Espanyol took the lead in the 62nd minute through Edu Expósito, but Racing responded with a late surge at El Sardinero. Belocian equalised in the 69th minute with a left-footed strike from outside the box, before Zabiri completed the turnaround in the 84th minute to secure another important home victory.
Racing coach José Alberto was pleased with his side’s composure after falling behind, highlighting the contribution of the substitutes who helped change the game.
“At El Sardinero we are very strong. We have turned matches around on several occasions, and today we managed the game well.”
The coach also praised the energy brought by his replacements, including Pablo García and Iker Luque, whose introductions helped Racing increase the pressure on Espanyol.
“Pablo and Iker came on very well and played very good minutes. Maguette also gave us 10 great minutes, while Pedro Felipe won his duels and André brought balance.”
José Alberto said the match had been difficult to manage because both teams arrived after poor runs of form. Racing needed to remain patient rather than force the issue, and he felt their persistence was rewarded late in the game.
“We had control, and there was a lot of tension in the first half. Both teams came into it after difficult spells. Espanyol are a good team, very well coached, and they made things very difficult for us.”
Zabiri again proved decisive, but José Alberto urged patience with the forward and stressed the importance of his contribution beyond goals.
“We need to stay calm with this player. He must keep working and continue scoring goals. He is a fabulous team player, works for his teammates and makes the difference when his moment comes.”
Espanyol coach Manolo González was left frustrated by the way his side lost control after taking the lead. He said the team had played well before half-time but retreated after scoring, allowing Racing to build momentum.
“We make ourselves small, and I don't know why. The substitutions were intended to stop us dropping back, but we stopped pressing, stopped putting pressure on them and stopped keeping the ball as we had in the first half. There is no other explanation.”
González rejected refereeing decisions as an excuse, insisting that his team had surrendered the initiative through its own play.
“It isn't about the penalty. We took the lead after playing well and creating chances in the first half. Then, without changing the system, we stopped doing everything we had been doing. For the first goal we didn't come out to close them down, and for the second we allowed the ball to bounce around inside the box.”
The defeat left Espanyol in the relegation zone and intensified uncertainty around González’s position. He declined to discuss his future publicly, saying any conversation with the club would take place privately.
Racing, meanwhile, maintained their strong home form. Their late response underlined José Alberto’s confidence in the squad’s resilience, while Espanyol were left to confront another match in which a promising position ended without points.