La Liga leaders Barcelona will hit the road to square up against an in-form Racing Santander in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey.

League leaders from Spain’s first and second divisions will face each other in the Copa del Rey round of 16, as Racing Santander are all set to host Hansi Flick’s Barcelona at Estadio El Sardinero on Thursday.

The home team are first in the second division with 38 points in their 21 outings. They have made it this far in the competition by taking down SD Logrones, SD Ponferradina, and Villarreal. Going past the third-placed team in the top flight in the round of 32 would have been a massive boost for them.

While Racing Santander will be confident about their chances, going up against Barcelona certainly won’t be easy, given the kind of form the Blaugrana have been in. Speaking of, the Catalan giants are atop La Liga, and they have a four-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid.

Hansi Flick’s men have won their last ten games across competitions, and they are heading into this fixture on the back of their triumph in the Spanish Super Cup. The 3-2 win over bitter rivals Real Madrid in Saudi Arabia is certainly a massive boost for the team that are going after all major titles.

Meanwhile, Barcelona secured a comfortable 2-0 win over CD Guadalajara in the round of 32, and they will be looking for something similar against Racing. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.

Team News & Tactics

Racing Santander

The home team will be without the services of Asier Villalibere because of a hamstring injury. Meanwhile, Arana is a doubt after being left out of their squad for their last outing.

The second division outfit will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, where Jokin Ezkieta will take charge in goal. Alvaro Mantilla and Mario Garcia are expected to be the full-backs, while Pablo Ramon should pair up with Facundo Gonzalez in the heart of the defence.

As for the midfield unit, Maguette Gueye and Gustavo Puerta will form the double pivot in the middle of the park. The central duo will shield the backline, and they will look to ensure Barcelona do not enjoy too much easy possession.

Marco Sangalli and Suleiman Camara will feature on the flanks for the home team. Peio Canales will take up the number ten role, while Andres Martin should be lead the line for Racing Santander against Barcelona on Wednesday.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ezkieta; Mantilla, Ramon, Gonzalez, Garcia; Gueye, Puerta; Sangalli, Canales, Camara; Martin

Barcelona

Hansi Flick does not have any fresh injuries to deal with, but he does remain without the services of Gavi and Andreas Christensen due to their knee injuries. Meanwhile, Frenkie De Jong is suspended following a late red card in the Spanish Super Cup final against Real Madrid.

The visitors will also line up in a 4-2-3-1, and Hansi Flick will certainly make wholesale changes to the XI that started in their last outing. Marc-Andre ter Stegen is expected to start in goal after having started their last Copa del Rey outing. Eric Garcia and Alejandro Balde could be the full-backs, while Ronald Araujo will pair up with Gerard Martin in the heart of the defence.

As for the midfield unit, Marc Casado could start alongside Pedri in the double pivot in the centre of the park. They will shield the backline and look to control the tempo of the game.

Dani Olmo will take up the number ten role, while Roony Bardghji and Marcus Rashford will feature on the flanks, providing much-needed width to their attacks. Ferran Torres should return to the starting XI to spearhead the Barcelona attack against Racing Santander.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): ter Stegen; Garcia, Araujo, Martin, Balde; Casado, Pedri; Bardghji, Olmo, Rashford; Ferran Torres

Key Stats

• Barcelona have won each of their last ten games across competitions.
• The two teams have faced each other on 100 occasions; Barcelona have won 62 times, while Racing Santander have come out on top on 17 occasions.
• Both teams have faced each other in the Copa del Rey on 12 occasions; Barcelona have won nine and lost just twice.
• Racing Santander last squared up against the Catalan giants in the cup competition during the 1988/89 season.
• The second division outfit have reached the last eight stage on 14 occasions.

Player to Watch

Roony Bardghji

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Since joining Barcelona last summer, the 20-year-old Swedish international has only had limited game time, but he has surely made a massive impact every time he has taken the field. Bardghji has six goal contributions in just 413 minutes of first-team action.

Five of those goal contributions have come in his last two starts for the team. Given the kind of form he has been in, the Swedish winger will certainly look to make the most out of this opportunity against the Spanish second division outfit.

Prediction

Racing Santander 0-4 Barcelona

Racing Santander will take confidence from their strong league form and an impressive Copa del Rey run, but the step up in quality against Barcelona is significant. The hosts are likely to stay compact, defend deep, and look to frustrate the away side by limiting space between the lines, while hoping to capitalise on rare counter-attacking opportunities or set-pieces.

Barcelona, riding a ten-game winning streak and fresh off their Spanish Super Cup triumph, should control possession and dictate the tempo from the outset. Even with rotation, the visitors have enough depth and attacking firepower to gradually wear Racing down.

If they are clinical in the final third and avoid complacency, the Catalan giants should secure a convincing victory. The Hard Tackle predicts a comfortable 4-0 win for Hansi Flick and his charges.