Barcelona Edge Past Albacete to Reach Copa del Rey Semi-Finals
FC Barcelona booked their place in the Copa del Rey semi-finals after securing a hard-fought 2-1 away victory over Albacete at the Estadio Carlos Belmonte. In a tense quarter-final clash, Xavi’s side showed resilience, experience, and attacking quality to overcome a determined home team and continue their journey in Spain’s prestigious cup competition.
Tough Atmosphere and Early Pressure
Playing away from home in a packed stadium, Barcelona knew they were in for a difficult night. Albacete, who had shocked many by reaching the quarter-finals, started the match with high intensity and strong pressing. The home side looked confident, feeding off the crowd’s energy and trying to disrupt Barcelona’s rhythm from the opening minutes.
Despite the pressure, Barcelona remained calm in possession, with Frenkie de Jong and Dani Olmo controlling the midfield and helping the team build from the back. The visitors gradually grew into the game, creating spaces on the wings through Lamine Yamal and João Cancelo.
Barcelona Take the Lead
Barcelona’s patience paid off when they opened the scoring in the first half. A well-worked attacking move saw the ball move quickly through midfield before reaching Robert Lewandowski inside the box. The experienced striker made no mistake, finishing clinically to give Barcelona a crucial 1-0 lead.
The goal shifted momentum in Barcelona’s favor, as they began to dominate possession and create more chances. Marcus Rashford and Lamine Yamal both tested the Albacete defense with pace and direct runs, forcing the home side to drop deeper.
Albacete Fight Back
Albacete refused to give up and came out stronger in the second half. Their increased intensity was rewarded when they found the equalizer, capitalizing on a defensive lapse to make it 1-1. The goal reignited the stadium and gave the home fans renewed hope of causing another major upset.
For a short period, Barcelona looked under pressure, with Albacete pushing forward and creating several dangerous moments. However, Barcelona’s defensive leaders, including Ronald Araújo and Eric García, stayed composed and helped stabilize the back line.
Decisive Moment Secures Victory
With the match finely balanced, Barcelona showed their quality in the decisive moments. A well-timed substitution brought fresh energy into the attack, and the visitors increased the tempo in the final third.
The winning goal came after sustained pressure, as Barcelona broke through Albacete’s defense to score a crucial second goal, restoring their lead at 2-1. The finish was met with relief from the Barcelona bench and traveling supporters, knowing how important the goal was in such a tight contest.
Professional Finish from Barcelona
In the closing stages, Barcelona focused on game management, keeping possession and slowing down the tempo to protect their advantage. Albacete tried to push for a late equalizer, but Barcelona’s experience proved vital as they closed out the match professionally.
The final whistle confirmed a 2-1 victory for Barcelona, sending them into the Copa del Rey semi-finals and keeping their hopes alive for another domestic trophy this season.
What This Means for Barcelona
This win is another positive step for Barcelona as they continue to rebuild and compete on multiple fronts. Advancing to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey gives the team confidence and momentum, while also keeping silverware firmly within reach.
For Albacete, despite the defeat, their performance earned respect. They pushed one of Spain’s biggest clubs to the limit and showed why they had progressed so far in the competition.
Barcelona will now turn their attention to the next round, where the level of competition will be even higher. With players like Lewandowski, Yamal, and De Jong in strong form, the Catalan giants will believe they have what it takes to go all the way.