Three talking points ahead of Barcelona vs Racing Santander in the Copa del Rey

Having clinched their first silverware of the 2025/26 season with the Spanish Tremendous Cup in Jeddah, FC Barcelona now flip their focus to the Copa del Rey, the place they’ve a recreation scheduled in opposition to Racing Santander.

A visit to the Estadio El Sardinero may be tough for Hansi Flick’s crew, though, on paper, Barcelona are anticipated to emerge victorious on the night time. Nevertheless, in a single-legged away tie, no crew may be taken with no consideration.

The German supervisor will likely be seeking to rotate the crew a good bit with out compromising competitiveness. Ideally, they’d get a outcome with out giving many minutes to their common starters.

With all this in thoughts, listed here are three speaking factors for Barcelona forward of their journey to Cantabria within the Copa del Rey.

1: The League leaders vs The League

A match in opposition to a second-division aspect may look simple on paper, however Barcelona versus Racing Santander will likely be a conflict between La Liga leaders and La Liga 2 leaders, and is unlikely to be a stroll within the park.

The second-division aspect performs an excellent model of soccer and is displaying the standard to achieve promotion to La Liga for the 2026/27 season. As seen with Elche, promoted sides have greater than sufficient to hassle among the greatest groups within the prime flight.

Thus, tomorrow guarantees to be a really thrilling recreation for any impartial Spanish soccer fan. It’s a spectacle between two groups that play a gorgeous model of soccer, and Hansi Flick and co. will need to be on the precise aspect of the outcome and progress to the subsequent spherical.

2: Time for Ronald Araujo?

Ronald Araujo made a return to motion within the dying minutes of the Spanish Tremendous Cup ultimate in opposition to Actual Madrid after Frenkie de Jong was despatched off for a deal with on Kylian Mbappe. Flick wished to shut out the sport, and it was the Uruguayan’s first look in additional than a month.

The South American defender made himself unavailable for choice after his debacle at Stamford Bridge in opposition to Chelsea. Araujo, at his greatest, may be a wonderful defender, and the hope is that this break may have performed him the world of fine.

The 26-year-old is now at a stage of his Barcelona profession the place the subsequent six months might be make-or-break. That would begin in opposition to Racing Santander, if the Uruguayan feels match sufficient to start out within the Copa del Rey.

A very good efficiency would go a great distance in the direction of restoring Araujo’s confidence, and we must wait and see how issues play out.

3: Joao Chancello’s 2nd Barcelona.

Barcelona haven’t made many winter additions to the squad in latest seasons, and even Vitor Roque, who arrived a few Januarys in the past, had a forgettable six months on the membership earlier than transferring on in quest of new adventures.

That stated, there may be some pleasure that the Catalan membership has signed Joao Cancelo on mortgage till the tip of the season. The Portuguese full-back will add quite a lot of high quality to Hansi Flick’s crew, beginning tomorrow.

The 31-year-old remains to be a way off full match sharpness, however Flick confirmed in his pre-match press convention that Cancelo might see some minutes off the benchrelying on the scenario.

Will probably be a beautiful second to see Cancelo again in a Barcelona jersey as soon as once more, and, if he does make his second debut, allow us to hope it is available in a successful trigger for the crew.