Barcelona needed late goals by Andreas Christensen and Marcus Rashford to defeat third-division club Guadalajara 2-0 on Tuesday in the round of 32 of the Copa del Rey in a game delayed because of problems with the stadium’s temporary grandstand.
Kickoff was delayed by half an hour because local authorities did not initially allow fans access to the newly built grandstand at the Pedro Escartín stadium in the city of Guadalajara near Madrid.
There were long lines outside the stadium until police finally permitted fans inside. The stadium’s capacity increased from nearly 6,000 to about 8,000 with the new stand.
Barcelona was in control from the start but struggled to create significant scoring chances against its lower-tier opponent.
“I was happy with the attitude we showed today,” Barcelona coach Hansi Flick told reporters. “It was the key for the victory. When you play these Copa games, it’s not easy because they defend really good.
“But at the end, the most important thing is the attitude and mentality we showed on the pitch and it was good.”
Flick handed a first start of the season to fit-again goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, with Joan García rested. Flick confirmed on Monday that Garcia was his No.1 and said Ter Stegen must now make a decision on his future.
He stressed following Tuesday’s game that nothing had changed in regard to the Germany international.
“For me, Marc is the captain and also he is 12 years around about in the club. And he’s back now,” Flick said. “I want to give him, or the coaches — we spoke about that — we give him the opportunity to show that he’s back.
“But it’s for this game. This is all. Nothing else. He had the opportunity to play and I think it’s a good next step for him.”
Guadalajara tested Ter Stegen early on with an effort from the halfway line which he needed to scramble back to his goal line and stop from going into the net.
It was Barça’s turn to see if the opposition goalkeeper was alert with an effort from the halfway line, and they almost capitalised from it when Eric García lined one up from a similar range which Dani Vicente almost spilled over his own goal line.
Keeper Vicente was called into action twice more to stop a long-range strike from Christensen before he needed to be on hand to collect Rashford’s free kick after Lamine Yamal went down.
Barcelona came out after the break with more intensity, Rashford twice denied by Vicente as he fired straight at the Guadalajara keeper the first time before another save from point-blank range.
The visitors finally broke the deadlock in the 76th minute after a corner worked itself out to Frenkie de Jong and he swung a perfect cross onto the head of Christensen who was able to power past an inspired Vicente.
Barça buried the contest when Rashford latched onto Yamal’s through-ball, rounded the keeper and finished into an empty net.
Information from ESPN’s Sam Marsden, The Associated Press and PA was used in this report.
