Barcelona march on to the Copa del Rey semifinals after dispatching Albacete 2-1 in a confident and composed performance.
Lamine Yamal opened the scoring with a clinical left-footed finish from Frenkie de Jong’s assist following a high-press turnover.
Ronald Araújo doubled the lead with a powerful header, assisted by Marcus Rashford, easing any late nerves.
Barça dominated possession against the stubborn Segunda División side—who had previously stunned Real Madrid—but struggled for ruthlessness, creating chances without converting more.
A result highlighted defensive solidity in a gritty, efficient performance.
Here are the 5 things we learned:
1. Lack of ruthlessness in attack remains a persistent issue
Despite dominating possession and creating opportunities, Barcelona failed to convert their chances into a more comfortable margin.
Only two goals were scored despite heavy pressure and high pressing, leading to the breakthrough.
This echoes recent patterns where clinical finishing has been missing, turning what should have been routine wins into tense, one-goal affairs.
2. Struggling to break down a well-organized low block
Albacete, as a Segunda División side, sat deep and defended compactly after the early stages, making it hard for Barça to find gaps in the final third.
Even with superior quality, the team relied on a moment of individual brilliance rather than consistent pattern play or overloads to unlock the defense.
3. High pressing works, but needs better follow-up execution
The breakthrough came from a high-pressure turnover leading to Frenkie de Jong’s assist and Yamal’s clinical finish.
However, Barcelona generated pressure without consistently turning regains into multiple clear chances.
Against a resilient low block, the team must sharpen the transition from press to penetration to avoid relying on isolated moments.
4. Squad rotation and depth tested under cup pressure
With a packed schedule, the match highlighted the importance of fresh legs in attack.
Some key players may have lacked sharpness in decision-making late on, showing that even with stars like Yamal shining, deeper squad options need to step up to sustain threat levels when starters tire.
5. Defensive solidity is non-negotiable on the road
Albacete threatened sporadically on counters and set pieces, especially given their momentum from knocking out Real Madrid earlier.
Maintaining intensity and concentration for the full 90+ minutes is crucial in cup games away from home.
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