Fresh from their historic elimination of Real Madrid, Segunda Division side Albacete Balompié host La Liga leaders Barcelona tonight in a high-stakes Copa del Rey quarter-final.
The Carlos Belmonte Stadium is expected to be at full capacity as the “Blaugrana” arrive in Castilla-La Mancha. While Barcelona are the clear favorites, Albacete have already proven they can defy the odds after a dramatic 3-2 victory over Real Madrid in the previous round a result that sent shockwaves through Spanish football and marked a nightmare debut for Alvaro Arbeloa.
Flick Wary of “Unpredictable” Cup Magic
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has warned his squad against complacency, despite their dominant recent form. Coming off a professional 3-1 win against Elche, where Lamine Yamal and Marcus Rashford were on the scoresheet, Barça are aiming for a domestic quadruple.
“The Cup is unpredictable,” Flick stated in his pre-match press conference. “Albacete have nothing to lose and everything to gain. We must maintain our intensity from the first minute.”
Historical Dominance vs. Current Momentum
The head-to-head record heavily favors the Catalans, who have won all four of their meetings since 2003, outscoring Albacete 11-2. However, the two sides haven’t met since 2005, making this a “new” rivalry for a generation of fans.
Key Match Facts:
- Kick-off: 20:00 GMT / 17:00 Brasilia Time.
- Venue: Estadio Carlos Belmonte (17,500 capacity).
- Format: Single-leg knockout (Winner takes all).
Predicted Lineups and Team News
Flick is expected to rotate his squad slightly, with Joao Cancelo likely to start at full-back. However, with Raphinha and Ter Stegen unavailable due to injury, the German coach is expected to keep a strong core, including Robert Lewandowski, to avoid an upset similar to the one suffered by their Madrid rivals.
Albacete will once again rely on Jefte Betancor, the hero of the Round of 16, who scored twice to sink Real Madrid.
Gabriel Lucio is a football analyst covering La Liga, focusing on match analysis, tactical trends, and the race for domestic and European positions.
