Barcelona overcame Albacete, defeating the second-division club 2-1 in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Copa del Rey.
Albacete were the architects of the biggest upset in Spanish football this season, eliminating Real Madrid from the Copa del Rey Round of 16 with a 3-2 victory last January.
The draw pitted Albacete against Barcelona in another tough encounter, but this time, Fernández’s men were unable to continue their run.
Lamine Yamal opened the scoring for Barcelona in the 38th minute with a powerful shot from inside the penalty area, and Ronald Araujo added a second goal in the 55th minute with a strong header.
Everyone thought the match was over for Barça, but Albacete staged a remarkable comeback in the final minutes, pulling a goal back through Moreno in the 87th minute. They then missed a golden opportunity thanks to a crucial intervention from Gerard Martín on the edge of the penalty area in the final minute.
Thus, Barcelona, the reigning champions and most successful team in the competition’s history (32 titles), became the first team to officially qualify for the 2026 Copa del Rey semi-finals, awaiting the three remaining quarter-finalists.
Valencia will face Athletic Bilbao, Alavés will play Real Sociedad, and Atlético Madrid will take on Real Betis in the remaining quarter-final matches, spread across Wednesday and Thursday. The semi-final draw will then take place.
