Barcelona - finals after a hard-fought and thrilling 2-1 victory over Albacete, the surprise package of the tournament from the second division, in their quarter-final match. With this win, the Catalan club continues its title defense while simultaneously ending Albacete's remarkable run, which had seen them eliminate arch-rivals Real Madrid in the previous round.
Barcelona opened the scoring in the 39th minute of the first half through their young star Lamine Djamel , who capitalized on a precise pass from Dutchman Frenkie de Jong to slot the ball into the net. In the second half, Uruguayan defender Ronald Araujo , who wore the captain's armband for the match, doubled the lead for his team in the 56th minute, confirming Barça's dominance. Despite this, the home side refused to give up, managing to reduce the deficit in the final minutes with a header from Javi Moreno in the 87th minute, igniting the atmosphere of the match. Albacete almost forced extra time, but defender Gerard Martín intervened, clearing a dangerous ball off the goal line in stoppage time.
The importance of the King's Cup and the history of "surprise makers"
The Copa del Rey is known for its rich history and its ability to produce major upsets, where smaller teams can challenge the giants. The phenomenon of "giant killers" is an integral part of the tournament's allure, as exemplified by Albacete this season when they eliminated Real Madrid in the round of 16 with a 3-2 victory, a match that shocked the Spanish football world. This achievement prompted Barcelona's German coach, Hansi Flick, to take the match very seriously, saying before the game: "That's why we love cup matches, because sometimes they produce unexpected results. Of course, this is normal; they have nothing to lose, and all they have to do is win." For this reason, Flick fielded a star-studded starting lineup, despite the absence of Brazilian Rafinha due to injury, to avoid any surprise that could knock his team out of the competition they were defending champions of.
Barcelona, the "King of the Cup," continues its journey
Barcelona is the most decorated club in the history of the Copa del Rey, earning them the title of "King of the Cup." The Catalan club has made this competition a top priority this season, aiming to further bolster their record and appease their fans. This qualification underscores the team's strong character in cup matches and their ability to handle high pressure against ambitious teams that play without any inferiority complex. Now, Barcelona eagerly awaits their next opponent in the semi-final, hoping to reach the final and lift the trophy for the second consecutive time.
The quarter-final matches continue with some tough encounters, as Valencia meets Athletic Bilbao, Alaves faces Real Sociedad, and the round concludes with a highly anticipated clash between Real Betis and Atletico Madrid.
