Racing Santander boss Jose Alberto Lopez vows to stay true to style against Real Madrid

Racing Santander manager Jose Alberto Lopez says his side will not abandon their usual approach when they face Real Madrid at El Sardinero on Sunday, 01 November 2026.

Lopez has called for courage, but also discipline, as Racing attempt to produce a surprise against the Spanish league leaders.

“Real Madrid do not need to play a great match to beat you,” Lopez said at his pre-match news conference. “They look for the goals first and then the match.”

The Racing manager also warned against focusing solely on the threat posed by France forward Kylian Mbappe, insisting Real Madrid possess outstanding individual quality throughout their squad.

“It is not only about Mbappe,” he said. “Every player in the team is a genius. They can all dominate you with their individual quality and immense talent, and they are capable of disturbing your balance with any movement.”

Although he acknowledged the scale of the challenge, Lopez said Racing must retain the identity that has taken them to this stage. He stressed, however, that bravery should not become reckless attacking.

“We will try to maintain our style, and I believe that will bring us closer to winning,” he said. “But courage does not mean recklessness. We must be balanced because they will force us to give everything we have.”

The fixture has particular significance for Racing, who are facing Real Madrid for the first time in almost 15 years. Lopez said the club had been waiting a long time for a match of this stature after enduring a difficult journey before reaching this point.

“We have been looking for matches like this for a long time,” he said. “The club has gone through a difficult journey, playing at grounds such as the one we were at yesterday, and now we approach this match calmly.”

He added: “Facing these teams is not easy. Every match is extremely important to them. For us, it is difficult to lose on any day, but for them a draw is like a defeat because it could mean losing the league.”

Lopez praised Real Madrid and their manager Jose Mourinho, describing the visitors as being in the best period of their current season. Racing will instead look to El Sardinero and their home support to help them compete.

“At our stadium, with our fans behind us, we feel incredibly strong,” he said.

The Racing manager expects the stands to become a “pressure cooker”, creating sustained pressure for Real Madrid’s players throughout the game.

Lopez ended his pre-match message with a clear statement of his team’s mindset: “We have nothing to lose.”