Moroccan teenager's hat-trick gives Racing Santander first La Liga win in 14 years
21-year-old Moroccan forward Yassir Zabiri scored all three goals as Racing Santander beat Elche 3:2, securing the promoted club's first top-flight win since returning to La Liga. Villarreal, meanwhile, suffered a surprise loss to Alaves.
Racing Santander, back in Spain's top division this season for the first time since 2011/2012, claimed their first La Liga win of the campaign in round three, beating Elche 3:2. The Santander club had previously drawn with Villarreal and lost to Getafe.
The match's standout performer was 21-year-old Moroccan forward Yassir Zabiri, who joined Racing from a club in France's top league. He scored all three home goals in the first half. The opener came in the 15th minute after Elche goalkeeper Matias Dituro failed to control a pass from a defender. Six minutes later, Zabiri held off pressure from defenders and fired the ball into the near corner, before completing his hat-trick in the 36th minute following a cross from Inigo Vicente.
In the second half, Elche pushed for a comeback, with Buba Sangare and Fer Ninho both scoring, but they could not level the score after a Racing defender blocked a shot from David Affengruber in stoppage time. The win lifted Racing Santander to eighth place in the standings.
Villarreal suffer surprise defeat
In a later match, Villarreal suffered an unexpected away loss to Alaves, going down 0:1. The only goal came in the 31st minute, scored by Argentine forward Lucas Boye after a pass from Angel Perez. Although Villarreal took control of the game after the break, dominating possession and creating numerous chances, they were unable to find an equalizer as Alaves goalkeeper Antonio Sivera kept a clean sheet.
The win moved Alaves to the top of the table. With his three goals in round three, Zabiri joined Kylian Mbappe, Raphinha and Fermin Lopez atop the list of the league's top scorers.
