Barcelona booked their place in the Copa del Rey semi-finals after edging past a spirited Albacete side 2–1 on Tuesday night at the Estadio Carlos Belmonte.
Despite facing heavy pressure early on, Barça’s quality eventually told, with Lamine Yamal and Ronald Araújo getting the goals that sealed victory for the Catalan giants.
Yamal Breaks the Deadlock
Barcelona dominated possession from the opening whistle, but Albacete stayed compact and frustrated the visitors for long spells.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 39th minute when teenage sensation Lamine Yamal finished calmly after a well-worked move involving Frenkie de Jong.
The goal gave Barcelona a deserved lead going into halftime after controlling most of the first half.
Araújo Strikes as Albacete Fight Back
Albacete responded strongly after the restart and briefly thought they were back in the contest following sustained pressure.
However, Barcelona restored their advantage in the 56th minute when Ronald Araújo powered home from close range after being set up by Marcus Rashford.
The home side refused to fold and pulled a goal back late on through Jose Moreno, setting up a tense finish. Barcelona thought they had sealed the game in stoppage time, but Ferran Torres’ effort was ruled out for offside.
Barcelona See It Through
Despite the late scare, Barcelona held firm to close out the match, finishing with superior statistics in possession, shots, and expected goals. The win keeps their Copa del Rey campaign alive as they continue to chase silverware this season.
Barcelona will now turn their attention to the semi-final draw, while Albacete exit the competition with heads held high after a brave performance against one of Europe’s elite sides.
