FC Barcelona already knows who its second opponent will be in the defense of the Copa del Rey title. The draw held this January 7th at the Ciudad del Fútbol in Las Rozas has paired the Blaugranas with Racing de Santander, a Second Division team, in a round of 16 tie that will also be played as a single match and away from home.
The match, which will be played at the Estadio El Sardinero, will take place on Tuesday, January 13, Wednesday, January 14, or Thursday, January 15, with the time yet to be determined. Hansi Flick's Barça comes from eliminating CD Guadalajara in the round of 32 (0-2), while the Cantabrian team, leader of the Liga Hypermotion, overcame Logroñés (0-4), Ponferradina (1-2), and Villarreal (2-1)
A Tie After the Spanish Super Cup
Barça will visit Racing right after finishing their participation in the Spanish Super Cup. The Catalans face a very tight schedule in January, with up to eight matches (including a hypothetical Super Cup final) which only includes a couple of home games, against Oviedo (January 25th) and Copenhagen (January 28th) in the League and Champions League, respectivelyIn that sense, Hansi Flick will once again have to bet on his 'B Team' to resolve a tie that promises to be very tough. **Racing has not lost a match since November 9th** (3-1 away to Las Palmas) and, despite drawing in the last three matchdays of La Liga Hypermotion, has managed to maintain the lead with a one-point advantage over the Canary Islanders.
Seventh Copa del Rey Clash Between Barcelona and Racing
The tie between the Catalans and the Cantabrians will be the seventh between both teams in the Copa del Rey. Previously, Barça eliminated the 'green-and-white' team on five occasions (1928, 1953, 1965, 1966, and 1989), while Racing only managed to eliminate the azulgranas once (1950).
The last time the Catalans visited El Sardinero dates back to March 11, 2012, with a victory for the team then managed by Pep Guardiola (0-2) with a brace from Leo Messi. That was the racing team's last season in LaLiga. The historical record heavily favors Barcelona, with 62 wins, 21 draws, and 17 losses in 100 official matches.
Flick's Barça Seeks to Maintain Copa del Rey Unbeaten Streak
The tie against Racing de Santander will be Hansi Flick's sixth in the Copa del Rey. At the moment, the German coach boasts 100% effectiveness with 5 wins, 1 draw, and a record of 21 goals for and only 5 against, not counting last season's final against Real Madrid (3-2).
Barça is the undisputed King of the Copa del Rey, with 32 titles and 52 of their last 57 ties in the competition. The last time the Blaugrana team was eliminated in the round of 16 was in the 21/22 season, against Athletic at San Mamés (3-2)