Barcelona maintained their grip on the Copa del Rey after navigating a tricky away test against Albacete. The holders showed quality to secure a semi-final place.
Lamine Yamal was on target and Marcus Rashford supplied creativity as Barcelona edged through. The Second Division hosts resisted bravely, but class told in decisive moments.
Teenager Yamal scored his first goal in this season’s competition in the 39th minute. His finish rewarded Barcelona’s dominance after a slow-burning opening.
It was the first competitive meeting between the sides since 2005, as Hansi Flick’s team controlled possession early but lacked sharpness initially.
Marcus Rashford fired wide in the eighth minute after a clever Dani Olmo pass. That moment signalled Barcelona’s urgency, though clear chances remained scarce.
The breakthrough arrived following a high press. After Rashford and Frenkie de Jong regained possession, Yamal curled past Raul Lizoain for his 14th goal. Barcelona grew in confidence after the opener and dictated tempo. Albacete struggled to escape sustained pressure before the interval.
Rashford influence, Araujo power, and Late Albacete resistance
Early in the second half, Barcelona nearly doubled their advantage. Olmo’s effort was cleared off the line after a brilliant Rashford solo run. However, the second goal soon followed from a familiar source. Ronald Araujo powered home Rashford’s corner 11 minutes after the restart.
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That assist ensured the England forward became only the third La Liga player with double figures for goals and assists this season.
Albacete refused to fold and pushed late. Defender Javi Moreno connected with Jose Carlos Lazo’s cross in the 87th minute to revive hope. The goal injected tension into the closing stages. Barcelona briefly wobbled but managed the game intelligently.
Ferran Torres had a late goal disallowed for offside during added time. Still, Barcelona closed out the tie with maturity. The victory ended Albacete’s fairytale run, which included a dramatic last-gasp win over Real Madrid. Their journey earned respect despite the defeat.
Tags: Lamine Yamal, Marcus Rashford, Albacete, Barcelona, Copa del Rey, Raul Lizoain, Frenkie de Jong, Hansi Flick, Javi Moreno, Jose Carlos Lazo.
