Ferran Torres admitted Barcelona were taken by surprise by the level Racing Santander showed in Thursday's Copa del Rey tie, with the holders forced to cling on for a 2-0 win.

Torres opened the scoring after 66 goalless minutes at the Campos de Sport de El Sardinero, taking in Fermin Lopez's defence-splitting pass before rounding Jokin Ezkieta to finish.

Lamine Yamal then made it 2-0 with the final kick of the game, but that does not begin to tell the full story of the way the Copa holders were tested.

Racing, who are top of LaLiga 2 and scored a stunning 84 league goals in 2025, had two goals disallowed for offside, with both calls going against teenage substitute Manex Lozano.

Lozano also had a golden opportunity to equalise when he broke through on goal in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time, only to fire straight at Joan Garcia in the Barcelona goal. One minute and 15 seconds later, Yamal scored Barca's clincher.

Speaking after full-time, Torres said: "We didn't expect it to be so rocky. We had seen how they played, we were surprised that they sat off us so much. 

"We knew we had to stretch things and calm down. In the end, it went well.

"I think these [second-tier] teams prepare us very well for other games, they know how to do their thing very well. They have a lot of quality, that's why it's so difficult for us."

Barcelona saw their arch-rivals Real Madrid dumped out of the Copa del Rey by Albacete – who are 17th in LaLiga 2 – on Wednesday, so head coach Hansi Flick always expected a tough challenge.

"It was hard, and we played in a great atmosphere. The opponents did very well," Flick said. "In the end, it's 2-0, and that's what counts.

"The most important thing is that these teams are brave, they have nothing to lose, they only have things to gain and you can see that. It's fantastic to watch."

Racing only had 22.6% of the ball and attempted just six shots to Barca's 17, accumulating 0.91 expected goals (xG, Barca had 2.23).

Head coach Jose Alberto, though, could hardly have been more proud of their display. 

"We're annoyed to be eliminated, but proud to see the team playing at that level," Alberto said. "We were facing one of the best teams in the world, the difference is big."

On Lozano's late chance, he added: "He had one of the best goalkeepers in front of him. He has the personality to finish, which is what a striker has to do. 

"If he put it away, no one would say anything. I think the action was well finished, he is just an 18-year-old boy who has to grow up."