Christensen and Rashford give Barcelona win over 3rd-tier club Guadalajara in Copa del Rey

MADRID (AP) — Barcelona needed late goals by Andreas Christensen and Marcus Rashford to defeat third-division club Guadalajara 2-0 on Tuesday in the round of 32 of the Copa del Rey in a game delayed because of problems with the stadium's temporary grandstand.

Kickoff was delayed by half an hour because local authorities did not initially allow fans access to the newly built grandstand at the Pedro Escartín stadium in the city of Guadalajara near Madrid.

There were long lines outside the stadium until police finally permitted fans inside. The stadium's capacity increased from nearly 6,000 to about 8,000 with the new stand.

Barcelona was in control from the start but struggled to create significant scoring chances against its lower-tier opponent.

Christensen finally broke the deadlock in the 76th minute with a header off a cross by Frenkie De Jong. Christensen's header deflected off a defender before hitting the net.

The hosts had a few opportunities to equalize but couldn't capitalize, and Rashford sealed the victory on a breakaway in the 90th.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick rested some of the team's regular starters ahead of Spanish league leader's visit to third-place Villarreal on Sunday.

Goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, who underwent back surgery in the offseason, was back in the starting lineup after 212 days.

Defender Pau Cubarsí, 18, made his 100th appearance with Barcelona. He made his first-team debut with the club in a Copa match in January 2024.

“These are tricky matches,” Cubarsí said. “They come out with full force, and we have to come out with the same intensity. They did a great job but we deserved it. We had more rhythm and more chances in the second half. As the time passed they started to get tired."

In the upset of the night, second-division Deportivo La Coruna eliminated top-flight Mallorca 1-0.

The other first-division clubs advanced. Real Sociedad defeated Eldense 2-1 with a winner deep into stoppage time, while Valencia beat Sporting Gijon 2-0.

On Wednesday, Real Madrid visits third-division club Talavera, while Atletico Madrid is at fourth-tier team Atletico Baleares.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, left, talks with the referee during the Copa del Rey soccer match between Guadalajara and Barcelona in Guadalajara, Spain, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Rudy Garcia)

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal looks reacts during the Copa del Rey soccer match between Guadalajara and Barcelona in Guadalajara, Spain, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Rudy Garcia)

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, center, vies for the ball with Guadalajara's Manu Ramirez during the Copa del Rey soccer match between Guadalajara and Barcelona in Guadalajara, Spain, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Rudy Garcia)

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, duels for the balls with Guadalajara's Julio Martinez during the Copa del Rey soccer match between Guadalajara and Barcelona in Guadalajara, Spain, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Rudy Garcia)

Barcelona's Marcus Rashford, third left, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal with his teammates during the Copa del Rey soccer match between Guadalajara and Barcelona in Guadalajara, Spain, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Rudy Garcia)

ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) — Australia star Steve Smith was ruled out of the third Ashes cricket test against England just before the toss of the coin on Wednesday because of a lingering illness.

Smith led Australia to eight-wicket wins in Perth and Brisbane in the absence of regular skipper Pat Cummins. He hit the winning runs in Brisbane as Australia took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

Veteran opener Usman Khawaja was recalled to the starting lineup as a last-minute replacement for Smith. Khawaja missed the second test with a back injury.

Fast bowler Cummins won the toss and elected to bat in his first test since sustaining a back injury in July. England needs a victory in the third test to have any chance of reclaiming the Ashes.

Players wore wearing black armbands to honor the 15 people killed and dozens injured in an antisemitic attack at Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach on Sunday that targeted the Jewish community celebrating the start of Hannukah.

Police described the mass shooting as a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State.

Flags were flown at half-mast at the Adelaide Oval on Day 1 of the third test.

Folk singer John Williamson performed his fabled song “True Blue” in a pre-match program that included a moment’s silence, the Indigenous “Welcome to Country” and the Australian and England anthems.

The late withdrawal of Smith meant there were three changes to Australia's XI from the second test, with Cummins and veteran spinner Nathan Lyon returning at the expense of pace bowlers Brendan Doggett and Michael Neser and Khawaja switching back into the batting lineup at No. 4.

Australia team management said Smith had been feeling unwell in recent days with symptoms including nausea and dizziness.

“He was assessed and monitored closely and was close to being available to play. However, given the persistence of the symptoms, a decision was made not to proceed,” the team said in a statement. Smith is being treated for inner ear issues.

“This is something Steve has experienced intermittently in the past and is being managed accordingly.”

Smith is expected to be available for the fourth test, starting Dec. 26 in Melbourne.

England made one change, with Josh Tongue replacing fellow fast bowler Gus Atkinson.

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Lineups:

Australia: Jake Weatherald, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland.

England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith, Will Jacks, Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Australia's Jake Weatherald, left, and Australia's captain Steve Smith walk off the field after winning the second Ashes cricket test match between Australia and England in Brisbane, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025.. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)