CD Guadalajara 0-2 Barcelona: Christensen & Rashford seal hard-earned win

Andreas Christensen and Marcus Rashford struck late as Barcelona edged to a 2-0 victory over Guadalajara and ensured them a place in the Copa del Rey round of 16.

Match Report

Just six minutes into the game, Guadalajara goalkeeper Dani Vicente almost gifted Barcelona an opener; he could not hold onto Eric Garcia's dipping long-range effort as he stumbled on the line, but he just managed to stop the ball from crossing.

Barcelona struggled to break down their third-tier opponents as the first half went on, with Andreas Christensen and Fermin Lopez both seeing efforts from distance comfortably dealt with.

However, the visitors came out with a renewed spirit in the second half, and Rashford forced Vicente into a smart save with his right foot after bursting in behind following a one-two with Roony Bardghji.

Vicente smothered another Rashford shot just moments later, while Fermin's awkward acrobatic effort bounced narrowly wide under pressure.

However, they eventually got some luck as Christensen peeled away at the far post to meet Frenkie de Jong's delivery, and his header hit the back of the net after a big deflection off Julio Martinez 76 minutes in.

Guadalajara attempted to fight back, with Salifo Caropitche Mendes' long-range looping effort forcing Marc-Andre ter Stegen into a brilliant stretching stop, but they were undone again in the 90th minute as Rashford rounded Vicente to slot into the empty net and round off the match.

Data Debrief: Barcelona finally find cutting edge

For a long time in this match, Guadalajara comfortably dealt with Barcelona's threat, despite Hansi Flick fielding a strong team to start their Copa del Rey defence.

Barca finished the game with 1.95 expected goals (xG) from 21 shots, but had to be patient, only managing four shots in the box in the first half.

They eventually turned their 82.7% possession and 100 final-third entries into results, though, with Rashford getting the goal he deserved. Only Fermin (five) had more shots than him, but the Englishman had the most touches in the opposition box (12) and created three chances - only De Jong (four) had more.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

6' Eric García lobs from halfway line, keeper saves on line

11' Fermín cuts inside and fires wide from distance

18' Christensen fires from distance, keeper gathers

20' Rashford free-kick, keeper spills then gathers

22' Bardghji attempts another free-kick but it sails just wide

29' Fermín fires from distance but lifts just over

39' Yamal drives forward, pokes shot wide

45' Eric García headers in box, keeper saves again

51' Rashford again through on goal, low shot saved

61' De Jong lobs from outside box, keeper tips over bar

66' Bardghji cuts inside from outside box, keeper saves

68' Fermín header in box, keeper tips over bar

77' GOAL! Christensen header deflects in. CD Guadalajara 0-1 Barcelona

79' Ter Stegen denies long-range effort with diving save

82' Rashford goes down in box, referee waves away penalty appeals

86' Rashford breaks forward on left flank, pushes in the back

90' GOAL! CD Guadalajara 0-2 Barcelona (Marcus Rashford)

Line-ups

CD Guadalajara XI: Jorge Casado, Borja Díaz, Manu Ramírez, Álex Cañizo, Miguel Ángel Cera, Pablo Rojo, Julio Martínez, Dani Vicente, Samu Mayo, Agus Moreno, Javier Ablanque

Subs: Alberto Gil, Dani Gallardo, Amador Zarco, Toño Calvo, Raúl Tavares, David Amigo, Neskes, Pablo Muñoz, Unax Álvarez, Salifo Caropitche, Víctor Rodríguez

Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen, Christensen, De Jong, Rashford, Eric Garcia, Casado, Fermín López, Roony Bardghji, Yamal, Bernal, Jofre Torrents

Subs: Szczesny, Ferran Torres, Raphinha, Kounde, Pedri, Joan García, Balde, Gerard Martín, Cubarsi, Dro Fernández, Tommy Marqués