Copa del Rey: Yamal, Rashford shine as Barcelona see off Albacete to reach semi-final

Copa del Rey: Yamal, Rashford shine as Barcelona see off Albacete to reach semi-final

Lamine Yamal was on target, and Marcus Rashford provided an assist as holders Barcelona held off Albacete to book their place in the Copa del Rey semi-final.

Teenage sensation Yamal opened the scoring in the 39th minute, netting his first goal of the competition this season to give Barcelona a deserved lead.

Defender Ronald Araújo doubled Barca’s advantage 11 minutes after the restart, rising highest to head home from Rashford’s corner. The goal marked another milestone for Rashford, who became only the third La Liga player this season to register double figures for both goals and assists across all competitions.

Albacete, however, ensured a tense finish when defender Javi Moreno pulled one back in the 87th minute, connecting with a cross from José Carlos Lazo to halve the deficit.

The victory brought an end to the Segunda División side’s fairytale run in the competition, which had included a dramatic last-gasp victory over Real Madrid in the previous round.

Barcelona nearly added a third in stoppage time, but Ferran Torres saw his effort ruled out for offside. Despite the late drama, the Catalans held firm to secure their place in the last four of the Copa del Rey.

Head of Sports at BusinessDay Media, a seasoned Digital Content Producer, and FIFA/CAF Accredited Journalist with over a decade of sports reporting.Has a deep understanding of the Nigerian and global sports landscape and skills in delivering comprehensive and insightful sports content.

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