Welcome to this MARCA live blog. Barcelona travel to the Estadio Carlos Belmonte to face Albacete in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey, aiming to avoid the shock suffered by Real Madrid last time out when they defeated Los Blancos 3-2 in the Segunda División.
Albacete’s progress has been remarkable, backed by tactical discipline and resilience, with a five-game unbeaten streak in all competitions, including three consecutive league wins that took them out of the relegation zone and into the play-offs.
Meanwhile, Barcelona remain a force, sitting top of La Liga with 55 points after 22 games and have won four of their last five games, including a 3-1 victory over Elche with goals from Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford.
Manager Hansi Flick is well aware of the threat posed by lower-league teams in the Copa del Rey and will be expected to strategically rotate the squad, blending experience and youth, while maintaining the attacking fluidity and defensive solidity that have characterized the team this season.
Despite their historic advantage against Albacete, having won all of their last six meetings, Barcelona cannot afford to be complacent. It has already been proven that inferior teams can overcome top-tier opponents, and the hunger for another upset will be evident at home.
The game promises to be a fascinating tactical clash between Barcelona’s possession-based, high-pressing style and Albacete’s disciplined defensive line and counter-attacking speed, and will be a fascinating match that will test both sides’ adaptability and concentration over the course of 90 minutes.
Albacete vs Barcelona LIVE – Latest updates
When is Albacete vs Barcelona?
The Copa del Rey quarter-final Barcelona vs. Albacete will take place on Tuesday, February 3, and will be the midweek fixture that fans look forward to on the Spanish football calendar.
Kickoff is scheduled for 15:00 ET/12:00 PT, with US viewers able to watch the game live in the afternoon and European fans watching the game in the evening local time.
Highlights of Albacete vs Barcelona
U.S. viewers will be able to live stream the game on ESPN+, which will provide subscribers with complete coverage of the quarterfinals, including pregame analysis, commentary and postgame highlights.
