Barcelona was forced to work hard for their progression in the Copa del Rey, needing late goals to secure a hard-earned 2-0 victory over a spirited Guadalajara side at the Estadio Pedro Escartin. The match, which served as a testing opener for the reigning champions, was delayed by thirty minutes due to necessary safety checks on a temporary stand, adding an initial layer of tension to the evening.
Once the action commenced, Guadalajara, a club currently struggling near the bottom of the third tier (Primera Federación), executed a disciplined and determined performance. They defended with organization and belief, successfully frustrating Hansi Flick’s experimental Barcelona lineup for the majority of the match.
Flick utilized the fixture to rotate his squad, making several notable changes. These included deploying Casado at right-back, reinstating Eric García in central defense, and pairing young Bernal alongside the experienced Frenkie de Jong in midfield. Lamine Yamal was positioned centrally behind the forward line and showed flashes of his potential throughout the tie.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 79th minute. It took a stroke of fortune, as Christensen’s effort deflected off a defender and finally beat the inspired home goalkeeper, who had otherwise managed to keep the reigning champions at bay.
Guadalajara immediately threatened an equalizer moments later through Mendes, whose fierce drive narrowly missed the target. However, Barcelona quickly extinguished any hope of a comeback when Rashford latched onto a precise through ball from Yamal to seal the 2-0 triumph, securing the Blaugrana’s place in the next round of the competition.
