Racing 0-2 Barcelona Player Ratings: Ferran Torres, Lamine Yamal Score As Catalans Secure Easy Win

FC Barcelona booked their place in the next round of the Copa del Rey with a 2–0 win over Racing Santander. The scoreline looked comfortable, but the match was very much intense.

Racing Santander played at home at El Sardinero. They defended very well and made life hard for Barcelona. For much of the game, an upset felt possible.

FC Barcelona controlled the ball in the first half but struggled to create chances. Racing stayed compact and organised. Marc Bernal hit the crossbar in a rare clear moment. Nothing worked for Barça in the final third.

The second half was different. Barcelona increased the pressure and played with more speed. The breakthrough came in the 66th minute. Ferran Torres scored to give Barça the lead.

Racing continued to fight, but Barcelona stayed patient. Deep into stoppage time, Lamine Yamal scored the second goal. It ended any hopes of a comeback.

It was not an easy night for Barcelona. However, they demonstrated discipline and patience in completing the task. Here are Sportsdunua's Racing vs Barcelona player ratings:

Key Takeaways:

1. Racing Santander defended strongly and frustrated Barcelona in the first half.
2. Ferran Torres scored the opening goal in the 66th minute.
3. Lamine Yamal sealed the win with a late goal in stoppage time.

Barcelona Player Ratings vs Racing Santander

Here are Barcelona player ratings from the Copa del Rey fixture:

Goalkeeper

Joan García - 8.0: A really solid performance from the man between the sticks. He wasn't peppered with shots all night, but he made a couple of vital saves in the first half that kept the score level. What stood out to us was his calm presence and clean handling. He commanded his area well, especially on high claims, which was crucial in settling the defense's nerves against a team looking for any scrap.

Defenders

Jules Koundé - 7.5: A very busy and effective night for the Frenchman. He had an incredible 139 touches, showing just how involved he was in building play from the back. Defensively he was sound, winning most of his duels and making some important tackles. From our perspective, he was a key cog in recycling possession and probing the Racing defense, always looking for that forward pass.

Pau Cubarsí - 8.0: What a talent. This kid plays with a composure that defies his age. His passing was almost flawless, completing 108 of 113 passes. He never looked flustered, even when Racing tried to press him. He made five crucial clearances and was 100% in his duels. A truly mature and dominant display at the heart of the defence.

Alejandro Balde - 6.5: A quieter game than we're used to seeing from Balde. He was solid enough defensively, making a couple of clearances and tackles. However, he didn't offer that explosive threat going forward that we know he possesses. He kept possession well but seemed reluctant to take on his man. A steady but unspectacular evening's work.

Gerard Martín - 7.0: A very tidy performance. He was excellent on the ball with a 92% pass accuracy and contributed to the attack with some good forward passes. The one blemish was an error that led to a shot, a moment that could have been costly on another night. But overall, he was reliable and showed good defensive awareness throughout the ninety minutes.

Midfielders

Marc Casadó - 7.0: Casadó put in a real shift in the middle of the park. He broke up play effectively, winning a good number of his duels and recovering the ball six times. He kept things simple and ticking over in possession. It wasn't a flashy performance, but it was an important one that provided a solid base for the more creative players to work from.

Marc Bernal - 7.0: He was so unlucky not to score, with that thunderous strike that came back off the crossbar. Beyond that moment, he was a real presence in midfield, winning a remarkable 8 duels. He was combative and always looked to get involved, though he did get caught offside once. A very promising performance that showed both his defensive grit and attacking intent.

Dani Olmo - 6.5: We expected a bit more from Olmo tonight. He seemed to drift in and out of the game, struggling to make a real impact before he was substituted. While his passing was decent and he worked hard, he didn't provide that creative spark we know he can. A slightly forgettable performance from him.

Forwards

Lamine Yamal - 8.5: Our man of the match for Barcelona. The youngster was a constant, electrifying threat. He scored the game-sealing goal, created a whopping six chances for his teammates, and even hit the woodwork. Yes, he lost possession a lot, but that's a byproduct of his fearless, direct style. Every time he got the ball, you felt something could happen. An outstanding and decisive performance.

Ferran Torres - 8.0: As captain for the night, he led by example. He was in the right place at the right time to score the crucial opening goal, a real poacher's finish. His movement was sharp, and he worked tirelessly to press the Racing backline. It was a goal that broke the game open and his contribution was immense.

Marcus Rashford - 6.5: A frustrating night for Rashford. He got into some great positions and had a few decent shots, but his finishing was wayward. The big chance missed in the second half summed up his game. He worked hard and drew fouls, but you just felt he left his shooting boots at home. A performance full of effort but lacking that clinical edge.

Substitutes

Raphinha, Pedri, Robert Lewandowski, Eric García: The substitutes came on to either change the game or see it out. Lewandowski had a couple of shots saved, while the others added fresh legs and control to help Barcelona secure the win without much drama in the final stages. No ratings for their limited minutes.

Manager

H. Flick - 7.5: A solid managerial performance. His starting lineup, a blend of youth and experience, was tested but ultimately got the job done. His second-half substitutions provided the impetus needed to break down a very stubborn opponent. He showed patience and his changes were effective in securing the win.

Racing Santander Player Ratings vs FC Barcelona

Goalkeeper

Jokin Ezkieta - 8.5: Absolutely heroic. If it weren't for Ezkieta, this could have been a much heavier defeat for Racing. He made five massive saves, several of them from point-blank range, to keep his team in the contest for so long. His save against Rashford in the 49th minute was world-class. Despite conceding two, he was, without a doubt, the best player on the pitch. An incredible display of goalkeeping.

Defenders

Álvaro Mantilla - 6.5: A warrior's performance. He threw himself into tackles and made four key interceptions. It was a tough night against a top-quality attack, but he never shirked his responsibilities. He made some crucial blocks and clearances to keep his side in it.

Manu Hernando - 6.5: He was at the heart of a defense under siege and stood up to the challenge for the most part. He made a massive seven clearances and a couple of important blocks. He was physically imposing but ultimately the constant pressure from Barcelona was too much to handle for the full 90 minutes.

Javi Castro - 6.0: A difficult evening for Castro. He put his body on the line with a few blocks and tackles. However, he was caught out of position a couple of times and struggled with the movement of Barça's forwards. A battling performance but one where the quality gap showed.

Mario García - 5.5: He had a really tough time, especially against Lamine Yamal. He picked up an early yellow card which meant he had to be careful for the rest of his time on the pitch. He was eventually substituted after a challenging night where he was often on the back foot. A performance he'll want to forget.

Midfielders

Íñigo Sainz-Maza - 6.0: The captain worked tirelessly but was chasing shadows for large parts of the game. He made a couple of tackles and interceptions but was overrun by the technical quality of Barcelona's midfield. His effort was undeniable, but he couldn't get a foothold in the match.

Aritz Aldasoro - 6.5: One of Racing's better performers in the first half. He was energetic, made some key ball recoveries, and even tested the keeper with a shot on target. He put in a solid shift defensively before being substituted. A respectable outing against top opposition.

Maguette Gueye - 6.0: A tough night for Gueye. He struggled to get into the game, losing most of his duels and getting caught offside a couple of times. He was disciplined in his defensive shape but offered very little going forward or in possession. He was largely anonymous.

Suleiman Camara - 7.0: Racing's most dangerous player by a mile. He was a bundle of energy, making an incredible 10 ball recoveries and always looking to run at the Barça defence. He drew fouls and got into some good areas, even if his final product was sometimes lacking. A really bright spark in a team that spent most of the night defending.

Forwards

Giorgi Guliashvili - 6.0: He was completely isolated up front. He barely touched the ball and had no real opportunities to speak of. While his pass completion was 100%, he only made 7 passes all game. It's hard to rate him too harshly given the lack of service.

Juan Carlos Arana - 6.0: Similar to his strike partner, Arana had very little to work with. He had one headed chance that went over the bar but was otherwise a spectator for most of the first half before being substituted. A thankless task for him tonight.

Substitutes

Manex Lozano, Damián Rodríguez, Marco Sangalli, Iñigo Vicente, Andrés Martín: The substitutes tried to add some energy and pose a different threat, but by the time they came on, Barcelona had taken control of the match. They worked hard but couldn't change the outcome.

Manager

J. López Menéndez - 7.0: You have to give him credit. He set his team up brilliantly to frustrate a giant of Spanish football. For over an hour, his game plan worked to perfection. His side was organised, disciplined, and resilient. In the end, the sheer difference in quality told, but he can be proud of how his team competed.

Man of the Match

Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona was the player of the match.

Worst Performer

Mario Garcia was unable to showcase his full potential for Racing Santander.