On Spain’s northern coast, at El Sardinero in Santander, Javier Aguirre began his Valencia tenure with the sort of afternoon that explains the scale of his new task. His side led inside two minutes, fell behind shortly after the interval and eventually left Racing Santander with a 2-2 draw — a useful point, though not yet an escape from the lower reaches of the Spanish top flight.
Valencia arrived with the Mexican coach charged with reversing a difficult opening to the campaign. After eight rounds, the club sits 19th with five points and remains in the relegation places. The journey to Cantabria offered an immediate test of both the side’s nerve and Aguirre’s ability to make an early mark.
A fast start and a local response
The visitors gave their new manager the ideal opening when Dani Raba scored in the second minute. Selected in Aguirre’s first Valencia line-up, the forward took an opportunity in the area to put the away side ahead before the match had found its rhythm.
Racing, however, gradually restored themselves in front of their own crowd. Yassir Zabiri brought the hosts level in the 32nd minute, exploiting an attacking move to beat the Valencia defence and turn the contest back into an even one before the break.
The momentum then moved sharply towards the home team after half-time. Iván Martín Núñez scored two minutes into the second half, in the 47th minute, putting Racing 2-1 ahead and leaving Aguirre’s Valencia facing defeat in his first match in charge.
Otorbi secures a point for Valencia
Valencia continued to press for a route back into the game, and David Otorbi supplied it on 65 minutes. His equaliser made the score 2-2 and ensured Aguirre’s first afternoon ended without another damaging loss.
There was relief in the final outcome, but also a clear reminder of the work awaiting the new coach. Valencia avoided defeat in Santander, yet the draw did not change their position in the relegation zone. With much of the season still to be played, Aguirre’s immediate requirement is to turn this first point into the steadier sequence of results and wins needed to keep the club in Spain’s top division.
