Barcelona Reaches Copa del Rey Semifinals as Rashford Makes Instant Impact
Barcelona, 4 February 2026
Barcelona defeated second-division Albacete 2-1 to secure their Copa del Rey semifinal spot, with Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford providing a crucial assist just days after joining the Catalan giants. Eighteen-year-old Lamine Yamal opened the scoring with his fifth goal in six matches, before defender Ronald Araujo headed home Rashford’s corner delivery.
Yamal’s Rising Star Continues to Shine
The match showcased the remarkable form of Barcelona’s teenage sensation, with Yamal finding the net in the 39th minute after a brilliant combination with Frenkie de Jong [1]. The Spain international needed only one touch to curl his finish past goalkeeper Raul Lizoain, marking his 14th goal of the season [1]. This strike represents his fifth goal in his last six club matches [2], demonstrating the consistency that has made him one of Europe’s most exciting young talents. The goal came after Rashford and de Jong had combined to win the ball back high in the Albacete half, highlighting the effective pressing that has become a hallmark of Hansi Flick’s Barcelona [1].
Rashford’s Immediate Impact
Marcus Rashford’s influence on the match extended beyond his assist, as the England forward created Barcelona’s first significant opportunity in the eighth minute when he fired wide after a clever pass from Dani Olmo [1]. The Manchester United loanee’s performance reached its crescendo in the 56th minute when his corner delivery found Ronald Araujo, who headed home to double Barcelona’s advantage [1][2]. Remarkably, this assist made Rashford only the third La Liga player to reach double figures for both goals and assists across all competitions this season [1]. Two minutes before Araujo’s goal, Rashford had embarked on a magnificent solo run that led to Olmo’s effort being cleared off the line by Dani Bernabeu [1].
Araujo’s Emotional Return to Scoring
The header that sealed Barcelona’s victory held special significance for Ronald Araujo, as it marked his first goal since taking time off to deal with his mental health last year [2]. The central defender’s celebration reflected not only the importance of the goal in securing the semifinals berth but also his personal journey back to peak performance. Despite Albacete’s late rally through Javi Moreno’s 87th-minute consolation goal [1][2], Barcelona maintained their composure to advance. The victory represents Barcelona’s 16th win in their last 17 matches across all tournaments, with their only setback being a loss at Real Sociedad in the Spanish league last month [2].
Semifinal Ambitions and Historical Context
Barcelona’s progression to the Copa del Rey semifinals marks their fourth consecutive appearance in the competition’s final four stages [2]. The defending champions, who won last year’s edition in a final against Real Madrid, have effectively ended Albacete’s fairytale cup run that included a shocking elimination of Real Madrid in the previous round [1][2]. For Albacete, sitting 12th in the second division, reaching this stage represented their best Copa del Rey performance since the 1994-95 season when they last made the semifinals [2]. As defender Javi Moreno reflected after the match: ‘We are very proud. Who would have imagined we could knock out Celta, Real Madrid and put up a good fight against Barcelona?’ [2]. The semifinal stage will be played over two legs, with the final scheduled for April in Sevilla [2].