Barcelona booked their place in the Copa del Rey last 16 after grinding out a hard-fought 2–0 victory over third-tier side Guadalajara on Tuesday night. Despite being overwhelming favourites and entering the competition as defending champions, Barça found themselves pushed far more than expected before finally breaking the deadlock in the closing stages.
The home side held firm for most of the match, frustrating Barcelona with disciplined defending and quick counterattacks. It took until the 77th minute for the Catalans to find their breakthrough, when Andreas Christensen capitalised on a loose ball to fire in the opening goal.
Barcelona’s relief was evident, but they continued to struggle for clear chances until Marcus Rashford, on as a substitute, sealed the result with a composed finish in the 90th minute. The England international’s strike ensured a comfortable scoreline, even if the performance reflected anything but ease.
The victory sends La Liga leaders Barcelona into the next round, but the match served as a reminder that the Copa del Rey can deliver tense, unpredictable encounters—especially when top-tier giants meet determined lower-division challengers.
