Barcelona Pushed Hard Before Sealing Copa Del Rey Semi-Final

Barcelona walked into Carlos Belmonte knowing the night would not glide by. The badge carries weight, but cups rarely care. Albacete made that clear from the first whistle in this Copa del Rey semi-finals chase.

The visitors controlled the opening stretch without cutting deep. Possession moved, angles shifted, yet the net stayed quiet. Albacete dropped numbers, blocked lanes, and waited. Patience wore thin, and then the game cracked.

Lamine Yamal provided the spark just before the interval. A loose ball, a quick look up, and a finish that silenced the home end. This way, Barcelona finally had air to breathe.

Despite Raphinha’s injury setback, Barcelona stayed composed, trusted their depth, and still found a way to grind past Albacete when it mattered most.

Yamal Sets The Tone

That goal changed the rhythm, not the mood. Albacete stayed in it, and pressed harder after the break and left space behind. Barcelona took advantage when Ronald Araujo rose highest from a corner, powering home on his return to the starting lineup. At 2-0, it felt settled, but it was not.

Albacete Refuse To Fade

Barcelona missed chances, and Albacete pushed forward. Crosses came in, tackles followed, and the crowd grew louder. Javi Moreno’s late header changed the mood, forcing Barcelona to defend through the final minutes with clearances and blocks.

Narrow Escape But Big Reward

After the whistle, relief showed more than joy. Hansi Flick praised the effort but admitted the finish lacked bite. Araujo spoke of confidence, of steps forward, of trusting the process again.

Barcelona moves on, but the warning travels with them. In knockout football, comfort disappears fast. The Copa del Rey semi-finals will demand sharper edges.

For Albacete, elimination hurts, but the pride remains. For Barcelona, survival is enough.