Albacete 0-2 Barcelona
Barcelona had been heavy favourites to make it previous Albacete of their quarter-final on the Carlos Belmonte, however after Actual Madrid had been eradicated within the earlier spherical taking part in quite a lot of academy abilities, Hansi Flick wouldn’t have the excuse that he had not been warned. Therefore a powerful line-up was despatched out by the German supervisor, albeit one which included first begins of 2026 for Ronald Araujo and Joao Cancelo. Alejandro Balde, Ferran Torres and Fermin Lopez had been rested with Marc Bernal getting an opportunity too.
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The night began off with Barcelona on prime, however the Albacete crowd had been inspired first by a miss from Marcus Rashford. Dani Olmo slid the ball into his path in a central place, however Rashford couldn’t wrap his foot across the ball, and scuffed huge from centre of the field. Albacete settled a little bit, and had the odd foray ahead, however the sample of the sport was a collection of cutbacks, photographs and remaining passes that didn’t fairly enable for the opener.
It was the excessive press that opened the sport up for Barcelona, with Frenkie de Jong and Rashford converging on an Albacete midfielder to win the ball again in entrance of the defence. Rashford laid it central to de Jong thereafter, and he , a fourth consecutive aim for the 18-year-old. The one menace to Flick’s contentment was Joao Cancelo, who was booked after which was prone to a sending off after by accident stepping on David Bernabeu’s foot.
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Barcelona proceed frivolous perspective to probabilities
Picture through Getty Photos / Angel Martinez
Cancelo was withdrawn, and Barcelona resumed their seek for targets, with Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski passing up clear openings. Albacete’s finest probability to date got here from a free ball into the field, with de Jong in the best way on the proper time to deflect an Antonio Puertas shot over. However shortly after, Ronald Araujo punished them from a nook. In his first begin of 2026, , and celebrated with the utmost content material in his first huge second since returning. He thanked Flick for his religion with a hug in the course of the celebrations.
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Hero of the Actual Madrid victory, Jefte Betancor was despatched on after the hour-mark, and slicing inside Araujo put his first effort narrowly previous the highest nook, as Albacete started to take extra dangers. Flick could have been exasperated by his aspect’s incapability to utilize the numerous breaks they created. The following huge probability fell to Jefte although, who couldn’t hit the goal with a free header on the again submit, one which appeared to sap the hope out of the Carlos Belmonte greater than both of Barcelona’s targets.
There was little doubt that Barcelona had relaxed although, and with 10 minutes to go, Puertas had a aim disallowed for offside. With simply three minutes to go, a free-kick discovered Javi Moreno’s diving header contained in the close to submit. As he roared his manner again to the midway line, the Albacete group had been pumped filled with adrenaline. Moments later, Gerard Martin’s excellent cross for Ferran Torres to seal it was dominated out for offside by VAR, seeming to present Albacete’s by no means say die perspective some form of reality. In stoppage time, the ball arrived to a free Agus Medina on the again submit. His dink over Joan Garcia was excellent – however Martin spoiled the dramatics with a header off the road.
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Barcelona survived their late scare to make it by way of to the semi-finals subsequent week, which will likely be two legs. Flick has been optimistic about their means to create possibilities of late, however the continued wastefulness not simply by way of capturing but additionally decisiveness within the remaining third is swiftly turning into a theme that may impress him much less. Albacete, valiant and filled with an admirable self-belief, will rue one of many probabilities that went in towards Actual Madrid, this time thwarted on the demise.