Barcelona face Racing Santander in the 2026 Copa del Rey while riding strong momentum and entering the match as clear favorites to lift the trophy, especially after Real Madrid were eliminated by Albacete. Barcelona arrive in high spirits, but the matchup comes with a major question mark, as two of their top stars, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski, are not in the starting lineup.
The decision to leave both players out is entirely tactical and was made by head coach Hansi Flick. Raphinha and Lewandowski were starters in the Barcelona Spanish Super Cup victory against Real Madrid and have logged heavy minutes early in 2026, prompting Flick to prioritize injury prevention during a critical stretch of the season.
Both players remain available on the bench, signaling rotation rather than concern as Barcelona manage their squad depth. Another notable absence for Barcelona is Pedri, who, like his teammates, remains on the bench as part of a planned rotation to manage workload and recovery.
Despite those absences, Barcelona are still expected to put together a strong performance, given the depth of their squad and several intriguing changes among key positions. Ferran Torres steps in for Robert Lewandowski, Marcus Rashford replaces Raphinha, and Dani Olmo fills Pedri’s role, while young midfielders Marc Bernal and Marc Casadó are also set to receive minutes.
Barcelona’s confirmed lineup
The starting XI confirmed by head coach Hansi Flick is as follows: Joan García in goal; Jules Koundé, Pau Cubarsí, Gerard Martín, and Alejandro Balde across the back line; Marc Casadó and Marc Bernal in midfield; with Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, and Marcus Rashford supporting Ferran Torres in attack.
The current form of both teams
Racing Santander arrive as leaders of Segunda División with 38 points from 21 matches. Even so, Racing Santander are in the midst of a three-game winless run, with their most recent victory coming in the Copa del Rey, where they eliminated Villarreal 2–1 in the previous round.
Barcelona, meanwhile, enter the match riding high after defeating Real Madrid and lifting the Spanish Super Cup. The Blaugrana are the clear favorites to advance, but they remain on alert, knowing Racing Santander will not back down. With contrasting momentum and plenty of talent on display, the stage is set for a potentially memorable Copa del Rey night.