01/15/26 04:28:00
Printable Page
01/15 16:27 CST Barcelona defeats 2nd-division club Racing 2-0 to advance to
quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey
Barcelona defeats 2nd-division club Racing 2-0 to advance to quarterfinals of
the Copa del Rey
By TALES AZZONI
AP Sports Writer
MADRID (AP) --- Defending champion Barcelona avoided an upset a day after Real
Madrid faltered in the Copa del Rey, edging second-division leader Racing
Santander 2-0 Thursday to reach the quarterfinals.
Madrid, which lost last year's Copa final to Barcelona, was eliminated by
second-tier team Albacete 3-2 on Wednesday in the debut of coach Alvaro Arbeloa.
Ferran Torres broke the deadlock in Santander on a breakaway in the 66th
minute, receiving a pass by Fermn Lpez and going past the goalkeeper before
finding the open net. Lamine Yamal sealed the victory in the sixth and final
minute of added time.
Racing had two goals disallowed for offside, one in the 77th and another in the
86th. It squandered a golden chance to equalize in a one-on-one situation in
second-half stoppage time, with Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garca making a
last-minute save on a shot by substitute Manex Lozano.
"Gladly we have Joan in goal," Torres said. "These teams are well prepared and
have players with a lot of quality, that's why it has been so tough (for the
first-division teams)."
The match was delayed in 15 minutes because of problems with access to the
stadium in northern Spain.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick did not start some of his top players, including
Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Pedri. All three of them entered the match as
second-half substitutes.
Before kickoff, Racing players did a guard of honor for the Spanish Super Cup
champions, lining up to salute the Barcelona players as they entered the field.
In the other round-of-16 game on Thursday, Valencia scored a goal in each half
to advance past second-tier club Burgos 2-0.
On Tuesday, Atletico Madrid beat second-division tier Deportivo La Corua 1-0.
The other teams that advanced to the last eight were Real Sociedad, Athletic
Bilbao, Real Betis and Alaves.
The draw for the quarterfinals will be on Monday.
The Copa final will be played in Sevilla on April 25.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
|
