Chaos and Rivalry: Barcelona’s Unconventional Copa del Rey Night in Guadalajara

Barcelona supporters witnessed an unusual night at Guadalajara’s Pedro Escartín stadium during a Copa del Rey Round of 32 match. The evening featured a lookalike of Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr. and numerous fans gaining entry without official tickets. These incidents contributed to a series of noteworthy moments.

The match itself presented many striking details beyond the pitch, according to Catalan newspaper Sport. This particular evening generated numerous side stories.

The club’s initial Copa del Rey fixtures often bring various quirks. These games typically pit Barcelona against lower-division teams.

This season, the Catalan squad visited Guadalajara, a small city near Madrid. Most residents in Guadalajara support Real Madrid. This strong local allegiance clearly influenced the stadium’s atmosphere.

Queues Since 3 PM

Barcelona’s visit to Guadalajara marked a historic occasion. Many considered it the most significant sporting event in the city’s history.

Local club management installed three temporary stands. These additions increased the stadium’s capacity to 8,500 spectators.

All tickets sold out, but many lacked seat numbers. This led fans to queue from 3 PM, enduring rain, similar to a concert event. The long wait eventually turned into frustration.

The match faced a half-hour delay. Civil protection permits for the temporary stands had not arrived.

Police expressed concerns about a potential stampede. Stadium gates remained closed until 8:30 PM.

After another 30 minutes, only one temporary stand opened for entry. The other two remained unprepared. This prevented approximately 500 people from entering the stadium.

Guadalajara’s proximity to Madrid means a large Real Madrid fan base resides there. This was evident throughout the match. Lamine Yamal received whistles every time he touched the ball, mirroring scenes at Santiago Bernabéu. Familiar chants, such as “Corruption in the federation” and “Tebas out,” also echoed from the stands.

Barcelona Analysts Among the Fans

Early Copa del Rey rounds often involve major clubs playing modest teams in smaller venues. Pedro Escartín stadium was no exception.

Journalists worked from among the local fans. Barcelona’s analysts, including Heiko Westermann, also watched the match from the stands.

Vinicius Lookalike and Boos Against Yamal

Real Madrid played in Talavera on the same Wednesday. Despite this, a Vinicius Jr. lookalike appeared at Pedro Escartín stadium.

The individual was not the Brazilian star himself. He was photographed wearing a Guadalajara shirt. He watched the match with friends near the press area. He later posed for several photos with fans.

Catalan newspaper Sport identified the Vinicius lookalike as Ricardo Rincón. Rincón is an influencer with over 600,000 followers on TikTok.

Lamine Yamal was not expected to start the match. He began in a central role and finished on the wing. He played the full 90 minutes in cold conditions.

Yamal faced boos from the local crowd. Guadalajara players committed numerous fouls against him.

At the start of the second half, Yamal angrily threw his gloves onto the pitch. He was frustrated by the delayed goal. He also received insults from the stands. Pedri also wore gloves during the match. Barcelona ultimately secured a victory.