Bold takeaway: Even a destination that looks routine can hinge on attitude and a touch of late drama. Barcelona edged past a spirited, lower-league Guadalajara side 2-0 in their Copa del Rey Round of 32 clash, with late goals from Andreas Christensen and Marcus Rashford sealing the win after a stadium delay that forced a half-hour kickoff.
A stand that wasn’t ready, a crowd kept waiting, and a game that began with Barça in the driver’s seat but short on clear-cut chances. The Pedro Escartín stadium in Guadalajara, near Madrid, expanded its capacity from about 6,000 to roughly 8,000 thanks to a new temporary grandstand, but local authorities initially blocked fan entry, prolonging the build-up as fans queued outside.
Coach Hansi Flick praised the team’s mindset after the final whistle. He highlighted attitude as the decisive factor in cup football, where the opposition often deploys compact, stubborn defenses. “I was happy with the attitude we showed today,” Flick said. “That was the key to victory. In these Copa games, it’s not easy because they defend really well. But the attitude and mentality on the pitch mattered most.”
For this fixture, Flick rolled out Marc-André ter Stegen for his first start of the season, with Joan García rested. The plan wasn’t to diminish García’s role—Flick reiterated that García remains the number one—but Ter Stegen was given a chance to prove he’s back to his best.
“Marc is the captain and has spent around 12 years at the club,” Flick explained. “He’s back now, and we wanted to give him an opportunity to show that. This was the purpose of this game.”
Guadalajara, determined to test their famed opponent, forced Ter Stegen into action early by striking from the halfway line, a shot Ter Stegen had to scramble to stop. Barça, meanwhile, tested Vicente on the other end with a distance effort from Eric García that nearly fooled the goalkeeper. Dani Vicente also had to contend with long-range efforts from Christensen and a Rashford free kick after a Yamal surge.
After the break, Rashford’s sharpness returned to trouble Vicente, who denied him on two occasions from close range. The deadlock finally broke in the 76th minute when a well-worked corner reached Frenkie de Jong. His precise cross found Christensen, whose header powered past an inspired Vicente.
The sealing blow arrived when Rashford seized Yamal’s through-ball, danced around the keeper, and rolled the ball into an empty net to seal the 2-0 win.
This report draws on information from ESPN’s Sam Marsden, The Associated Press, and PA.
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