Albacete’s Cup Run Halted by Barcelona

Spanish second-division side Albacete, who stunned the football world by defeating Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey Round of 16, saw their remarkable cup run come to an end in the quarter-finals against another giant of Spanish football, Barcelona. On Tuesday night (3 February), the Catalan club secured a 2–1 victory to book their place in the semi-finals.

The match began in Barcelona’s favour, with the home side taking the lead in the 39th minute. Lamine Yamal, the club’s teenage sensation, converted a precise pass from Frenkie de Jong inside the box with a left-footed strike. This goal marked Yamal’s fifth in his last six appearances at club level.

Barcelona extended their advantage in the second half through Ronald Araújo. The Uruguayan defender headed in from a Marcus Rashford corner in the 56th minute. Remarkably, this was Araújo’s first goal since returning from a short break last year for mental health reasons.

Albacete, however, refused to go quietly. In the 84th minute, a goal for the visitors was ruled out for offside. But three minutes later, Javi Moreno scored to pull a goal back, giving the hosts renewed hope. Shortly afterwards, another Albacete goal by Torrres was also disallowed for offside, preventing them from equalising. In added time, Albacete came close again, only for Gérard Martínez to clear a ball off the line, preserving Barcelona’s lead.

Reflecting on the tense match, Barcelona defender Araújo said,
“We knew it wouldn’t be an easy game. Copa matches remain open until the very end. Albacete pushed hard after scoring a goal late, which is natural. The team managed the situation well. Advancing to the semi-finals is what matters most.”

The victory extends Barcelona’s excellent run across all competitions to 16 wins in their last 17 matches, with their sole defeat coming last month against Real Sociedad in La Liga. Barcelona have now reached the Copa del Rey semi-finals for four consecutive seasons, having won last season’s final against Real Madrid. Coach Hansi Flick rested key players Rafinha, Gavi, and Pedri for this fixture.

Albacete, meanwhile, have already made headlines this season. In addition to eliminating Real Madrid, they defeated La Liga side Celta Vigo in the Round of 32. Currently 12th in Spain’s second division, Albacete last reached the Copa del Rey semi-finals in the 1994–95 season. Reflecting on their achievement, Javi Moreno said,
“We are proud. Who would have thought we could beat Celta and Real Madrid and fight so hard against Barcelona?”

Copa del Rey Quarter-Final: Barcelona 2–1 Albacete (3 February 2026)

Barcelona now await their semi-final opponents, aiming to continue their bid for another Copa del Rey title, while Albacete will be remembered for one of the most remarkable cup runs in recent Spanish football history.