With only two rounds remaining in the 2025-26 La Liga season, very few teams have confirmed their place in Spain’s top division for the 2026-27 campaign. This is due to a tight relegation battle, with up to 12 teams still mathematically capable of being relegated to Segunda.
Barcelona, Real Madrid, Villarreal, Atletico Madrid, Real Betis, Celta Vigo, and Getafe are the seven teams whose La Liga status is already confirmed, while Real Oviedo has already been relegated. However, on Saturday, another name was added to the list of clubs set to compete in the Spanish top flight next season: Real Racing Club de Santander.
Racing has enjoyed a fantastic season in Segunda, and on Saturday, they confirmed their return to La Liga after a 14-year wait with a dominant 4-1 victory over Real Valladolid at El Sardinero. Goals were scored by Asier Villalibre, Suleiman Camara, and a brace from top scorer Andres Martin.
A Challenging 14 Years Since Racing’s Last La Liga Stint
The 2011-12 season was the last time Racing competed in the top flight of Spanish football. In the years that followed, they spent half of their time in the third tier. They suffered consecutive relegations in the 2012-13 campaign, with their stints in the First Federation occurring in the 2013-14, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2020-21, and 2021-22 seasons.
Since their return to Segunda in the 2022-23 season, Racing has been on an upward trajectory, finishing 12th, 7th, and 5th prior to the current campaign. They are on track to finish the 2025-26 season as champions, a title that could be confirmed as early as Sunday if Deportivo La Coruna loses at home to FC Andorra.
Racing can now look forward to welcoming clubs like Barcelona, whom they hosted in this season’s Copa del Rey, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, and others next season, an prospect their supporters will undoubtedly relish.
