Barcelona Survive Late Scare to Reach Copa del Rey Semifinals with 2-1 Win Over Albacete

FC Barcelona booked their place in the Copa del Rey semifinals after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over second-division side Albacete in the quarterfinals on February 3, 2026, at the Estadio Carlos Belmonte.

The holders, under Hansi Flick, faced a stern test from the spirited hosts, who had already caused a major upset by eliminating Real Madrid in the previous round. Barcelona dominated possession but struggled to break down a resilient Albacete defense early on.

The breakthrough arrived in the 39th minute when Lamine Yamal, continuing his impressive form, curled a precise finish into the far corner following a clever pass from Frenkie de Jong, making it 1-0. The teenage star's goal extended his recent scoring streak and settled Barça's nerves.

Ronald Araujo doubled the lead in the 56th minute, powering home a header from a Marcus Rashford corner to seemingly put the tie beyond doubt. Albacete, however, refused to surrender and pulled one back in the 87th minute through Javier Moreno, setting up a tense finale.

The visitors endured several nervy moments in stoppage time, including a crucial goal-line clearance by Gerard Martín to deny an equalizer. Barcelona held firm to secure progression, avenging Madrid's earlier exit while advancing deeper into the competition they aim to defend.The win highlights Yamal's rising influence and Araujo's set-piece threat, though the late drama served as a reminder of the cup's unpredictable nature. Barça now await their semifinal opponents as they chase silverware on multiple fronts.