Barcelona booked their place in the next round of the Copa del Rey with a win over Racing after teenage forward Lamine Yamal struck late to finish the job.
It was not a straightforward night for Xavi’s side, who had to work for their breakthrough as Racing stayed organised and made it difficult for Barcelona to find a clear rhythm in the final third.
The game opened up after the break, and Barcelona’s changes proved decisive. Fermin Lopez came off the bench and injected pace and urgency into the attack, immediately pushing Racing back and helping Barcelona play with more purpose around the box.
That impact showed in the key moment of the match, with Fermin providing the telling pass for Ferran Torres to put Barcelona in front. Torres kept his composure to finish and give Barcelona the lead they had been chasing.
Racing continued to battle and tried to respond, but Barcelona managed the closing stages far better, keeping the ball and choosing their moments rather than forcing play.
With Racing pushing forward, Barcelona found the space they needed to kill the tie. Lamine Yamal stepped up to seal the Copa del Rey victory, calmly converting to ensure there would be no late twist.
The match also underlined the growing importance of Barcelona’s young players, with Yamal again delivering in a big moment, while Fermin’s cameo showed why he is becoming a reliable option from the bench in cup football.
