Torres and Yamal Find a Way as Catalans Navigate Tense Cup Night
Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal struck to send a workmanlike Barcelona into the Copa del Rey quarter-finals with a 2-0 victory at Racing Santander on Thursday, though the second-division leaders made the reigning champions fight for every inch.
In a surprisingly tense last-16 clash, the record 31-time winners were pushed hard by a spirited Racing side, who saw two goals chalked off for offside and missed a golden late chance to force extra time. The result extends Barcelona’s winning streak to 11 games across all competitions.
“We didn’t think they would be so hard to break down,” admitted match-winner Ferran Torres afterwards. “We knew we had to stretch the game, stay calm, and in the end it worked out.”
Still reeling from Real Madrid’s shock exit at Albacete a day earlier, Barça coach Hansi Flick took no chances, naming a strong lineup that included teenage sensation Lamine Yamal. After a delayed kick-off due to fan access issues, the visitors dominated the ball but struggled for a long time to create clear chances against a well-organised Racing defence.
The breakthrough finally came in the second half when Fermín López slipped in Torres, who calmly rounded goalkeeper Jokin Ezkieta and finished. Racing responded bravely, twice putting the ball in the net through Manex Lozano, only for both efforts to be ruled out for offside.
A dramatic stoppage-time save from Barcelona’s stand-in keeper Joan García, denying Lozano one-on-one, preserved the lead before Yamal sealed it with the last kick, tapping in Raphinha’s cross at the far post.
“We played the game we had to play—a 10 out of 10 match, with two offside goals and that chance at the end… It’s okay, it’s football,” reflected Racing defender Álvaro Mantilla.
In Thursday’s other tie, Valencia won 2-0 at Burgos to also secure their place in the last eight.
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