Barcelona Stops Albacete’s Cup Dream

Albacete stunned Spanish football when they defeated Real Madrid in the Round of 16 of this season’s Copa del Rey, but the Segunda División side’s remarkable run came to an end in the quarter-finals against another Spanish giant, Barcelona.

On Tuesday night (3 February), Barcelona secured their place in the semi-finals with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the resilient visitors at the Camp Nou. Goals from Lamine Yamal and Ronald Araújo ensured that the Catalan club progressed, maintaining their record of reaching the Copa del Rey semi-finals in four consecutive seasons.

Barcelona opened the scoring in the first half. In the 39th minute, a precise pass from Frenkie de Jong found Yamal inside the penalty box, and the young forward struck with his left foot to give the hosts the lead. This goal marked Yamal’s fifth in his last six appearances for the club across all competitions.

The lead was extended early in the second half by Araújo. In the 56th minute, the Uruguayan defender rose highest to head home from a corner delivered by Marcus Rashford. It was Araújo’s first goal since returning from a short hiatus last year for mental health reasons.

Albacete applied intense pressure late in the game. An 84th-minute goal was ruled out for offside, but they pulled one back three minutes later through Xavi Moreno, igniting hope among the travelling supporters. A subsequent goal by Ferran Torres for Barcelona was also disallowed for offside, leaving the scoreline unchanged. In added time, Albacete came close to equalising again, but Gerard Martín cleared the ball off the line to preserve Barcelona’s lead.

Speaking after the match, Araújo commented: “We knew this would not be an easy game. Copa matches remain open until the final whistle. They scored and pushed forward late, which is normal. The team managed the situation well. Reaching the semi-finals is what matters most.”

Barcelona’s victory was their 16th win in 17 matches across all competitions this season, the only loss being to Real Sociedad in La Liga last month. Coach Hans Flick rotated his squad, resting Rafinha, Gavi, and Pedri. Last season, Barcelona also reached the semi-finals and went on to beat Real Madrid in the final to lift the trophy.

Albacete, meanwhile, can take pride in their cup journey. After eliminating Celta Vigo in the Round of 32 and then stunning Real Madrid in the Round of 16, they showcased remarkable resilience. Currently 12th in Spain’s Segunda División, Albacete had not reached the Copa del Rey semi-finals since the 1994–95 season. Forward Xavi Moreno reflected on the run: “We are proud. Who would have thought we could beat Celta and Real Madrid and then challenge Barcelona so fiercely?”

Quarter-final Match Summary: