Barcelona booked their spot in the Copa del Rey semi-finals with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over second-division side Albacete at the Estadio Carlos Belmonte on February 3, 2026. The Blaugrana dominated much of the contest but endured a tense finish after the hosts pulled one back late, threatening an upset following their earlier shock elimination of Real Madrid. Teen sensation Lamine Yamal opened the scoring in the 38th minute with a beautifully curled left-footed strike after capitalizing on a defensive error and a precise through ball from Frenkie de Jong.