Barcelona Narrowly Escapes Albacete Scare in Copa del Rey Quarter-Finals

Albacete, Spain – Defending champions Barcelona survived a nerve-wracking encounter against second-division side Albacete, securing a dramatic 2-1 victory at Carlos Belmonte Stadium on February 3, 2026, to advance to the Copa del Rey semi-finals.

Yamal's Brilliance Breaks the Deadlock

The Spanish champions struggled to penetrate Albacete's defensive organization in the opening stages. However, teenage sensation Lamine Yamal delivered the moment of magic in the 39th minute. Following intense pressing from Marcus Rashford to win possession, Frenkie de Jong threaded a perfectly weighted pass to the 18-year-old, who curled a sublime finish past goalkeeper Augusto Batalla to give Barcelona the lead heading into halftime.

Araujo Doubles Advantage on Emotional Return

Early in the second half, Ronald Araujo extended Barcelona's lead with a powerful header from Rashford's corner in the 56th minute. The Uruguayan defender was making his first start since returning from a month-long mental health break, and his goal seemed to put Hansi Flick's side comfortably on course for the semi-finals. "I'm very happy, it was an important step," Araujo told Barcelona's media channel, expressing gratitude to coach Flick for his support during his absence.

Giant-Killers Nearly Strike Again

Albacete—the same team that sensationally eliminated Real Madrid in the previous round—refused to surrender quietly. The hosts intensified their pressure in the final ten minutes, creating several dangerous opportunities. Antonio Puertas thought he had reduced the deficit in the 83rd minute, but his effort was correctly disallowed for offside. Just four minutes later, however, Javi Moreno powered home a header from Jose Lazo's free-kick, sending shockwaves through Barcelona's defense and setting up a frantic finale.

Wasteful Finishing Nearly Costs Barcelona

Barcelona's inability to convert numerous clear-cut chances almost proved costly. The record 32-time cup winners created eight big opportunities but converted only two—a concerning conversion rate of just 25%. Marcus Rashford, Robert Lewandowski, and substitute Ferran Torres all squandered golden chances to put the game beyond doubt. "We could have made it much easier for ourselves, we missed many chances," admitted coach Hansi Flick after the match.

Desperate Final Moments

During five agonizing minutes of stoppage time, goalkeeper Joan Garcia and his defenders had to withstand relentless Albacete pressure. In a heart-stopping moment, Fran Gamez's effort required a heroic goal-line clearance from Gerard Martin to preserve Barcelona's slender advantage. The Catalans held firm to secure their passage, but not without delivering a stern reminder about clinical finishing in knockout football.

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Road to Copa del Rey Glory Continues

With this hard-fought victory, Barcelona remains on track to defend their Copa del Rey title. The Catalans are now just two victories away from lifting the trophy again. However, Flick's squad will need to significantly improve their finishing efficiency if they hope to overcome Primera División opposition in the semi-finals and beyond. The remaining quarter-final fixtures include Valencia versus Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad at Alaves, and Atletico Madrid traveling to face Real Betis.