Christensen and Rashford give Barcelona win over 3rd-tier club Guadalajara in Copa del Rey

Advertisement

Advertise with us

MADRID (AP) — Barcelona needed late goals by Andreas Christensen and Marcus Rashford to defeat third-division club Guadalajara 2-0 on Tuesday in the round of 32 of the Copa del Rey in a game delayed because of problems with the stadium's temporary grandstand.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Monthly Digital Subscription

$0 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*No charge for 4 weeks then price increases to the regular rate of $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

Monthly Digital Subscription

$4.99/week*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*Billed as $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

No thanks

*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $16.99 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $23.99 plus GST every four weeks.

MADRID (AP) — Barcelona needed late goals by Andreas Christensen and Marcus Rashford to defeat third-division club Guadalajara 2-0 on Tuesday in the round of 32 of the Copa del Rey in a game delayed because of problems with the stadium’s temporary grandstand.

Kickoff was delayed by half an hour because local authorities did not initially allow fans access to the newly built grandstand at the Pedro Escartín stadium in the city of Guadalajara near Madrid.

There were long lines outside the stadium until police finally permitted fans inside. The stadium’s capacity increased from nearly 6,000 to about 8,000 with the new stand.

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, duels for the balls with Guadalajara's Julio Martinez during the Copa del Rey soccer match between Guadalajara and Barcelona in Guadalajara, Spain, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Rudy Garcia)
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, duels for the balls with Guadalajara's Julio Martinez during the Copa del Rey soccer match between Guadalajara and Barcelona in Guadalajara, Spain, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Rudy Garcia)

Barcelona was in control from the start but struggled to create significant scoring chances against its lower-tier opponent.

Christensen finally broke the deadlock in the 76th minute with a header off a cross by Frenkie De Jong. Christensen’s header deflected off a defender before hitting the net.

The hosts had a few opportunities to equalize but couldn’t capitalize, and Rashford sealed the victory on a breakaway in the 90th.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick rested some of the team’s regular starters ahead of Spanish league leader’s visit to third-place Villarreal on Sunday.

Goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, who underwent back surgery in the offseason, was back in the starting lineup after 212 days.

Defender Pau Cubarsí, 18, made his 100th appearance with Barcelona. He made his first-team debut with the club in a Copa match in January 2024.

“These are tricky matches,” Cubarsí said. “They come out with full force, and we have to come out with the same intensity. They did a great job but we deserved it. We had more rhythm and more chances in the second half. As the time passed they started to get tired.”

Other results

Barcelona's Marcus Rashford, third left, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal with his teammates during the Copa del Rey soccer match between Guadalajara and Barcelona in Guadalajara, Spain, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Rudy Garcia)
Barcelona's Marcus Rashford, third left, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal with his teammates during the Copa del Rey soccer match between Guadalajara and Barcelona in Guadalajara, Spain, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Rudy Garcia)

In the upset of the night, second-division Deportivo La Coruna eliminated top-flight Mallorca 1-0.

The other first-division clubs advanced. Real Sociedad defeated Eldense 2-1 with a winner deep into stoppage time, while Valencia beat Sporting Gijon 2-0.

On Wednesday, Real Madrid visits third-division club Talavera, while Atletico Madrid is at fourth-tier team Atletico Baleares.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Report Error Submit a Tip

Soccer

LOAD MORE