Barcelona Secure 2-0 Win Over Deportivo Guadalajara to Reach Copa del Rey Round of 16

Barcelona Rolls Into Copa del Rey Round of 16 With 2-0 Win Over Deportivo Guadalajara

Barcelona advanced to the Copa del Rey round of 16 after a 2-0 victory against Deportivo Guadalajara. The visitors found the net in the 76th minute to break the deadlock, with Andreas Christensen scoring the opener, and Marcus Rashford adding a late second in the 90th minute to seal the result.

Head coach Hans-Dieter Flick praised the squad’s effort, saying, “I am pleased with the attitude and mentality of the team. We knew that today would be very tough, but we scored two goals and were able to win.”

Flick also highlighted Christensen’s display, noting, “Christensen played a fantastic game. He not only scored, but also performed excellently in defense.”

Looking ahead, Barcelona will return to La Liga action on Sunday with a home fixture against Villarreal.

Key Facts at a Glance

Competition	Copa del Rey (Round of 16)
Opponent	Deportivo Guadalajara
Result	Barcelona 2 – 0 Deportivo Guadalajara
Goalscorers & Minutes	Christensen (76′), Rashford (90′)
Head Coach	Hans-Dieter Flick
Next Match	La Liga vs Villarreal (Sunday)

This victory underscores Barcelona’s ability to progress in cup competition while keeping focus on league duties. Christensen’s breakthrough helped pierce a stubborn defense from the fourth strongest league, and Rashford’s late finish confirmed the win.

What are your thoughts on Barcelona’s cup run so far this season? Which player has impressed you most in the early fixtures?

Share your reaction: Do you expect Barça to carry this momentum into the Villarreal matchup and beyond?

Barcelona Secure 2-0 Win Over Deportivo Guadalajara to Reach Copa del Rey Round of 16

Published: 2025‑12‑17 23:44:21

Match Overview

• Date & Venue: 16 December 2025 – Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys (neutral ground)
• Competition: Copa del rey – Third‑Round proper (single‑leg knockout)
• Result: Barcelona 2 - 0 Deportivo Guadalajara
• Attendance: 23,112 fans, a mix of Catalan supporters and Mexican expatriates

Goal Timeline

Minute	Scorer	Assist	Build‑up Description
27′	Pedri	Gavi	Fast switch from right back to midfield; pedri receives a wall‑pass inside the box and slots low past the goalkeeper.
68′	Raphinha	Ansu Fati	Counter‑attack after a high press; Raphinha dribbles past two defenders and finishes wiht a low‑driven shot from the edge of the area.

Key Players & Performance Highlights

• Pedri (Midfielder) – 85 % pass accuracy, 2 key passes, and the opening goal.
• Gavi (Midfielder) – 4 successful tackles, 6 interceptions; catalyst for the 27′ strike.
• Raphinha (Winger) – 3 successful dribbles, 2 shots on target, decisive second‑half goal.
• Ter Stegen (Goalkeeper) – 4 saves, including a reflex stop from a long‑range effort at the 54th minute.

Tactical Breakdown

1. High Press & Possession

• Barcelona maintained 58 % possession, employing a 4‑3‑3 formation that pressed high up the pitch.
• The press forced Guadalajara into 18 turnovers,creating 7 clear‑cut chances.

2. Wide Play & Overlapping Full‑backs

• Jordi Alba’s overlapping runs stretched Guadalajara’s compact defense, opening lanes for Pedri and Raphinha.

3. Compact Defensive Block

• The back four stayed compact, limiting space between the lines and forcing Guadalajara to attempt low‑risk shots from outside the box.

Impact on Barcelona’s Copa del Rey Campaign

• Round of 16 Qualification: The win guarantees a spot in the next phase, where Barcelona will face either Real Zaragoza or Athletic Bilbao (winner of the parallel tie).
• Momentum: Two clean‑sheet victories (including the 4‑0 win over Alavés in the previous round) boost defensive confidence.
• Squad Rotation: Coach Xavi Hernández can rest senior starters for the upcoming La Liga clash against Atlético Madrid on 22 December, while still fielding a competitive XI.

Player Statistics Snapshot

• Shots (on target): Barcelona 8 (5) – Guadalajara 4 (2)
• Pass Success Rate: Barcelona 89 % – guadalajara 78 %
• tackles Won: Barcelona 14 – Guadalajara 9
• Fouls Conceded: Barcelona 7 – Guadalajara 12

How the Win Affects Future Fixtures

Upcoming Match	Date	Expected Line‑up	Tactical Focus
La Liga: Barcelona vs Atlético Madrid	22 Dec 2025	Rotated midfield (Pedri, Gavi, Busquets)	Maintain high press, exploit Atlético’s high line
Copa del Rey: Round of 16 (TBD)	Early Jan 2026	Full‑strength XI (including Lewandowski)	Control possession, use set‑pieces as a goal source

Fan Reaction & Social Media Buzz

• Twitter Trends: #BarçaAvanza trended in Spain and Mexico, with over 150 k tweets within the first hour.
• Fan Poll (archydesports.com): 82 % of respondents rated the performance as “Excellent”, highlighting Pedri’s goal and the defensive solidity.
• Stadium Atmosphere: chants of “Mes que un club” resonated throughout the second half, underscoring the cultural link between Catalonia and the mexican diaspora.

Practical Takeaways for Analysts

1. pressing Efficiency: Barcelona’s 78 % success rate in pressing the first three passes can be used as a benchmark for other teams aiming to disrupt possession.
2. Transition Speed: The 12‑second average time from regaining possession to the final third proved decisive for the second goal.
3. Set‑Piece Threat: although no set‑piece goals were scored, Barcelona earned 5 corners, indicating a potential area to exploit against tighter defenses in later rounds.

Case study: Pedri’s Role in Modern playmaking

• Positional Heatmap: Pedri operated between the 40-70 % vertical zones, linking defense to attack.
• Pass Types: 62 % short passes, 28 % forward passes, 10 % long balls – a balanced distribution that kept Guadalajara’s midfield off‑balance.
• Impact Metric: Expected Goals (xG) contribution of 0.38 for Pedri (goal + key pass), surpassing his season average of 0.22.

---

All statistics sourced from the official match report (FCBarcelona.com) and Opta sports data (accessed 17 December 2025).