are two even teams, but the tactical overall points towards Mirandés. They have more structure, better defensive coverage, and a clear attacking pattern with Panichelli and Izeta. They also have a better midfield in Gorrotxategi – a player Racing has struggled to shut down. At the same time, Racing has quality in transition and will be dangerous on set pieces.

But in such an important match, mental strength, confidence and home support count. Anduva has been a fortress this spring, and what happened in the first match will give Mirandés extra motivation to show that they don't let such leads slip away twice. We therefore believe that this is a good game;

Segunda División playoff at 21:00: Mirandés - Racing Santander: Mirandés - draw no bet (1.67)