Barcelona Stars Shine Against Albacete as Catalans Edge Closer to Historic Domestic Treble Glory

Barcelona secured revenge against arch-rivals Real Madrid by overcoming second-tier side Albacete 2–1 on Tuesday evening to book their place in the Copa del Rey semifinal.

While it lacked the goal-fest many anticipated, Barcelona still controlled proceedings and dominated throughout, appearing to operate in cruise control. Strikes from Lamine Yamal and Ronald Araújo proved sufficient for Hansi Flick's squad to complete the task, despite Javi Moreno's late consolation goal for the home team in the final five minutes adding tension to the match's finale.

Barcelona now find themselves ideally placed to pursue a 33rd Copa del Rey triumph, a tournament they have traditionally ruled. With the 2026 Spanish Super Cup already secured in their trophy room and Flick's team leading the La Liga table, the possibility of claiming a second successive domestic treble appears enticingly within reach.

Following their victory over Albacete, Barcelona move closer to accomplishing this remarkable domestic achievement—something the club had never previously achieved before Flick's tenure—for consecutive seasons.

Winners and Losers

Winners and Losers

Winners

Winners

The enduring image from Barcelona's triumph against Albacete may well be Ronald Araújo rushing to embrace Flick after netting the second goal, a heartwarming scene following the Uruguayan's recent difficulties. Making his first start in over two months after time away from the club due to personal matters, Araújo emerged as one of the evening's standout performers.

The Uruguay defender has consistently possessed the physical attributes to excel as an elite center-back, and his leadership presence remains crucial within Barça's locker room. Flick has been careful managing Araújo's playing time since his return from absence, but this evening delivered a composed and commanding display from a player desperately needing it—one that could reignite his campaign.

Marcus Rashford provided the assist for Araújo's strike, marking the Englishman's third consecutive match with a goal contribution, totaling five in his past six outings. With Raphinha sidelined through injury, Rashford again made a meaningful impact in Barcelona's offensive play. While he may not match the Brazilian superstar's level, Rashford's attacking contributions this season remain noteworthy given his limited minutes, and he continues building a compelling argument for the Catalans to make his loan spell permanent.

Loser

Loser

There's no sugar-coating it—this represents a devastating blow for Real Madrid, who suffered a deserved Copa del Rey elimination on this same pitch less than a month ago. Despite being Álvaro Arbeloa's debut match as manager, falling to Albacete remains unacceptable for a club of Madrid's stature. Barcelona barely worked up a sweat against Los Blancos' conquerors. The Catalans now stand on the brink of another trophy, and Real Madrid can do nothing to prevent them.

Barcelona Player Ratings vs. Albacete (4-2-3-1)

Barcelona Player Ratings vs. Albacete (4-2-3-1)

*Ratings Provided by Fotmob*

GK: Joan García—6.7: Largely a bystander throughout the evening but remained alert to collect crosses and performed well in his sweeper role. Powerless to prevent Albacete's goal.

RB: João Cancelo—7.6: Despite some neat link-up play with Yamal, he was fortunate to avoid a red card before halftime following several reckless late tackles that led to his substitution at the break.

CB: Ronald Araújo—8.3: Araújo wore the captain's armband in his first start since his difficult evening at Stamford Bridge in November. The Uruguayan delivered a flawless performance throughout and capped a morale-boosting display with a goal.

CB: Eric García—7.7: Composed and reliable as always, García maintained his reputation for consistency while Agus Medina found no way past him.

LB: Gerard Martín—7.8: Returning to his preferred position, Martín's attacking crosses from wide areas lacked quality and he should have tracked Moreno more closely to prevent Albacete's goal.

DM: Frenkie de Jong—8.1: With Bernal beside him, the Dutchman enjoyed freedom to drift across the midfield in Pedri's typical role. De Jong excelled once more and registered his third assist in four recent matches.

DM: Marc Bernal—6.6: With most action occurring ahead of him, he stayed vigilant to make several crucial interceptions and regain possession in Albacete's half. Bernal also contributed to some risky turnovers that could have proven costly.

RW: Lamine Yamal—8.6: Three defenders were consistently assigned to mark Yamal, making it virtually impossible for him to find operating space. Nevertheless, he executed a challenging finish with apparent ease to extend his scoring run.

AM: Dani Olmo—7.8: Began energetically but his impact waned as time progressed, with De Jong instead becoming the creative hub of Barça's offensive play. An understated evening from Olmo, who had shone in recent fixtures.

LW: Marcus Rashford—8.0: With Albacete's attention concentrated on Lamine Yamal, Rashford frequently found himself with ample room to maneuver and was even played through twice, but his hesitant decision-making saw him waste both clear opportunities. His ball recovery remained vital for Barcelona's opening goal.

ST: Robert Lewandowski—6.7: He lacked the service needed to influence the attack meaningfully. At this stage of his career, his contribution beyond the penalty box is minimal, highlighted by completing merely two passes before being substituted.

SUB: Pau Cubarsí (46' for Cancelo)—6.6: Failed to provide much stability and was frequently seen making hasty adjustments while tracking back defensively.

SUB: Fermín López (66' for Rashford)—7.0: Delivered some excellent interventions and created promising opportunities he'll regret weren't converted.

SUB: Ferran Torres (66' for Lewandowski)—6.4: Could have easily netted a hat-trick in under thirty minutes with better finishing.

SUB: Marc Casadó (66' for Bernal)—6.1: Appeared overwhelmed when the hosts pressed forward late, shown by the four fouls he committed after entering the game.

SUB: Jules Koundé (78' for Araújo)—6.6: Had limited time to influence proceedings, though he did misplace several passes that could have created dangerous situations.

Subs not used: Diego Kochen (GK), Wojciech Szczęsny (GK), Alejandro Balde, Tommy Marques, Roony Barghji

What the Ratings Tell Us

What the Ratings Tell Us

The Numbers That Explain Barcelona's Win

The Numbers That Explain Barcelona's Win