FC Barcelona has officially learned its Copa del Rey quarter-final opponents, setting up a thrilling and high-stakes away clash.
After surviving a tricky trip to Racing Santander in the last 16, Hansi Flick’s side now prepares for another knockout test away from home, with the draw again pairing them with lower-division opposition but in a high‑stakes setting.
The draw has handed Barcelona an away tie against Segunda División outfit Albacete, who earned their place in the last eight by stunning Real Madrid 3-2 at the Estadio Carlos Belmonte.
The quarter-final will also be played at the same venue, meaning Barça must cope with a hostile atmosphere and a pitch where the hosts have already claimed one giant scalp this season.
Albacete came into the clash as one of the stories of the competition, knocking out Xabi Alonso’s side in a thrilling comeback that electrified the home crowd and injected real belief into their cup run.
Barcelona, for their part, are fully aware that the holders’ tag offers no guarantees, especially in one-legged ties away from Camp Nou, and will treat the fixture as a serious examination of focus and mentality.
For Flick, the draw presents a delicate balance between rotation and respect.
Key figures like Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres and Robert Lewandowski carried the attack in the previous round, where late goals and a huge save from Joan García were needed to see off Racing Santander.
Eliminating the team that knocked out their eternal rivals would reinforce Barcelona’s status as favourites and keep the domestic double firmly in sight.
With the tie scheduled as a single-elimination clash later this month, all eyes now turn to Carlos Belmonte, where Barça’s title defence faces its next decisive hurdle.
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