Second-half goals by Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal ensured Barcelona did not join Real Madrid in suffering a Copa del Rey shock as the visitors knocked out impressive second-tier hosts Racing Santander at the Campos de Sport de El Sardinero.
Top scorer Torres collected Fermin Lopez’s pass and calmly went around goalkeeper Jokin Ezkieta to make the breakthrough with 24 minutes remaining in a testing last-16 tie for the holders, who almost conceded before Yamal struck during added time.
The second-tier leaders had the better chances during the first half and threatened to level three times through substitute Manex Lozano, who had two potential equalisers swiftly and correctly ruled offside before being denied by goalkeeper Joan Garcia in a one-on-one during added time.
With their opponents committing more players forward in pursuit of a reply, Yamal added Barca’s second in the ensuing attack by slotting in from Raphinha’s cross.
You can read text updates and stats from the match as they happened here.
Ferran Torres opens the scoring! 🔵🔴
Fermín López plays a superb ball through to the forward who coolly finds the net 🤌 pic.twitter.com/11M4vXMyj6
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) January 15, 2026
Racing Santander vs Barcelona: Barca in Copa del Rey win
Perhaps wary of emulating Madrid’s embarrassment at second-division Albacete on Wednesday, Barca coach Hansi Flick named a strong side including Yamal, Torres and England striker Rashford, who forced Ezkieta to push his shot behind as part of a far more dangerous second-half display by the La Liga leaders.
Flick’s concerns were demonstrated by the triple change he prepared before the goal and enacted after it, sending on Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Pedri for Torres, Dani Olmo and Rashford.
Torres now has 15 goals in all competitions this season, but that will be one of the few positives Flick will take from this tie aside from a hard-earned quarter-final place, although Barca also left it late to win 2-0 at third-tier Guadalajara in the previous round, scoring in the 76th minute and 90th minutes on that occasion.
Racing knocked out LaLiga side Villarreal 2-1 at home in the last 32 and believed they had scored through the second of Lozano’s low finishes during the closing stages, with the boisterous home fans willing their team to take one of the numerous chances they fashioned in pursuit of an upset.
Joan Garcia’s crucial intervention and Yamal’s tap-in settled the contest and offered relief for Barcelona, who are next in action away to Real Sociedad on Sunday (20:00 GMT).
Racing host Las Palmas on the same day (15:15).
Leaders of the top two divisions collide in the Copa del Rey Round of 16 🙌
Watch Racing de Santander vs Barcelona live on Premier Sports 1 now 📺 pic.twitter.com/FA1TnxohXu
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) January 15, 2026
Racing Santander team vs Barcelona
Georgia forward Giorgi Guliashvili was a lively presence on his debut for Racing, having joined from FK Sarajevo for around £2.2 million.
Defender Alvaro Mantilla, who knew he would be suspended for the home league match against Las Palmas on Sunday, was the only player retained in the starting line-up from the 3-2 home defeat to Zaragoza on Saturday.
Juan Carlos Arana scored both goals against Villarreal inside the first 29 minutes and started, having been an injury doubt.
On-loan Alaves forward Asier Villalibre was absent with a hamstring injury sustained earlier this month.
Racing Santander starting XI: Jokin Ezkieta, Alvaro Mantilla, Javi Castro, Manu Hernando, Mario Garcia, Suleiman Camara, Aritz Aldasoro, Maguette Gueye, Inigo Sainz-Maza, Juan Carlos Arana, Giorgi Guliashvili
Santander substitutes: Laro Gomez, Inigo Vicente, Andres Martin, Marco Sangalli, Peio Canales, Gustavo Puerta, Pablo Ramon, Damian Rodriguez, Manex Lozano, Jorge Salinas, Sergio Martinez
Barcelona team vs Racing Santander
Yamal was one of five Barca players to keep their starting places from the 3-2 Super Cup final win over Real Madrid in Jeddah on Sunday.
Joan Garcia and defenders Pau Cubarsi, Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde were also retained. Midfielder Frenkie de Jong was suspended after being sent off in the 90th minute of that game for a foul on Kylian Mbappe.
Full-back Joao Cancelo was on the bench after rejoining the club on loan from Al-Hilal until the end of the season.
Defender Andreas Christensen was missing with a serious knee injury. Midfielder Gavi was continuing his recovery from knee surgery.
Barcelona starting XI: Gerard Martin, Cased Mark, Mark Bernal
Barca substitutes: Marsh-Andre, Son, Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Lopez, Roony Garcia, Eric Garcia, Szczesny, Markets.
How to watch Barcelona: Live stream, TV channel
Live coverage of Barcelona matches in the UK is on Premier Sports, with streaming available on a vast range of devices via the Premier Sports app.
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Racing Santander v Barcelona stats
- This was the first encounter between these sides since the 2011/12 LaLiga season, when Barca won 3-0 away in October and 2-0 at home in March
- The teams’ most recent meeting in this competition had been a two-legged last-16 tie in February 1989, Barcelona winning 1-0 at home in the first leg and 3-2 away in the second
- Racing were appearing in the Copa del Rey last 16 for the first time since 2013/14, having eliminated La Liga side Villarreal 2-1 at home in the previous round
- Their largest ever win in this fixture had been a 5-0 home victory over a Barca side managed by football icon Johan Cruyff in February 1995
- They have scored five more goals than any other team in this season’s Segunda Division, but only three teams have conceded more
- Barcelona are on an 11-match winning run in all competitions
- In nine of their previous 12 meetings with Spanish sides, they had netted at least three goals
- They have won their most recent eight competitive matches against Racing and kept a clean sheet in the last six, last losing the fixture in January 2004
- Barca have won the Copa del Rey more times than anyone else (32 to Athletic Club’s 24) and reached the final most often (43 to Real Madrid’s 41)
- A 1-0 home defeat by Leganes on December 15 2024 remains the last time Barcelona failed to score against a Spanish club
