Tani Oluwaseyi and Villarreal visit Racing Santander for cup clash

The Match

Racing Santander vs. Villarreal CF

  • Competition: Copa del Rey (Round of 32)
  • Date: Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025
  • Kickoff: noon CST
  • Venue: Campos de Sport de El Sardinero (Santander, Spain)

How to watch in Minnesota

This match will be streamed exclusively on ESPN+.

Since this is a midweek match kicking off at noon local time, the replay function on ESPN+ will be your best friend if you are working during the day.

The significance

On paper, this looks like a straightforward match for La Liga heavyweights Villarreal, but in reality, it has “upset alert” written all over it. Racing Santander is currently tearing up the Segunda División (Spain’s second tier), sitting at the top of the table and playing with immense confidence at home.

For Villarreal—”The Yellow Submarine”—this competition is a realistic path to silverware. However, trips to northern Spain in December are notoriously gritty. Manager Marcelino will likely rotate his squad to keep legs fresh for La Liga, which opens the door for hungry players looking to make a statement—players exactly like Tani Oluwaseyi.

The Loon in Focus: Tani Oluwaseyi

  • MNUFC tenure: 2022–2025
  • Role: Striker

Tani Oluwaseyi‘s transfer to Villarreal in August 2025 was a landmark moment for Minnesota United, marking a club-record fee and proving the club’s development pathway works. Since arriving in Spain, Tani has been used primarily as an impact sub in La Liga, using the same chaotic, high-pressing energy that made him a fan favorite in Saint Paul to disrupt tired defenses.

However, the Copa del Rey has been his playground. He started in the previous round, scoring a brace against lower-tier opposition. Wednesday offers him a tougher test against a promotion-chasing side. A strong performance here could be his ticket to more starting minutes in the league campaign after the winter break.

Prediction

Racing Santander will push hard and likely score early, feeding off the energy of the El Sardinero crowd. But Villarreal’s depth in attack is simply too much for a second-division defense to handle for 90 minutes. Look for Tani to use his physical hold-up play to create space for his teammates.

  • Villarreal advances 3-1, with Oluwaseyi providing a late assist.