Racing had the ball, Real Madrid had the chances

Real Madrid won at El Sardinero, but Racing's share of the ball was ordinary while their chances fell well short of what they usually create.

Kylian Mbappé's penalty in the 11th minute was the moment this match turned, and everything after it has to be read with that in mind. Real Madrid added two more before half-time, with Jude Bellingham finishing from Arda Güler's pass in the 21st minute and Yan Diomande scoring in the 36th. Racing had 46% of the ball, a little under their usual 50.3% at home, so possession was not where this game was decided.

Racing's attacking output fell short of what they normally produce at home. They took nine shots, against an average of 12.5, and their expected goals, a figure that gives each chance a value based on how often similar shots go in, came to 0.96 against a usual 1.47. Only one of those shots was on target, which tells you how few of their attempts were clean looks at goal.

Real Madrid's chances were the reverse. They had 21 shots, well above their 15.1 average on their travels, and 15 of them came from inside the box, where the chances are better. Their expected goals figure was more than double their usual away figure, and seven of their shots tested the goalkeeper. Bellingham stood out, rated 8.2, with four shots and three of them on target.

Julen Agirrezabala was the busiest player in the Racing goal, making five saves, and his rating of 6.8 reflects a game in which he had plenty to do. Racing failed to score at home, where they usually manage 1.5 goals a match, and they conceded more than their home norm, which is a little over two. For a side that spent most of its time without the ball in dangerous areas, the goalkeeper was the one doing the defending.

In the 72nd minute, a penalty decision involving Iván Martín was cancelled after a VAR review, the video check used to correct major refereeing decisions. Racing's yellow cards came in the first half and the 45th minute, while Real Madrid went through the match without one. The scoreline stayed where it was, and the decision did not change the story of who was better in front of goal.

Across the match, the total number of goals was close to La Liga's usual rate of three per game, so the result was not unusual in scale. What was unusual was how the goals were shared out and how the chances broke. Real Madrid created more than their away form suggests, and Racing created less than their home form suggests.

Real Madrid are third in the table on 24 points, with eight wins and two defeats from ten away games. Racing sit 16th on 11 points, and they have lost five of their ten home matches this season.

Player of the matchJ. Bellingham1 goal8.2

Y. Diomande1 goal8.1

Kylian Mbappé1 goal7.8

A. Güler1 assist7.7