MADRID (AP) — Barcelona needed late goals from Andreas Christensen and Marcus Rashford to beat third-division club Guadalajara 2-0 in the Copa del Rey round of 32 on Tuesday in a match postponed due to problems with temporary seating at the stadium.
Kick-off was delayed by 30 minutes because local authorities initially did not allow fans into the new stadium at the Pedro Escartin stadium in the city of Guadalajara, near Madrid.
Long lines formed outside the stadium before police finally allowed fans to enter. The new stand increases the stadium’s capacity from around 6,000 to around 8,000 people.
Barcelona took control from the start but struggled to create clear chances against lower-ranked teams.
In the 76th minute, Christensen finally broke the deadlock when he headed home a cross from Frenkie de Jong. Christensen’s header hit a defender and went into the goal.
The hosts had several chances to equalize but were unable to take advantage of them, with Rashford sealing the victory with a runaway in the 90th minute.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has rested some of his team’s regular starting lineup ahead of Sunday’s visit to Spanish league leaders third-placed Villarreal.
Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen returned to the starting lineup for the first time in 212 days after undergoing back surgery in the offseason.
18-year-old defender Pau Kvarsi has made his 100th appearance for Barcelona. He made his first team debut in a Copa match in January 2024.
“This is a tricky match,” Kvarsi said. “They’re going to give it their all, so we have to fight with the same intensity. They did a great job, but we deserved it. In the second half, we had more rhythm, we had more chances. As time went on, they started to tire.”
Other results
In an eventful night, second division Deportivo La Coruña defeated leaders Mallorca 1-0.
Other first-division clubs advanced. Real Sociedad scored the winning goal in stoppage time to beat Herdense 2-1, while Valencia beat Sporting Gijon 2-0.
On Wednesday, Real Madrid will visit third-division club Talavera, while Atlético Madrid will visit fourth-division team Atlético Baleares.
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