Spanish football returns to the historic El Sardinero stadium tonight, Thursday, January 15, 2026, as Racing Santander hosts FC Barcelona in a high-stakes Copa del Rey Round of 16 fixture. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 GMT (21:00 local time).
This single-leg knockout tie features a clash between the leaders of Spain's top two divisions. Hansi Flick’s Barcelona, fresh off their Spanish Super Cup victory, faces a Racing side that has already proven its "giant-killer" credentials this season.
Match Overview: Top of La Liga vs. Top of Segunda
Racing Santander: The Giants of the North
Racing Santander enters this fixture as the current leaders of the Segunda División (La Liga HyperMotion). Despite a recent 3–2 stumble against Real Zaragoza, Jose Alberto Lopez’s side has been the most consistent team in the second tier. Their journey to the Round of 16 was highlighted by a dramatic 2–1 victory over Villarreal, proving they can compete with elite top-flight opposition.
FC Barcelona: Defending the Streak
Barcelona arrives in Santander in peak form, currently enjoying a 10-match winning streak across all competitions. Following their 3–2 triumph over Real Madrid in Saudi Arabia to claim the Super Cup, Hansi Flick is expected to rotate his squad while maintaining the high-intensity tactical setup that has seen them dominate La Liga. This match also marks the potential re-debut of João Cancelo, who recently rejoined the club on loan.
Team News and Predicted Lineups
Racing Santander Team News
Key Absences: Veteran striker Asier Villalibre is ruled out with a hamstring injury. Defender Clement Michelin is also unavailable.
Injury Doubt: Juan Carlos Arana, the hero of the previous round against Villarreal, is a late fitness doubt and will undergo an assessment before kick-off.
Player to Watch: Íñigo Vicente, the leading assist provider in the second tier, will be the primary creative threat for the hosts.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Ezkieta; Mantilla, Ramon, Gonzalez, Garcia; Gueye, Puerta; Sangalli, Canales, Vicente; Martín.
FC Barcelona Team News
Suspensions: Frenkie de Jong is unavailable following a red card in the Super Cup final.
Injury List: Gavi and Andreas Christensen remain long-term absentees as they continue their respective ACL rehabilitation programs.
Expected Rotation: Flick is likely to hand starts to Marcus Rashford, Ferran Torres, and young sensation Roony Bardghji. Ronald Araújo is also poised for his first start since returning to the squad.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Szczęsny; Eric Garcia, Araujo, Gerard Martín, Balde; Casadó, Pedri, Dani Olmo; Bardghji, Ferran Torres, Rashford.
Technical Stats and Head-to-Head (H2H)
Winning Streak: Barcelona has won 10 consecutive matches, their longest run since 2016.
Historical Edge: This is the first meeting between the two clubs since 2012. Barcelona has won the last seven head-to-head encounters.
Home Fortress: Racing Santander has only lost two competitive matches at El Sardinero in the 2025/26 campaign.
Offensive Output: Barcelona has scored 14 goals in their last five outings while conceding only twice.
Match Prediction: Racing Santander vs. FC Barcelona
While Racing Santander possesses the tactical organization and home-field advantage to frustrate the visitors, the sheer depth and momentum of Hansi Flick’s squad make them heavy favorites. Racing's ability to stay in the game will depend on goalkeeper Jokin Ezkieta, but Barcelona’s clinical finishing should ultimately secure their passage to the quarter-finals.
Final Score Prediction: Racing Santander 1–3 FC Barcelona
Broadcast Information
Spain: Movistar+ (LaLiga TV Bar, M+ LaLiga)
UK: Viaplay Sports
USA: ESPN+
International: Follow live updates via the official FC Barcelona app.
