and didn’t panic when the goal took time to come. The 2-0 away win over Guadalajara was built on patience, timely adjustments and individual decisions at the right moment. Andreas Christensen and Marcus Rashford scored the goals that sealed qualification, but the scoreline only began to take shape once Hansi Flick’s side found answers to a scenario that proved more uncomfortable than the pregame favoritism suggested.
Territorial control with no room to decide
The first half was played almost entirely in Guadalajara’s half. Barcelona moved the ball around, tried to speed things up down the flanks and looked for shots from distance through Eric, Fermín, Christensen and Roony, all without success. Clear spaces for runs into the box were hard to find, and sharper attacking moves never quite materialized. The home side’s defense stayed compact and managed to hold off the early pressure.
Even as LaLiga leaders and reigning Copa del Rey champions, Barça struggled to turn dominance into real chances. On the other end, Guadalajara had a few attacking moments, but none that were truly clear-cut. Ter Stegen, back in the starting lineup after six months out with injury, was rarely tested in the first half and responded well when he did need to step in.
Adjustments, patience and the weight of individual quality
The second half began with important changes from Hansi Flick. The introductions of Cubarsí, Baldé, Koundé and Pedri gave Barcelona a different rhythm, and the team became more effective in the attacking third. Early in the half, Guadalajara goalkeeper Dani Vicente stood out by making two saves on shots from Rashford, keeping the score level.
Patience remained essential. Barcelona stayed in control and waited for the right moment. It arrived midway through the half when Frenkie de Jong sent in a cross from the right and Christensen rose well to head toward goal. The ball took a slight deflection off a defender before going in, opening the scoring and breaking Guadalajara’s resistance.
The goal changed the home side’s approach, pushing them to step higher up the field in search of an equalizer. That shift forced Ter Stegen into action on a powerful shot from Mendes, one of the few interventions required from the German keeper on the night. With more space available, Barcelona had the chance to put the game away.
In the closing minutes, Lamine Yamal played a precise pass to Marcus Rashford. The English forward controlled it, dribbled past the goalkeeper and finished with his left foot to score the second and secure the 2-0 win. The goal underlined Rashford’s strong form, as he’s settled quickly into Flick’s team and has been decisive. With that strike, he became the only player in the squad to score in all three competitions this season, La Liga, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey. He also has eight assists, second only to Lamine Yamal, who has ten.