NO, It Wasn’t Chivas: The Real Guadalajara That Just Played FC Barcelona in the Copa del Rey
Did you search for the Barcelona vs. Chivas Guadalajara score? You're not alone. The trending term is due to one of football’s biggest historical mix-ups. The opponent was not the famous Mexican giant, but a small Spanish side, CD Guadalajara, making history in the Copa del Rey. We break down the 2-0 final score, the heroic performance of the third-tier club, and reveal why this match mattered more to the small Spanish town than the result suggests.
TRENDING
Apex Digital
12/16/20252 min read
I. The Confusion Cleared: Which Guadalajara Played Barcelona?
If you clicked on this article, you are likely part of the massive global search trend sparked by an understandable error: assuming FC Barcelona just faced Chivas Guadalajara (Club Deportivo Guadalajara), the famed Mexican top-tier club.
The Correction is Clear: The opponent in the Copa del Rey Round of 32 was Club Deportivo Guadalajara (CD Guadalajara), a historic but struggling third-tier club based in Guadalajara, Spain.
This confusion spiked the search results globally, but the reality is simpler: this was a classic "giant-killing" fixture from the Copa del Rey, where a Spanish powerhouse meets a regional minnow. FC Barcelona won the match 2-0 at the Estadio Pedro Escartín.
II. The Real Story: CD Guadalajara’s History-Making Night
For the players, fans, and the town of Guadalajara, Spain, this was the biggest match in the club’s history. This was the first time in their 78-year history that they reached the Round of 32 in the Copa del Rey and hosted one of the world's most famous clubs.
A Heroic Defense Against the Champions
The 2-0 scoreline does not tell the full story. Despite playing against a Barcelona side rotated by manager Hansi Flick, the third-tier Spanish team (who currently play in the Primera Federación) showed remarkable defensive resilience.
Defensive Fight: CD Guadalajara deployed deep, frustrating the Catalan giants throughout the first half. They held the score at 0-0 for much of the game, forcing Barcelona to bring in bigger names.
The Goalscorers: The deadlock was finally broken by a header from Andreas Christensen, with Marcus Rashford adding the second late in the match to secure the 2-0 victory for the reigning cup holders.
A Moment of History: CD Guadalajara’s goalkeeper, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, made a massive save late in the second half, momentarily threatening an equalizer that would have shocked the football world.
The True Difference Between the Namesakes
To truly understand the difference between the two clubs named Guadalajara, you must look at their scale. Chivas Guadalajara, the club from Mexico, operates in the top division (Liga MX) with a multi-million dollar budget, playing in the major city of Guadalajara, Jalisco. In stark contrast, CD Guadalajara is a modest club from Spain, competing in the Third Division (Primera Federación) with a semi-professional budget. The magnitude of the club Barcelona actually played underscores the heroism of the 2-0 scoreline.
III. The Significance of the Scoreline
The 2-0 result was a victory for the Spanish underdog. They were predicted by many analysts to lose by four or five goals. By keeping the score respectable and holding the Spanish champions scoreless for nearly an hour, CD Guadalajara earned the respect of the footballing world.
While the story may have trended globally due to confusion, the match ultimately became a reminder of the magic of the Copa del Rey—where the pride of a small, Spanish regional club stands up against the elite of Europe.