Barcelona secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Racing Santander on Thursday night, booking their place in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals. Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal found the net for the Catalan giants in a match that proved tougher than many expected.
Barcelona Grind Out Important Win
The reigning Copa del Rey champions faced a determined Racing Santander side at the Sardinero stadium. Despite dominating possession from the outset, Barcelona struggled to create clear-cut chances in the first half. Racing's organized defense frustrated the visitors repeatedly.
"We didn't think they would be so hard to break down," admitted Ferran Torres after the match. "We knew that we had to stretch the game, be calm and in the end it went well."
Torres Breaks the Deadlock
The breakthrough finally came in the second half through Ferran Torres. The Spanish international received a perfectly weighted pass from Fermin Lopez, rounded Racing goalkeeper Jokin Ezkieta, and calmly slotted home to give Barcelona the lead.
Racing Santander responded with increased urgency and thought they had equalized twice through Manex Lozano. However, both goals were correctly ruled out for offside, much to the home crowd's frustration.
Yamal Seals the Victory
As Racing pushed forward in search of an equalizer, Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia made a crucial save deep in stoppage time to deny Lozano in a one-on-one situation. The visitors then put the game beyond doubt with virtually the last kick of the match.
Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal tapped in Raphinha's cross at the back post to secure the 2-0 victory and send Barcelona through to the next round.
Barcelona's Winning Streak Continues
This victory marks Barcelona's 11th consecutive win across all competitions, maintaining their impressive form under coach Hansi Flick. The German manager fielded a strong lineup despite seeing rivals Real Madrid eliminated from the competition the previous day.
Racing Santander, who currently lead Spain's second division, gave a good account of themselves against the 32-time Copa del Rey winners. "We played the game we had to play, we played a 10 out of 10 match," said Racing defender Alvaro Mantilla. "Two offside goals and the chance at the end... it's okay, it's football."
In other Copa del Rey action, Valencia secured their quarter-final spot with a 2-0 away victory at Burgos. The competition continues to produce surprises and compelling football as teams chase Spain's prestigious domestic cup trophy.
