Mantilla out for the season with Racing Santander after cruciate ligament rupture

Mantilla was injured against Real Madrid, according to Marca. Racing, 16th with 11 points, visit Málaga on Saturday 7 November at 14:00.

Álvaro Mantilla will not play again this season for Real Racing Club de Santander. He has ruptured a cruciate ligament, according to Marca, an injury suffered in the La Liga match against Real Madrid CF.

The blow comes at a bad moment. Racing lost 3-0 to Real Madrid on 1 November and are 16th in the league table with 11 points after 11 matches: three wins, two draws and six defeats. They have scored 15 goals and conceded 29.

What changes for the match at La Rosaleda

The Cantabrian side play their matchday 12 fixture at Estadio La Rosaleda against Málaga CF on Saturday 7 November at 14:00 (Madrid time). It will be their first match without Mantilla, with the defeat to Madrid as their latest result.

Their opponents are in an even more difficult position. Málaga are 20th with 5 points, have not won any of their 11 matches (five draws and six defeats) and have scored 8 goals while conceding 21. Racing face a side with serious problems, but they have little room for error themselves: with 29 goals conceded, every change to the starting XI costs more than it would for a team with a settled defence.

The manager and his staff have a few days to rearrange their options. The loss matters more for the immediate fixture than for the league table, because Racing cannot afford a slip against the only team in La Liga yet to win a match.

Sources: Marca