Tue Feb 03 20:40:00 UTC 2026: ### Barcelona Squeaks into Copa del Rey Semi-Finals After Dramatic Win Against Albacete

The Story: FC Barcelona narrowly escaped an upset against second-tier Albacete in the Copa del Rey quarter-final, securing a 2-1 victory on Tuesday night. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, Barcelona struggled to convert their opportunities, leading to a tense finish where Albacete threatened to equalize. Goals from Lamine Yamal and Ronald Araujo proved sufficient to advance, but a late goal from Javi Moreno and a disallowed goal for Ferran Torres made for a nervy ending at the Carlos Belmonte stadium.

Key Points:

  • Barcelona defeated Albacete 2-1 in the Copa del Rey quarter-final.
  • Lamine Yamal scored the opening goal for Barcelona, assisted by Frenkie de Jong.
  • Ronald Araujo doubled the lead with a header from a Marcus Rashford corner.
  • Albacete’s Javi Moreno scored late, setting up a dramatic finish.
  • Gerard Martín made a crucial goal-line clearance in stoppage time.
  • Ferran Torres had a goal disallowed for offside.
  • Hansi Flick substituted João Cancelo at halftime, replacing him with Pau Cubarsí.
  • Jefté Betancor missed two key chances for Albacete.

Critical Analysis:
The historical context does not provide enough information to analyze why the match happened, it only reveals Barcelona’s objectives and the winger’s current performance. The match showed a potential problem with the team, if they are unable to convert their chances and are prone to errors.

Key Takeaways:

  • Barcelona’s progression to the Copa del Rey semi-finals masks underlying issues in their finishing and defensive composure.
  • The performance highlights the importance of squad depth and the impact of substitutions in knockout competitions.
  • Despite the victory, Barcelona needs to address their efficiency in front of goal to avoid similar scares in future matches.

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