Racing Santander 2-1 Atletico de Madrid - Racing secure survival

Posted Tuesday, May 10, 2011 by PA

Goals from Kennedy Bakircioglu and Markus Rosenborg saw Racing Santander come from a goal down to beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 and guarantee their Primera Division status for another season.

However, the result is a blow to Atletico's hopes of qualifying for the Europa League as they remain on the same points as sixth-placed Sevilla, who visit Osasuna on Wednesday.

Quique Sanchez Flores' side took the lead early on through Mario Suarez but Bakircioglu and Rosenborg overturned the deficit with Giovanni dos Santos a constant menace in the second half.

After an opening during which neither side really showed as an attacking force, Atletico went ahead in the 11th minute when Suarez volleyed home from 18 yards into the bottom corner.

They almost doubled their lead after 20 minutes, with Guerrero Antonio Lopez sending in a 20-yard free-kick from the right that hit the crossbar.

The hosts had shown little as an attacking force but they were back level seven minutes before the break. Tiago fouled Dos Santos and from the resulting free-kick Bakircioglu fired the ball into the corner from 25 yards.

Three minutes later, the same player forced Atletico goalkeeper David De Gea to punch clear with a free-kick from the left, Mehdi Lacen volleying over the rebound.

The hosts then went ahead in the 48th minute when Rosenborg slotted home Dos Santos' pass from the left from close range.

Racing were clearly buoyed, with Dos Santos prominent. The Mexican forced De Gea to tip the ball around the post with a 20-yard shot before drilling a shot from distance against the post a few minutes later.

Atletico were not posing any real threat as an attacking force with Suarez shooting over in a rare attempt at goal.

Alexis Tziolis, Julian Luque and Bakircioglu all had shots while Francis' shot from the right was held by the goalkeeper.

Jose Antonio Reyes shot over the crossbar as the game went into injury time but Racing comfortably held on for three vital points.