A 90th-minute goal from Marcus Rashford ensured defending champions Barcelona kept Copa del Rey minnows Guadalajara at bay.
Posted on December 17, 2025
Late goals from Andreas Christensen and Marcus Rashford secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory for Barcelona against third-tier side Guadalajara on Tuesday, sending the Catalans into the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey.
Barcelona labored for much of the match at the Pedro EscartÃn stadium, maintaining more than 80% of the possession but struggling to break down a disciplined five-man Guadalajara defense.
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The home team posed a constant threat on the counter-attack and frustrated the European heavyweights for long periods.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick introduced regular starters Pau Cubarsi, Alejandro Balde, Jules Kounde and Pedri from the bench in the second half, looking for a breakthrough.
The changes finally paid off in the 77th minute, when Frenkie de Jong headed in a cross from the right and defender Christensen rose highest to receive the delivery, with his header deflecting off Guadalajara’s Julio MartÃnez before going into the net.
The hosts almost produced an immediate response, with Salifo Caropitche unleashing a fierce shot from distance, but Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, playing his first game for Barça since May, reacted superbly to deflect the shot over the bar, preserving his team’s slim lead.
Guadalajara’s hopes were extinguished in the dying moments when Lamine Yamal played a sublime pass into the path of Rashford.
The English striker showed great composition, misleading goalkeeper Dani Vicente with a quick cut to his left before putting the ball into the empty net to seal the result for Barcelona.
“They are complicated games, they come out with everything and we have to do the same,” Cubarsi told TVE.
“In the second half we picked up the pace and moved them from one side to the other to tire them out. As the minutes went by they got tired and that was the key point. They played spectacularly well.”
