Racing Santander vs Barcelona Prediction & Betting Tips (15 January)

Leader of the Liga Hypermotion, Racing Santander, however, recorded a fourth match without a victory in the league last weekend at home for the reception of Zaragoza 2-3 defeat. Before that, the local club had no less than three points sharing against Valladolid 1-1, Huesca 1-1 and Leganes 1-1. In this Copa del Rey, Santander still had the luxury of taking out the 3rd in La Liga, in this case Villarreal, in the round preceding a 2-1 victory. On the other side of the field, we find the double title holder of the Spanish Super Cup or the title holder of the Copa del Rey and La Liga, FC Barcelona. For a year and a half, Barça has dominated in the Iberian Peninsula and has just struck again by winning the final of the Spanish Super Cup against Real Madrid, winning 3-2.

This victory, important as it was, was the 10th in a row in all competitions for the Blaugrana. In La Liga, with 4 lengths ahead of the Merengue, the Culers hold the boss's throne. Their last away defeat now dates back to the Champions League clash with Chelsea in November, losing 3-0.

Within this Racing Santander team, former Bordeaux player Clément Michelin will miss this meeting due to an injury. Ditto for Juan Arana, M.Sergio and the experienced Villalibre (10 league goals this season). The latter still played in La Liga with Alaves and Bilbao, and somewhere, he is the co-top scorer of this team in the league, one of the main architects of 1st place in the league. Fortunately, Andres Martin, also the author of 10 goals in the championship, should appear in the group, or even in the major eleven. Other bad news, the loss of young Ecuadorian talent Jeremy Arevalo (8 goals in the league) who left to play in Stuttgart (transfer).

It's official, Barcelona has recorded the return of Joao Cancelo, from Saudi Arabia. The latter could take his place in the right lane, occupied by Jules Koundé, who could find a position in the central axis. Still, Gavi and Andreas Christensen are injured. Goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, who traveled to Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Super Cup, is still physically unfit (injured) and should, in the days to come, find a base following the emergence of Joan Garcia in the cages. Against Real Madrid, Raphinha (7 goals, 3 assists in La Liga) scored a double and in the space of two matches in the Super Cup, he achieved a recital with a total of 4 goals plus 1 assist, decisive on 5 of the 8 goals scored by Barça in the competition. 

• Summary: Real Racing Club is going head to head with Barcelona starting on 15 Jan 2026 at 20:00 UTC at El Sardinero stadium, Santander city, Spain. The match is a part of the Copa del Rey .