The defending champions FC Barcelona (LaLiga) successfully navigated a potential "banana skin" fixture on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, defeating third-tier CD Guadalajara 2-0 at the Estadio Pedro Escartín. Despite a massive gulf in professional status, the Catalan giants were held scoreless for over 75 minutes by a resilient "bloque bajo" (low block) before late strikes from Andreas Christensen and Marcus Rashford secured their place in the Round of 16.

The immediate score and summary of the Guadalajara vs Barcelona clash reflected a classic cup struggle. Guadalajara, playing in the biggest match of their history, frustrated Hansi Flick’s side with a compact 5-4-1 formation that allowed virtually no space in the final third. Barcelona dominated possession (over 82%) but struggled to test goalkeeper Dani Vicente until the final quarter-hour. The deadlock was finally broken in the 76th minute when Christensen rose highest to head home a corner, and Rashford added a second in the 90th minute to eliminate any hope of a miracle comeback.

Key stats from the match underscore the sheer dominance and occasional inefficiency of the visitors. Barcelona registered 21 shots and 9 on target, compared to just 2 on target for the hosts. Marcus Rashford was a central figure throughout, recording 12 touches in the opposition box and creating three chances before finally scoring his goal by rounding the keeper following a sublime assist from Lamine Yamal. For Guadalajara, goalkeeper Dani Vicente was the standout performer, making seven saves to keep his side in the contest until the closing stages.

The strategic factor in the Barcelona vs Guadalajara win was Hansi Flick's second-half adjustments. Seeing his team struggle with "atasco" (a logjam) in the center of the pitch, Flick introduced Jules Koundé, Pedri, and Alejandro Balde to provide more width and creative spark. This shift forced the weary Guadalajara defenders to cover more ground, leading to the lapse in concentration that allowed Christensen to find space for the opening header. Flick praised his team’s "patience and defensive control" post-match, noting that while the performance wasn't flashy, it was "mission accomplished."

The future outlook for Barcelona sees them advancing as favorites to retain the trophy they won against Real Madrid last season. The victory keeps their momentum high as they return to LaLiga action against Villarreal this weekend. For CD Guadalajara, the loss marks a dignified exit from the competition. Their ability to hold the world's best offensive units scoreless for 76 minutes will likely serve as a massive confidence booster as they return to their league campaign in the Primera Federación.