The Copa del Rey Round of 16 encounter between Racing vs Barcelona will take place at the historic Campos de Sport de El Sardinero, with kick-off scheduled for 01:30 AM (India time) on Friday, 16 January 2026.
On paper, this is one of the most one-sided ties of the round. Racing Santander, backed by a passionate home crowd, will look to make the match uncomfortable and hope for a famous cup upset. However, Barcelona arrive in Santander in outstanding form, brimming with confidence after a string of dominant domestic performances and a recent high-profile win over Real Madrid.
While the compact pitch and cold coastal conditions (12°C) could slow the tempo early on, Barcelona’s technical superiority, depth, and attacking efficiency make them overwhelming favorites to progress.
Match Overview – Racing vs Barcelona
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Fixture | Racing vs Barcelona |
| Competition | Copa del Rey |
| Round | Round of 16 |
| Date & Kick-Off | Friday, 16 January 2026 – 01:30 AM (IST) |
| Venue | Campos de Sport de El Sardinero |
| Location | Santander, Spain |
| Capacity | 22,514 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Weather | 12°C – Mild |
Racing are expected to defend deep in a compact mid-block, while Barcelona will dominate possession, stretch the pitch with wide wingers, and apply constant pressure in the final third.
Recent Form Guide – Racing vs Barcelona
Racing Santander – Last 5 Matches
| Date | Result |
|---|---|
| 10/01 | Loss vs Real Zaragoza (2–3) |
| 03/01 | Draw vs Real Valladolid (1–1) |
| 20/12 | Draw vs Huesca (1–1) |
| 17/12 | Win vs Villarreal (2–1) |
| 13/12 | Draw vs Leganés (1–1) |
Barcelona – Last 5 Matches
| Date | Result |
|---|---|
| 11/01 | Win vs Real Madrid (3–2) |
| 07/01 | Win vs Athletic Bilbao (5–0) |
| 03/01 | Win vs Espanyol (2–0) |
| 21/12 | Win vs Villarreal (2–0) |
| 16/12 | Win vs Guadalajara (2–0) |
Head-to-Head – Racing vs Barcelona
Last 5 Meetings
| Date | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Mar 2012 | La Liga | Racing 0–2 Barcelona |
| 15 Oct 2011 | La Liga | Barcelona 3–0 Racing |
| 22 Jan 2011 | La Liga | Barcelona 3–0 Racing |
| 29 Aug 2010 | La Liga | Racing 0–3 Barcelona |
| 20 Feb 2010 | La Liga | Barcelona 4–0 Racing |
Overall Head-to-Head (All Competitions)
| Team | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barcelona | 62 | 21 | 17 | 240 |
| Racing Santander | 17 | 21 | 62 | 103 |
Barcelona have dominated this fixture historically, winning every recent meeting and conceding very few goals.
Top Scorers
- Racing Santander: Juan Carlos Arana – 3 goals, 1 assist (3 matches)
- Barcelona: Andreas Christensen – 1 goal (1 match)
Arana remains Racing’s primary attacking threat, while Barcelona’s goals are spread across the squad.
Predicted Lineups – Racing vs Barcelona (4-2-3-1)
| Position | Racing Santander | Barcelona |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Ezkieta | Garcia |
| Right Back | Mantilla | Koundé |
| Centre Back | Castro | Cubarsí |
| Centre Back | González | Eric Garcia |
| Left Back | Salinas | Balde |
| Defensive Mid | Gueye | de Jong |
| Defensive Mid | Sangalli | Pedri |
| Right Wing | Vicente | Lamine Yamal |
| Attacking Mid | Canales | Lopez |
| Left Wing | Puerta | Raphinha |
| Striker | Martin | Lewandowski |
Final lineups will be confirmed one hour before kick-off.
Unavailable Players – Racing vs Barcelona
| Team | Player | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Racing Santander | Asier Villalibre | Injury |
| Barcelona | Dro Fernandez | Injury |
| Barcelona | Andreas Christensen | Injury |
| Barcelona | Gavi | Injury |
Statistical Projection – Racing vs Barcelona
| Metric | Racing | Barcelona |
|---|---|---|
| Win Probability | 7% | 76% |
| Draw Probability | 17% | — |
| Possession | 28–33% | 67–72% |
| Shots on Target | 1–2 | 6–9 |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 0.4–0.6 | 2.3–2.8 |
| Clean Sheet Probability | 10% | 52% |
| Most Likely Scorer | Arana | Lewandowski |
✅ Final Score Prediction
Racing Santander 0–3 Barcelona
Likely Scorers:
- Robert Lewandowski
- Raphinha
- Lamine Yamal
Barcelona’s superior quality, tempo control, and clinical finishing should decide the tie well within 90 minutes.
Confidence Levels
- Barcelona Win: 76%
- Draw: 17%
- Racing Win: 7%
Read More:-
Suggested Tips (Informational Only)
- Full-Time Result: Barcelona Win
- Over 2.5 Total Goals
- Both Teams to Score: No
- Anytime Scorer: Lewandowski
⚠️ All predictions are for informational purposes only. Betting involves risk—please play responsibly.
FAQs – Racing vs Barcelona
1.What time is Racing vs Barcelona?
Kick-off is at 01:30 AM ( IST) on Friday, 16 January 2026.
2.Where is the match played?
At Campos de Sport de El Sardinero in Santander, Spain.
3.Is this a single-leg tie?
Yes, the Copa del Rey Round of 16 is decided in one match.
4.Who are the key players to watch?
Juan Carlos Arana for Racing and Robert Lewandowski for Barcelona.
5.What is the predicted score?
A comfortable 3–0 away win for Barcelona.