FC Barcelona defeated Guadalajara 2-0 in a hard-fought, thrilling encounter, advancing to the round of 16 in the Copa del Rey.
Even with a largely rotated squad, the visitors overwhelmingly controlled the ball and fashioned several opportunities, yet encountered fierce resistance from the hosts’ compact defensive setup.
The breakthrough eventually came when Andreas Christensen powered a header into the net from a Frenkie de Jong corner deep into the second half.
Guadalajara posed rare danger on counter-attacks but failed to breach the defense, enabling the title holders to advance despite an unconvincing overall performance.
Here are the Barcelona player ratings:
Marc-André ter Stegen (8/10)
Made a confident return from injury, distributing well and keeping a clean sheet with minimal threats to handle.
His presence added stability to a rotated defense against a defensive-minded opponent.
Andreas Christensen (8.5/10)
Absolutely dominant in the air and on the ground, winning nearly every duel and breaking the deadlock superbly.
His composure and reading of the game made him the standout performer in a match where Barcelona controlled possession.
Eric García (8/10)
Excellent in possession, stepping into midfield at times and providing progressive passes while remaining solid defensively.
Had a strong header saved, but showed great positioning and versatility throughout the game.
Frenkie de Jong (8.5/10)
Dictated the tempo from midfield with his vision and passing range, constantly breaking lines and maintaining control.
His experience was crucial on the rotated side, helping Barcelona dominate without conceding chances.
Marc Casadó (7.5/10)
Put in a tireless shift in the double pivot, recovering balls and keeping things tidy in midfield.
Reliable distribution and defensive work allowed the team to build attacks patiently against a packed defense.
Jofre Torrents (7.5/10)
Impressive on his opportunity at left-back, offering width in attack and defending solidly when called upon.
Showed promise with overlapping runs and no major defensive errors on debut-like appearance.
Marc Bernal (7/10)
Brought energy and pressing to the midfield in the first half before being substituted.
Contributed to possession dominance but was replaced as part of tactical adjustments.
Roony Bardghji (7.5/10)
Lively on the right wing, using his pace and dribbling to create promising moments and stretch the opposition.
Added dynamism to the attack, though the final product was sometimes lacking against deep defense.
Lamine Yamal (8/10)
Constant threat with his dribbling and quick feet, creating several openings and showing flashes of magic.
Unlucky not to get an assist or goal, but his individual skill kept Guadalajara on the back foot.
Fermín López (7.5/10)
Busy and creative in the attacking third, linking play effectively and pressing high to win balls back.
His movement and work rate helped in a rotated lineup that struggled to break down the low block at times.
Marcus Rashford (7.5/10)
Worked hard off the ball but struggled to influence the game significantly in the final third.
Scored the last goal at the end, but appeared isolated and quiet overall in a frustrating night up front.
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