Racing Santander vs Barcelona – Match preview and team news | OneFootball

Racing Santander will host La Liga leaders Barcelona in a Copa del Rey round of 16 clash on Thursday, at Estadio El Sardinero.

The Segunda Division frontrunners enter as significant underdogs against the Spanish champions, who return to competitive action buoyed by their impressive 3-2 Spanish Super Cup victory over arch-rivals Real Madrid just days earlier in Saudi Arabia.

Racing Santander vs Barcelona – Match preview and team news

Racing Santander team news

Racing Santander may be without several key personnel heading into this fixture. Forward Asier Villalibre is currently sidelined due to a hamstring injury, which significantly impacts their attacking options, while defender Clement Michelin is also unavailable due to an unspecified injury.

Juan Carlos Arana, who scored a crucial brace in Racing’s memorable 2-1 Copa del Rey victory over La Liga side Villarreal in the round of 32, is listed as a doubt and will be assessed ahead of Thursday’s encounter.

Head coach José Alberto Lopez’s squad demonstrated their capability against higher-division opponents through their clinical performance against Villarreal, with Arana’s two-goal contribution proving pivotal in that upset.

The home side will likely adopt a compact defensive structure, attempting to frustrate Barcelona through disciplined organisation and exploit rare counter-attacking opportunities when they arise.

Barcelona team news

Gavi remains out following surgery to address a meniscus injury sustained during training in August, with his return not expected until February. Andreas Christensen is also unavailable, sidelined by a partial ACL tear suffered during a training session in late December, ruling him out for an extended period with recovery anticipated in April. Additionally, Frenkie De Jong is suspended after his red card in the Spanish Supercup final.

However, manager Hansi Flick received a significant boost with the arrival of João Cancelo on loan from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal until the end of the season.

The 31-year-old Portuguese full-back, who previously spent the 2023-24 season on loan at Barcelona from Manchester City, returned to Camp Nou on January 12. Cancelo featured in 42 matches during his first spell, scoring four goals and providing five assists.

Ronald Araujo marked his competitive return following a month-long mental health break with a substitute appearance in Barcelona’s Spanish Super Cup triumph over Real Madrid.

The 26-year-old was granted leave of absence in November following his red card in the Champions League match against Chelsea, but has since reintegrated fully with the squad and appeared off the bench in the Super Cup final.

German goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen might start in goal after making his Copa del Rey return in the previous round against Guadalajara, though the veteran shot-stopper faces competition for his position following Barcelona’s summer signing of Joan García from Espanyol. Barcelona are likely to field a rotated squad given their demanding fixture schedule following the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia, presenting opportunities for fringe players and academy talents to gain minutes.

Form

Racing Santander

Racing Santander experienced a frustrating recent period that saw their unbeaten run terminated by a disappointing 3-2 home defeat to Real Zaragoza, representing their first loss in the Segunda División since November 9.

Before that setback, the Cantabrian outfit had displayed impressive resilience, securing three consecutive 1-1 league draws against Leganés, Huesca and Real Valladolid.

Barcelona

Barcelona are experiencing its most dominant period under Hansi Flick, having recorded an extraordinary 10 consecutive victories across all competitions.

This remarkable winning run equals a decade-old record previously achieved under Luis Enrique in 2016, with the potential to surpass it should they continue their form. The Catalan giants secured their first trophy of the season with a thrilling 3-2 Spanish Super Cup victory over arch-rivals Real Madrid in Jeddah on January 11, 2026.

Predicted lineups

Racing Santander: Ezkieta; Mantilla, Ramon, Gonzalez, Garcia; Gueye, Puerta; Sangalli, Canales, Camara; Martin

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Garcia, Araujo, Martin, Balde; Casado, Pedri; Bardghji, Olmo, Rashford; Ferran

How to watch Racing Santander vs Barcelona?

In the UK, Racing Santander vs Barcelona is being shown live on Premier Sports 1.

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