At a Glance
- Barcelona plays Racing Santander in the Copa del Rey round of 16 on Thursday at 3 p.m. ET.
- Santander tops Spain’s second division but has drawn its last three league matches.
- The match streams live in the U.S. on ESPN Select.
Why it matters: A win keeps Barcelona on track for a domestic cup double after Sunday’s Super Cup triumph.
Barcelona’s trophy hunt continues Thursday when they travel to Estadio El Sardinero for a Copa del Rey showdown against second-division leaders Racing Santander. The Blaugrana lifted their first silverware of the season on Sunday, edging Real Madrid 3-2 in the Spanish Super Cup final, and now target a place in the quarterfinals.
Match Details
Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. CET local time, translating to:
- 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT in the U.S.
- 8 p.m. GMT in the UK
- 7 a.m. AEDT Friday in Australia
Raphinha’s double in Sunday’s Super Cup win has boosted morale, yet Daniel J. Whitman notes that Santander will not be taken lightly. The Cantabrian club leads the Segunda División standings, though they have cooled off slightly with three straight draws.
How to Watch in the U.S.
American viewers can stream the match on ESPN Select, the platform that replaced the old ESPN Plus tier. Subscribers get English- and Spanish-language Copa del Rey and La Liga broadcasts for $12 per month.
ESPN also offers an “Unlimited” bundle at $30 per month, packaging ESPN Select with the main ESPN networks, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, and ESPN Deportes.
Using a VPN While Traveling
Fans away from home can use a VPN to encrypt traffic and avoid ISP throttling. News Of Losangeles‘s report stresses checking a streamer’s terms of service first; some platforms block VPN connections.
ExpressVPN, priced at $13 monthly or $75 for the first year, delivered 18% speed loss in 2025 tests and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Installation instructions vary by provider, so follow them closely to stay compliant with local laws and service rules.
UK Viewing Options
Premier Sports 1 and the Premier Sports Player hold exclusive UK rights. A full subscription costs:
- £10 per month for Sky and Virgin TV customers
- £15 per month as an Amazon Prime Video add-on
The package also covers La Liga TV, Scottish Premiership, rugby union, NHL, and NASCAR.
Canada and Australia
No Canadian broadcaster owns Copa del Rey rights, despite TSN showing La Liga. Similarly, Australian viewers can catch La Liga on beIN Sports, but Copa del Rey matches are not available locally.
Key Takeaways
- Barcelona seeks back-to-back cup wins after Sunday’s Super Cup success.
- Racing Santander sits first in Segunda División but has stumbled recently.
- U.S. viewers need ESPN Select; UK fans need Premier Sports.
- VPNs work abroad, but verify streaming-service policies first.
- Canadian and Australian broadcasters do not carry the Copa del Rey.
