Racing Santander end 14-season La Liga absence as Sergio Canales starts against Villarreal

Racing Santander have ended a 14-season absence from La Liga, returning to Spain’s top flight with Sergio Canales in the starting lineup against Villarreal at El Sardinero.

Racing last competed in the Primera División in 2011/12 before beginning a long spell outside the elite, which included years in both the second and third tiers. Their promotion last season finally brought the Cantabrian club back to La Liga for the 2026/27 campaign.

Canales’ presence adds another layer to the occasion. The 35-year-old returned to his boyhood club this summer and was selected from the start for Racing’s first top-flight fixture in more than a decade.

The midfielder came through Racing’s academy and made his senior breakthrough with the club before joining Real Madrid in 2010. His return gives the newly promoted side a player with extensive La Liga experience as they attempt to establish themselves again at the highest level.

There is also a notable link between Canales and Sunday’s opponents. His final goal during his first spell with Racing came against Villarreal in April 2010, making the same opposition part of his first league appearance following his return to Santander more than 16 years later.

Racing face an immediate test against a Villarreal side that finished third in La Liga last season and qualified for the Champions League. The visitors also begin a new chapter under Iñigo Pérez, who is taking charge of his first competitive match as Villarreal head coach.

Regardless of the eventual result, the fixture marks a significant moment for Racing. After 14 seasons away, El Sardinero is once again hosting La Liga football, with one of the club’s most recognisable academy graduates back in its colours for the occasion.