bet365
BetMGM
William Hill
Betfred
BetUK
LiveScoreBet
10Bet
Virgin Bet
Can Racing’s fearless front line turn Barcelona’s Super Cup buzz into a Copa headache? Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.
To use the Live Streaming service you will need to be logged in and have a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours. Geo location and live streaming rules apply.
Works worldwide • Email + on-site access • Instant unlock
▾
Racing have scored in 24 straight games and average 2.14 goals per game. Barcelona lead La Liga in scoring with 2.79 goals per game. Both defenses concede over 1.15 goals per match, and Racing's vertical style specifically exploits Barcelona's weakness against counter-attacks.
▾
Barcelona's 19.6 shots per game should overwhelm Racing's defense, which conceded three times in their last home match. Racing's reliable scoring record suggests they find a consolation goal.
Readers’ Tip
Vote your pick — quick & anonymous
Terms & Conditions (tap to view)
Racing Santander vs Barcelona Predictions and Best Bets
Racing vs Barcelona — bet365 Market Snapshot
Information only. Any probabilities shown are implied from the listed odds. Prices can change. 18+ GambleAware.
Barcelona arrive as heavy favourites after their Super Cup success, while Racing seek a historic cup upset at El Sardinero.
Racing have scored in 24 straight matches, while Barcelona average nearly 20 shots per game.
- Goals-for-every-mood: Racing have scored 45 in 21 Segunda matches and have found the net in 24 of their last 24 games, so silence is not in their vocabulary.
- Barcelona’s shot machine: Barça are hitting 19.6 shots per game in La Liga and have scored 53 league goals in 19 matches — pressure comes in waves, not bursts.
- Attackers’ paradise, defenders’ worry: Racing concede 1.38 per game across their last 24, while Barcelona concede 1.18 per game across 28 — with both teams scoring so often, chaos is always close.
Attacking Threat: Shots per Game
Both sides prioritise offensive volume, with Barcelona creating sustained pressure through one of the highest shot rates in European football.
A high volume for the second tier, reflecting a team that has managed to score in 24 consecutive outings.
Barcelona’s offensive output translates to over 63 dangerous attacks per game on average this season.
Attacking Reliability: Scoring Streaks
Racing’s consistency in front of goal is one of the most significant statistical trends heading into this cup tie.
Racing have not failed to find the net in any of their last 24 fixtures across all competitions.
A prolific record that averages nearly 2.8 goals per match heading into this Round of 16 fixture.
This is the Copa del Rey tie with real bite: Segunda Division leaders Racing de Santander at El Sardinero, up against La Liga table toppers Barcelona. The home crowd will smell blood, not just romance. Racing have built their season on goals and nerve, and they’ve already taken out top-flight opposition to get here — Juan Carlos Arana struck twice in a 2-1 win over Villarreal to tee up this blockbuster.
Barcelona arrive fresh off Sunday’s Spanish Super Cup celebration over Real Madrid, but there’s no time for sightseeing. Kick-off is 20:00, and this is a different kind of test: a high-energy stadium, a side chasing promotion, and a fixture that demands focus from the first duel to the last sprint.
Team News & Lineups
Team News
- Racing Santander absences:
- P. Ramón Parra (unknown injury)
- Barcelona absences:
- None listed.
Probable Lineups
Racing Santander: Ezkieta; Mantilla, Ramon, Gonzalez, Garcia; Gueye, Puerta; Sangalli, Canales, Camara; Martin
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Garcia, Araujo, Martin, Balde; Casado, Pedri; Bardghji, Olmo, Rashford; Ferran
Implication: Racing’s likely set-up has bodies behind the ball and runners ahead of it — built to spring, not to stroke it. Barcelona’s selection screams control and incision, with Pedri and Dani Olmo designed to unlock lines and keep the tie in Racing’s half.
The Tale of the Tape
| Metric | Racing Santander | Barcelona |
|---|---|---|
| League status | 1st (Segunda) | 1st (La Liga) |
| League goals | 45 (21 apps) | 53 (19 apps) |
| Shots per game | 13.88 | 19.6 |
| Possession | 53% | 68% |
| Pass accuracy | 82% | 89.4% |
| Dangerous attacks (per game) | 46.38 | 63.07 |
| Corners per game | 5.96 | 6.32 |
| Clean sheets | 5 | 9 |
Barcelona should boss the ball and territory — 68% possession, 646.54 passes per game, and a massive edge in shots. But Racing aren’t passengers. Their chance is to keep the game “alive”: win duels, break pressure, and turn transitions into shots before Barcelona can reset.
William Hill
Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets
Show Terms & Conditions
BetMGM
Bet £10 Get £40 In Free Bets
Show Terms & Conditions
bet365
Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets
Betfred
Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets
Show Terms & Conditions
10bet
100% Up To £50 On First Deposit
Show Terms & Conditions
Tactical Battle: How the Match Plays Out
Racing’s route: vertical football, fast shots, full-throttle belief
José Alberto López’s side have been built around momentum and end product. Racing are top of Segunda for a reason: 11 wins from 21, a flood of goals (45), and forwards who don’t need ten touches to hurt you. Even in their recent wobble — three straight 1-1 draws, then a 3-2 home defeat to Real Zaragoza — they still kept scoring. That matters in a cup tie where one goal can flip the whole mood.
Racing’s likely plan is simple and brutal: stay compact, then punch forward early. With Andrés Martín up top and runners behind him, the trigger will be turnovers in midfield. Racing’s volume is strong too: 13.88 shots per game and 46.38 dangerous attacks per match show they can create without dominating the ball.
Key point: Racing’s defending will be under strain. They concede 1.38 per game across their last 24 matches, and Barcelona’s attack doesn’t knock once — it leans on the door until it breaks.
Barcelona’s route: possession suffocation, then the killer pass
Hans-Dieter Flick’s Barcelona come with a clear identity: possession football, short passes, and control high up the pitch. They don’t just attack — they overwhelm. The numbers are loud: 19.6 shots per game, 63.07 dangerous attacks per match, and 53 goals in 19 league fixtures.
And the individuals fit the plan. Lamine Yamal is electric on output (7 goals, 7 assists, 8.29 rating), Ferran Torres is finishing chances (11 league goals), and Marcus Rashford adds threat and creativity (6 assists). The probable XI also hints at rotation without surrender: quality stays on the pitch, the tempo stays high.
Where the tie swings
This is a style clash with one explosive risk: Barcelona are very weak at defending counter-attacks and weak at defending through ball attacks. That is Racing’s invitation. If Racing can bait Barcelona forward, then hit one clean pass into space, El Sardinero will erupt.
Key Moments to Watch
- First 15 minutes: Racing need early belief. Barcelona can turn games one-way quickly with sustained pressure and corners (6.32 per game).
- Counters into the channels: Barcelona’s vulnerabilities on the break and against through balls are the exact lanes Racing will target when they win it.
- Box defending under volume: Barcelona’s shot count is relentless. If Racing keep allowing second balls, the wave never ends.
- Set pieces and territory: Racing’s 5.96 corners per game give them a route to threaten even when pinned back.
What could go wrong? Racing are coming off a 3-2 home loss and a winless league run, and another frantic start could invite Barcelona to suffocate the tie early. Barcelona, though, arrive off a huge occasion — if the focus drops even slightly, Racing’s habit of scoring in every recent match can turn a “comfortable” spell into instant danger.
Best Bet for Racing Santander vs Barcelona
Can Racing’s fearless attack exploit Barcelona’s defensive high line in this Copa del Rey clash?
The Punter’s Cheat Sheet
| Factor | The Numbers | Betting Signal |
| Scoring Consistency | Racing: 24/24 games; Barca: 53 goals in 19 | Back BTTS |
| Shot Volume | Racing: 13.88/gm; Barca: 19.6/gm | Over 2.5 Goals |
| Defensive Record | Racing: 1.38 conceded; Barca: 1.18 conceded | Over 3.5 Goals |
Works worldwide • Email + on-site access • Instant unlock
Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 Goals
The statistical profile for this matchup points toward a high-scoring encounter where neither side is likely to keep a clean sheet. Racing Santander are the highest scorers in the Segunda Division with 45 goals in 21 matches. Their offensive reliability is absolute; they have found the back of the net in 24 of their last 24 competitive fixtures.
Racing’s tactical setup is designed to strike quickly on the break, a strategy that directly targets Barcelona’s primary defensive weakness. Barcelona are statistically vulnerable against vertical through balls and counter-attacks. With Racing averaging 13.88 shots per game and 46.38 dangerous attacks, they possess the volume and the efficiency to capitalize on the gaps left by Barcelona’s high-pressing system.
Barcelona arrive as a scoring machine, having netted 53 goals in just 19 La Liga appearances. They generate a relentless 19.6 shots per game and 63.07 dangerous attacks. Even with potential rotation, their offensive depth featuring Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford ensures they will test a Racing defense that concedes 1.38 goals per game.
The match environment at El Sardinero further supports a chaotic, open game. Racing’s recent form includes a 3-2 home loss and multiple 1-1 draws, showing they are involved in games where the defense is easily breached. Barcelona’s 68% average possession will pin the hosts back, but Racing’s history of scoring against top-tier opposition—as seen in their 2-1 win over Villarreal—confirms they can score even without the ball.
What could go wrong? Barcelona could exert such extreme control with their 89.4% pass accuracy that they completely starve Racing of service. If Hansi Flick’s side manages to kill the tempo early and Racing fails to convert their limited counter-attacking opportunities, the game could settle into a one-sided clean sheet for the visitors.
Correct Score Lean
Racing Santander 1-3 Barcelona
Barcelona’s superior quality and depth should ultimately see them through, but Racing’s incredible 24-game scoring streak makes a home goal highly probable. Barcelona average nearly 2.8 goals per game in league play, and Racing’s defense has shown it struggles against high-volume shooting teams, conceding three goals in their last outing against Zaragoza. A 3-1 scoreline reflects Barcelona’s dominance in possession while acknowledging Racing’s persistent threat on the counter-attack and their historical ability to upset top-flight defenses in cup competition.
Selected Bookmakers Offers
| |
New cust. Deposit £10+ in 7 days & bet on sports. Min odds apply. Reward = 4 x £10 Free Bets (2 x £10 Bet Builders & 2 x £10 Sports bet). Valid 7 days. Free bets not valid on e-sports & non UK/IE horse racing. 18+. T&Cs apply. | |
| |
Open Account Offer - New Customers only. Bet £10 and get £30 in Free Bets when you join bet365. Sign up, deposit between £5 and £10 to your account and bet365 will give you three times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value settle. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs , time limits & exclusions apply. Registration Required. #Ad. 18+ Only, gambleaware.org | |
 | |
18+. Play Safe. From 00:01 on 18.10.2022. £30 bonus. New customers only. Minimum £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook (excluding Virtual markets). Further terms apply. #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org | |
| |
New customers only. Register, deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility exclusions & T&Cs Apply. | |
| |
New cust only. Opt-in required. Deposit & place a bet within 7 days and settle a £10 minimum bet at odds of 4/5 (1.8) or greater to be credited with 3 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder and 1 x £10 football. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non-UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply. Acca Club: Available to new & existing customers. 3 or more selections. Min Odds: 3/10 (1.3) per leg. Max stake: £500. Max Winnings: £200,000 per boost. Profit Boost amounts vary. Horse Racing, Greyhounds & Trotting excluded. Exclusions apply. Full T&C’s apply. 18+ GambleAware.org. | |
 | |
New members only. £10+ bet on sports (ex. Virtuals) 1.5 min odds, settled within 14 days. Free Bets: accept in 7 days, valid 7 days; £20 use on sportsbook, £10 on Bet Builder. Stake not returned. T&Cs.+ deposit exclusions apply #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org | |
| |
New bettors. Select bonus at signup or use code SPORT. Wager deposit & bonus 8x. Max qualifying bet = bonus. Valid 60 days. Odds, bet & payment limits apply. T&Cs Apply; 18+ | Please gamble responsibly #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org | |
 | |
New customers only, 18+. Min deposit £10. Place a £50 bet on any sport at 2.0+ to qualify for £25 in free bets and 10 Free Spins. Free Bets and Spins valid 7 days. £0.10 Free Spins. T&Cs apply. Please bet responsibly. #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org | |
| |
New members only. £10 min deposit & bet on sportsbook (ex. virtuals), placed & settled at 1.5 min odds in 14 days of sign-up. Win part of E/W bets. Free Bets: accept in 7 days, valid 7 days, use on sportsbook only (ex. virtuals), stakes not returned. T&Cs Apply and deposit exclusions apply. Please gamble responsibly #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org | |
 | |
18+ New customers only. Opt in, and bet £10 on football markets (odds 2.00+). No cash out. Get 6x£5 football free bets at specified odds for set markets, which expire after 7 days. Offer valid from 12:00 UK Time on 25/08/2023. Card payments only. T&Cs Apply | gambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org | |
