Key Takeaways:
- Barcelona claimed a 2:0 away victory at Santander to advance to the Copa del Rey quarter-finals
- Ferran Torres broke the deadlock in the 66th minute, with Lamine Yamal sealing the score in added time
- Racing Santander had two goals disallowed for offside and missed a late one-on-one chance before Barcelona’s second goal
Match Recap and Tactical Overview
Barcelona emerged victorious in a fiercely contested contest against Racing Santander, securing their place in the last eight of the Copa del Rey with a 2:0 result away at El Sardinero. The visitors endured early pressure and organisational issues, with kick-off delayed by 15 minutes due to problems with crowd entry. In a notable recognition of their recent Spanish Super Cup success, the home side formed a guard of honour for the Catalan squad prior to the match.
On to the next round ✨ pic.twitter.com/PjezLoJjQp
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 15, 2026
The cup tie proved challenging for Hansi Flick’s men, coming soon after their 3:2 triumph over Real Madrid. Unlike their rivals, who exited the competition after defeat to Albacete, Barcelona managed to avoid a similar slip-up against lower-league opposition, enhancing their status as strong favourites to defend the trophy. The Catalans have now registered eleven wins across all competitions.
First-Half Struggles and Missed Opportunities
Despite facing a side currently leading La Liga 2 and eager for promotion, Barcelona fielded a considerably rotated line-up. Hansi Flick handed starts to Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, Marc Casadó, Marc Bernal, and Marcus Rashford, while the likes of Raphinha, Pedri, Lewandowski, Eric García, and recent recruit João Cancelo began on the bench (Cancelo did not feature).
Racing Santander started the encounter brightly, recording three corners inside the opening three minutes and forcing the visitors onto the back foot. However, as the match settled, Barcelona asserted control, though they struggled to threaten in the final third. The first meaningful chance fell to Olmo after an attack from the left in the 11th minute, but he failed to convert. Despite their possession, Barcelona were limited to just one on-target effort in the first half – by Bernal in the 44th minute. Racing’s striker Arana squandered a rare headed opportunity in added time before the break.
Second-Half Improvements and Decisive Goals
Barcelona returned from the interval without substitutions, seeking greater efficiency in attack. Four minutes after the restart, Rashford came close when played through, only to be thwarted by Esquieta. Yamal also tested the home goalkeeper in the 51st minute, yet the visitors met stiff resistance from a resilient Santander defensive unit.
The breakthrough arrived in the 66th minute: substitute Fermin López expertly set up Ferran Torres, who finished calmly to give Barcelona the lead. Santander’s response was immediate, with Gueye narrowly failing to equalise in the 69th minute. The hosts’ continued persistence led to Manex Lozano finding the net in the 77th minute, but his goal was ruled out for offside. Esquieta kept his side in contention with a double save from Fermin and Lewandowski in the 79th minute, while another Lozano effort was again disallowed for offside at the 86th minute mark.
As time ticked down, Santander’s best chance to level the match fell to Lozano, who beat the offside trap in stoppage time but was denied by an impressive Joan García save. Moments later, Lamine Yamal capitalised, registering Barcelona’s second goal deep into added time to settle the outcome.
| Team | Score | Goal Scorers | Disallowed Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santander | 0 | – | Manex Lozano (77′, 86′ – offside) |
| Barcelona | 2 | Ferran Torres (66′), Lamine Yamal (90′) | – |
Post-Match Context and Looking Ahead
Barcelona’s reward is a place in the quarter-final, with the draw scheduled for January 19. The fixtures will take place on February 3rd, 4th, and 5th.
For Santander, who have not faced Barcelona since the 2011/12 season, the match was a test of their ambition and current form as La Liga 2 leaders.
Meanwhile, the Catalan giants sustain their momentum with another win, solidifying their campaign for domestic silverware and standing as the primary contender to retain the Copa del Rey.
