"Barcelona are done with the celebrations after winning the Spanish Super Cup at the weekend and are looking to continue on the path for another trophy as they face a tricky Copa del Rey Round of 16 tie away to Racing Santander at El Sardinero. The Blaugrana will be looking for safe passage to the quarter-finals of the Cup but have a tough challenge in the form of the Second Division's top team,"
"Flick's team selection for this one is quite complicated: on the one hand, Racing are a good team who deserve respect, but Barça have two monster away games coming up against Real Sociedad in La Liga and Slavia Prague in the Champions League, so the coach will have no choice but to rotate his side and rest his biggest stars for at least the first 45-60 minutes of this Cup tie."
Barcelona travel to El Sardinero to face Racing Santander in the Copa del Rey Round of 16, seeking progression after winning the Spanish Super Cup. Racing top the Second Division and eliminated Villarreal, providing a substantial upset threat. Hansi Flick plans significant rotation to protect key players ahead of La Liga and Champions League fixtures, resting both starting full-backs and deploying Eric Garcia at right-back and Gerard Martin at left-back. Pau Cubarsí is set to start at centre-back alongside the returning Ronald Araújo. João Cancelo may be included in the squad but is unlikely to feature. A goalkeeping choice remains between Marc-André ter Stegen and Wojciech Szczesny.
Read at Barca Blaugranes
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