Albacete 1, Barcelona 2: Barca Survives Late Scare to Reach Copa del Rey Semifinals

Barcelona survived a late Albacete surge to record a 2-1 victory at Estadio Carlos Belmonte on February 3, 2026, and, as holders, reached the Copa del Rey semifinals. Lamine Yamal opened the scoring in the 39th minute, Ronald Araújo doubled the lead early in the second half, and Javi Moreno pulled one back for Albacete in the 87th minute, setting up a frantic finish that included a disallowed Barcelona goal and a dramatic clearance off the line.

Key facts, score and setting

• Final score, Albacete 1, Barcelona 2. The match was played on February 3, 2026, at Estadio Carlos Belmonte in Albacete, with an attendance around 16,745.
• Scorers: Lamine Yamal 39', Ronald Araújo 56', Javier Moreno 87'.
• Match context: Barcelona entered as Copa del Rey holders, Albacete arrived off a cup run that saw them knock out higher-ranked teams, including Real Madrid in an earlier round.

Match summary

Barcelona controlled possession for long spells, probing patiently and waiting for openings, while Albacete set up compactly and looked to hit on set pieces and transitions. Yamal's opener came from a swift combination that punished a brief Albacete lapse, and Araújo's header from a corner pushed the visitors further ahead after the break. Albacete never stopped fighting, and Moreno's late header reduced the deficit and brought the crowd to life, before VAR intervened to rule out a late Barcelona strike and a last-ditch clearance prevented an equaliser.

"We did not have our best night in front of goal, but we managed the game and earned the win," said Barcelona's manager after the match, acknowledging the scrappy finish and praising the response of a defender returning to action.

Tactical outline

Barcelona

• Formation and approach: Barcelona dominated possession, often building through the center and relying on forward rotation to unsettle Albacete's compact blocks.
• Key contributions: Lamine Yamal supplied width and an opportunistic finish, while Ronald Araújo provided aerial threat from set pieces and a calming presence in defence when needed.
• Areas of concern: Despite long spells of possession, Barcelona left chances on the table and were vulnerable to second-ball set piece situations.

Albacete

• Formation and approach: The home side defended with numbers behind the ball, sought to limit space between lines, and attacked principally from set pieces and quick counters.
• Key strengths: High intensity, physical set-piece delivery, and belief born of previous cup upsets kept them dangerous until the final whistle.
• What worked: Their strategy forced Barcelona to play patiently, and it nearly produced a dramatic finish.

Turning points

• The Yamal goal in the 39th minute, which forced Albacete to open up and chase the game.
• Araújo's 56th minute header, which gave Barcelona breathing room and reshaped Albacete's tactical risk calculus.
• Moreno's 87th minute header, which changed the tenor of the final minutes and created genuine doubt.
• A late VAR decision that disallowed a Barcelona goal, followed by a crucial defensive clearance off the line, ensured a nervy finish.

Statistics at a glance

Lineups and substitutions (selected)

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Albacete (selected): starting XI, key subs

• Starting: J. Villar, Fran Gámez, Jesús Vallejo, José Carlos Lazo, Antonio Puertas
• Sub: Javi Moreno (on, scored 87')

Barcelona (selected): starting XI, key subs

• Starting: Joan García, Ronald Araújo, Frenkie de Jong, Lamine Yamal, Marcus Rashford
• Subs: Ferran Torres (goal ruled out by VAR), Jules Koundé (on 78')
  ```

Reactions and perspectives

• Barcelona camp: The win was framed as professional and necessary, a good result while exposing the team to reminders about finishing and concentration near the end. The manager singled out the positive of Araújo rediscovering goal form and the squad's ability to close a tense match.
• Albacete camp: For the Segunda Division side, the game was further proof that their cup run is no fluke. Players and staff emphasized pride in performance, noting that their route to the quarterfinals included shock results and that they made life difficult for a top-level opponent.
• Neutral observers: Many commentators praised Albacete's resilience and questioned Barcelona's clinical edge, noting that possession did not always translate into decisive attacking control.

"Albacete made Barca work for every moment, and that is credit to their game plan and mentality," read a widely shared line of analysis from sports writers covering the cup.

What the result means

• Barcelona progress to the Copa del Rey semifinals, keeping their defence of the title alive and preserving opportunities for squad rotation in coming fixtures.
• Albacete's cup journey ends, but their performance reinforces the club's credibility as an upwardly mobile, competitive cup side capable of upsetting bigger teams, which could carry confidence into their league campaign.

Looking ahead

Barcelona will balance Copa commitments with domestic league duties and possible European fixtures, while Albacete must refocus on Segunda Division survival and consolidation. The match also renewed conversations about VAR interventions and added-time drama, topics that will likely resurface in future cup ties.

Final takeaways

• The scoreboard read Albacete 1, Barcelona 2, a score that told a fuller story than the possession numbers alone. Barcelona advanced, but the result underlined that tidy, dominant possession must be married to clinical finishing, while the underdog spirit of cup football continues to deliver compelling nights for smaller clubs and their supporters.

By David Anderson, veteran sports correspondent.