Barcelona secures passage into Copa del Rey semis
Ronald Araujo's goal proved to be the difference as Barcelona booked a place in the Copa del Rey semi-finals after a 2-1 win over Albacete.
The second-tier side knocked out Real Madrid with a last-gasp win in the previous round, but it fell just short of a second giant-killing against the defending champion.
Barca upped the pressure as the first half went on and got its reward in the 39th minute as Frenkie de Jong picked out Lamine Yamal, who shaped a volley into the left side of the net.
The visitor flew out of the traps after the break, with Marcus Rashford squaring into the box after a driving run down the left, but Dani Olmo's first-time finish was cleared off the line by Daniel Bernabeu.
Barcelona got its insurance goal in the 56th minute as Araujo got in front of his marker to glance Rashford's corner past Raul Lizoain, who was crowded out in the six-yard box.
Jefte Betancor – Albacete's hero against Madrid – wasted two glorious opportunities to pull one back before finally putting the ball in the net after meeting Antonio Puertas's low cross, only for the offside to go up against his team-mate.
It was Javi Moreno that gave the host some hope in the 87th minute, meeting Jose Carlos Lazo's bending free-kick with a stunning diving header.
Ferran Torres then saw a strike disallowed at the other end moments later to set up a nervy ending, and Albacete came within inches of forcing the game beyond 90 minutes, but Fran Gamez saw his effort headed off the line by Gerard Martin.
