Fermin 8.5, Yamal 9 | Racing Santander 0-2 Barcelona: Player Ratings | OneFootball

Barcelona did not hold back when facing off against Racing Santander in the Copa del Rey Round of 16 last night as Hansi Flick deployed several starters right from the get-go.

The intention, clearly, was not to take the lower division opposition for granted at any stage in the game given how they often pull up surprises. Indeed, Racing played with incredible intensity and did not make it easy for Barcelona.

Both teams tussled hard in the opening half to no avail, and while Barcelona clearly had the better chances, even they could not open the scoring.

It was only Ferran Torres’s well-worked finish past the hour mark that gave them the lead, giving them something narrow to hold onto until the end. Yamal doubled the lead at the very end.

Barça Universal brings you the player ratings from Racing Santander 0-2 Barcelona.

Joan Garcia: 8

Garcia was forced into some routine saves on the night and dealt with them confidently, all while ensuring that he sweeps and distributes the ball as Flick hoped from him. 

Alejandro Balde: 7.5

Balde, surprisingly, was the less involved of the two full-backs in attack on the night. His performance did not have many negatives to point out, but his combination with Rashford is clearly not as fluid as it is with Raphinha.

Gerard Martin: 7.5

A solid show from the academy graduate in central defence. While he was not involved as much as Cubarsi in defensive actions directly, he was crucial in the buildup phase and maintained the offside trap to good effect.

Pau Cubarsi: 8

Cubarsi stood out with his decision-making on the night as he chipped in with vital defensive actions to keep the hosts at bay. He was one of the players most involved in the buildup and rarely ever missed a pass.

Jules Kounde: 8

Kounde looked inspired on the night and was constantly overlapping with Yamal on the flank to get behind the defence and deliver a cross. While he got into good positions, Racing’s resilient defence ensured his crosses came to nothing.

Defensively, Kounde was alert and cut off the opponent’s buildup on his flank at the roots time and time again.

Marc Casado: 6.5

Casado was far from his best. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Casado had an average outing against the second-division side and found himself outmuscled at times. In fact, the opponent’s biggest chance of the first half came off his dispossession.

His distribution was positive as was his comfort in possession. What he could have done better, however, was the verticality in his passes and buildup.

Marc Bernal: 8.5

Bernal stood out against Racing with a performance that will cause many eyes to fall on him, especially that of Hansi Flick. After all, he showed all the right signs to demand more prominence.

The youngster showed signs of complete fitness, was sharp with his decisions, feints and passes on the night and cut off Racing’s buildup effectively in his lane. His movements and link-up, needless to say, leave fans desperate to see more of him.

Dani Olmo: 8.5

Olmo was the Barcelona player constantly working his way into the opposition box on the night, combining with Yamal through delicate passes and trying to find space in front of goal. For all his persistence, however, he barely found good openings.

His involvement on the night, however, was massive and he had one of the team’s biggest chances but failed to get on the end of Rashford’s cross.

Marcus Rashford: 8

Rashford improved after the break.. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

The Englishman was lively down the left flank but not involved as much in the buildup as he would have liked to. Some of his crosses were as accurate as they get while others turned out extremely wayward.

He left a positive impact on the game, but still leaves fans asking for more of him, especially in terms of his adaptation to the team’s style of play and his decision-making. Was much better in the second half with more goal attempts.

Lamine Yamal: 9

A great performance and a late goal for Yamal. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Yamal was the single-most involved Barcelona player on the night as he took on the responsibility of creating chances on himself. He was heavily marked by the opposition, but found ways to wriggle out time and time again.

Combined extensively with Olmo and Torres and created some half-chances, although not much of value in the first half. Was relentless afer the break and scored with the final kick of the game.

Ferran Torres: 8

The striker was Barcelona’s least involved player in the opening period and had no shots to show at the end of 45 minutes. At the same point, he completed just three passes and had only eight touches of the ball.

He did, however, make the most of his chance when he was presented with it as he took the ball cleanly around the goalkeeper and finished with poise to hand the team the lead midway through the second half.

Fermin Lopez: 8.5

The youngster was Flick’s first substitute on the night and immediately improved Barcelona’s attacking outlets. Earned the assist for Ferran Torres’ opener with a great ball threaded through the Racing defence.