Racing vs Barcelona: duel of leaders at El Sardinero for the Copa del Rey round of 16

Fútbol Club Barcelona returns to action this Thursday, January 15, in the 2025/26 Copa del Rey, visiting Real Racing Club de Santander. The draw held on January 7th set up a clash of leaders at El Sardinero, with the reigning LaLiga and Copa champions, and two-time Super Cup winners, facing the current leader of the 25/26 Liga Hypermotion.

• 📺 Where and when to watch the match on TV: channels broadcasting Racing-Barcelona LIVE WATCH

Barça arrives at the round of 16 duel in their best moment of the season, with ten consecutive victories in all competitions, the last one against Real Madrid in Jeddah (3-2) in the Super Cup final. Facing them will be a Racing side that fell at home last weekend against Zaragoza (2-3), but remains the leader of the Second Division and full of hope to return to LaLiga after 14 years.

• 👉 Lineups: Possible starting XIs for Racing Santander and FC Barcelona: SEE

Racing vs Barcelona: a duel between Spain's top-scoring clubs

The match at El Sardinero, a stadium Barça hasn't visited since March 2012, promises to be high-voltage. Barça has been scoring in all their domestic competition matches for almost thirteen months (50) and is the top scorer in LaLiga 25/26, with 53 goals. Racing, for its part, scored 45 goals in the first 21 matchdays of the Hypermotion League.

Hansi Flick's team won eight of their last ten matches by a margin of two or more goals, including the 0-2 victory against Guadalajara in the round of 32. The Cantabrian side, for their part, eliminated Logroñés (0-4), Ponferradina (1-2 after extra time) and Villarreal (2-1) to reach the Copa del Rey round of 16

• *Champions League/Copa del Rey Match
• S: Stadium
• L: Home
• V: Away
• CN: neutral ground

However, José Alberto López's side failed to win their last four league games, with three draws and a home defeat to Zaragoza on Saturday. The two teams have faced each other in six previous Copa del Rey ties, with five successes for the Blaugrana, the last of which was in the round of 16 in the 88/89 season (4-2 on aggregate).

Hansi Flick prepares a mix of starters and substitutes against Racing

Ronald Araujo in a Champions League match with Barça

For Thursday, Hansi Flick will take the opportunity to rest several of his starters, but there will be no massive rotations. Without a mix with an alternative XI, logical after the wear and tear of the Super Cup and a relentless January schedule (9 matches).

Joan García could remain in goal, while Marc Casadó and Jofre Torrents, as against Guadalajara, would be the full-backs. João Cancelo will be the big novelty of the squad, ready to play a couple of days after his signing. Ronald Araújo and Gerard Martín could be in the center.

Eric García, for his part, would once again be the team's pivot due to Frenkie de Jong's suspension. Marc Bernal and Dani Olmo are also set to start in midfield. In attack, there will be opportunities for Roony Bardghji and Marcus Rashford, while Ferran Torres should be the team's '9'.

Barça seeks to prolong Copa hegemony after Madrid's KO

Against Racing, Barcelona will try to extend their dominance in the Copa del Rey, where they have won 52 of their last 57 ties. Since 2010, the Catalans have only been eliminated in the round of 16 in 2020 and 2022, both times against Athletic at San Mamés. The record over the last 16 years is 15 semi-finals and 10 of the 32 titles.

Flick's team, although arriving at a very sweet moment, is not overconfident against Racing, a good rival that usually takes great advantage of their fans' support, even though this season the Cantabrians have lost three matches at El Sardinero

After Real Madrid's historic upset in Albacete (3-2), the Blaugrana team will approach their round of 16 tie with absolute concentration. In the quarterfinals, in addition to Albacete, Real Sociedad, Atlético de Madrid, Athletic, Betis, and Alavés are already through.

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