The shadow of Real Madrid’s stunning elimination by modest Albacete hovered over the Copa del Rey as Barcelona prepared to face Racing Santander. Hansi Flick opted for a full-strength XI. The presence of Lamine Yamal, Marcus Rashford, and Ferran Torres signaled intent: Barcelona would not risk joining Madrid on the wrong side of the tournament’s lore. Flick’s cautious approach signaled his respect for Racing, leaders of Spain’s LaLiga 2, playing host against a club perched at the top of LaLiga’s summit. For fans and neutrals alike, this matchup embodied the magic and menace of cup football.
Despite the gulf in reputation and resources, Racing showed no fear from the opening whistle. Joan Garcia, Barcelona’s custodian, was called into action early, tipping Aritz Aldasoro’s deflected strike over the woodwork—a moment that brought the home fans to their feet and whispered reminders of Madrid’s fate. Barcelona pressed in waves, coming tantalizingly close as Dani Olmo stretched to meet a Rashford-driven cross, missing by mere inches. Yet it was the hosts who nearly stole ahead on the break, with Giorgi Guliashvili's effort falling safely into Garcia’s grasp.
Breaking the deadlock: Torres shines under pressure
The pressure told as the second half ticked on. In the 66th minute, the dynamic changed—Ferran Torres, calm and clinical, latched onto a deft Fermin Lopez through-ball, rounded Racing keeper Jokin Ezkieta, and slotted into an empty net. The breakthrough wasn’t just relief for Barcelona fans; it was testament to the razor-thin margin between anticipation and outcome in knockout football.
Moments of nervous energy followed. Ezkieta responded with a sensational double save, denying both Lopez and Robert Lewandowski in quick succession. At the same time, Flick shuffled his squad, injecting further star power from the bench as Barcelona sought to snuff out any hopes of an equalizer.
Late drama: offsides, near misses, and Racing’s heartbreak
The closing minutes delivered pure Copa del Rey theatre. Twice, Manex Lozano—a name now etched into Racing supporters’ memory—found the back of the net, and twice he was ruled agonizingly offside. The second decision, a matter of inches, bared football’s ruthless nature.
Yet with time running out, Lozano manufactured one final chance in stoppage time—sprinting clear to face Garcia one-on-one, only for the Barca keeper to hold firm. Within seconds, Barcelona pounced, exploiting Racing’s exposed defense as Lamine Yamal tapped into an unguarded net for the 2-0 clincher.
After the whistle: respect gained and lessons learned
In the aftermath, humility and respect flowed on both sides. Ferran Torres candidly admitted his surprise at Racing’s resilience, stating, “We didn’t expect it to be so rocky. We had seen how they played, we were surprised that they sat off us so much.” Yet, he recognized the value of the experience, noting that matches against such determined lower-tier teams “prepare us very well for other games.” Hansi Flick, ever the tactician, praised Racing’s courage: “The most important thing is that these teams are brave, they have nothing to lose, they only have things to gain and you can see that. It’s fantastic to watch.”
For Racing, pride mingled with frustration. Jose Alberto, their head coach, expressed both sentiments: “We’re annoyed to be eliminated, but proud to see the team playing at that level. We were facing one of the best teams in the world, the difference is big.” He was especially empathetic toward 18-year-old Manex Lozano, whose big moment slipped by. “He had one of the best goalkeepers in front of him…he is just an 18-year-old boy who has to grow up.”