Barcelona reached the semifinals of the Copa del Rey,\u00a0but only after making hard work of beating giantkillers Albacete 2-1.<\/p>\n
The hosts, 12th in the Segunda Division, reached the quarterfinals courtesy of their shock 3-2 victory over Real Madrid in the last 16 in Alvaro Arbeloa’s first match in charge.<\/p>\n
They were unable to repeat those heroics against Bar\u00e7a, although they did give the holders a fright when Javi Moreno scored with three minutes left.<\/p>\n
But ultimately goals from Lamine Yamal and Ronald Ara\u00fajo kept Barcelona on course for a record-extending 33rd Copa del Rey success.<\/p>\n
The underdogs threatened in the early stages with Antonio Puertas twice forcing saves from Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garc\u00eda.<\/p>\n
But Bar\u00e7a grew into the game and Gerard Mart\u00edn fired a decent opportunity over from Yamal’s cross.<\/p>\n It was Bar\u00e7a who broke the deadlock six minutes before half-time when Marcus Rashford drew two defenders towards him before squaring for Frenkie de Jong.<\/p>\n The Dutch midfielder slipped the ball out to Yamal, who lashed a superb first-time finish across Albacete keeper Raul Lizoain and inside the far post.<\/p>\n The visitors almost added a second in first-half stoppage time but Dani Olmo headed Yamal’s cross narrowly wide.<\/p>\n Araujo doubled the lead 11 minutes into the second half with a glancing header from Rashford’s corner.<\/p>\n Lizoain kept Albacete in the match with saves from Robert Lewandowski and Olmo, while Ferran Torres blazed a good chance over.<\/p>\n And Bar\u00e7a were made to sweat when Moreno headed home a cross from Jose Carlos Lazo.<\/p>\n Torres thought he had wrapped up the tie when he fired home but VAR disallowed the goal for offside.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>