Lamine Yamal and Ronald Araujo targets helped Barcelona attain the Copa del Rey semi-finals with a nervy 2-1 win at Albacete on Tuesday.
The report 32-time cup winners have been pushed to the tip in a good quarter-final conflict by their second division opponents, who surprised Actual Madrid within the earlier spherical.
Yamal fired Barca forward simply earlier than half-time and Araujo headed residence the second early after the break on his first begin since taking a month-long psychological well being break on the finish of final 12 months.
Albacete created a number of possibilities within the final half hour and Javi Moreno headed residence with three minutes to go to provide Hansi Flick’s Barca a scare.
“The previous few minutes… it is regular, they acquired a aim, the cup is like this,” Araujo informed Barca’s media channel.
“I am very completely satisfied (to begin once more), it was an vital step… a hug to the coach, he helped me lots.”
Holders Barca spurned some positive possibilities, simply as they did of their win over Elche in La Liga on Saturday.
“It was a troublesome match on the finish, it was very laborious. We may have made it a lot simpler for ourselves, we missed many possibilities, however I believe we additionally deserved (to win),” mentioned Flick.
“I am completely satisfied, pleased with the workforce and we’re within the semi-finals, and that is the very best factor.”
Barcelona managed the sport within the first half however couldn’t simply break down Albacete’s resistance.
Marcus Rashford spurned a few first rate openings within the opening couple of minutes, and after that the hosts shut up store towards Flick’s aspect.
Spanish champions Barcelona’s brightest participant was, as standard, teenage star Yamal, and he struck within the thirty ninth minute.
Rashford pressed effectively to win the ball again, and Frenkie de Jong’s move bobbled into Yamal’s path for the 18-year-old to curve residence.
Antonio Puertas acquired in behind Barcelona’s protection on the different finish however took a heavy contact and goalkeeper Joan Garcia was in a position to snag the unfastened ball.
The stopper by chance gave away a nook as he walked off the pitch with it to pat Araujo on the top, in a comical second earlier than the break.
Dani Olmo ought to have doubled Barca’s lead early within the second half when Rashford put the ball on a plate for him however his shot was blocked.
Puertas’ volley deflected off De Jong and simply over Garcia’s aim because the hosts threatened sporadically.
Araujo headed in Rashford’s nook as Barcelona doubled their lead and appeared set to cruise to victory, earlier than some late Albacete resistance threatened an upset.
Holding on
Jefte Betancor, who scored Albacete’s gorgeous winner towards Actual Madrid, minimize inside Araujo and whipped a shot simply huge.
Puertas put the ball at the back of Barca’s internet with seven minutes to go however there was an offside earlier within the transfer and it was disallowed.
Albacete lastly scored within the 87th minute when Moreno’s highly effective header from Jose Lazo’s free-kick flew previous Garcia, however they might not discover one other to power the sport to extra-time.
Gerard Martin headed Fran Gamez’s effort off the road as Barca endured a nervy 5 minutes of stoppage time to triumph.
“We’ve to complete with extra conviction,” mentioned Flick, who mentioned he was completely satisfied that Araujo netted on his return to the beginning line-up.
“He scored a vital aim for us, it may assist him to get extra confidence and imagine in himself,” added the German coach.
Within the different quarter-finals Valencia welcome Athletic Bilbao and Actual Sociedad go to Alaves on Wednesday, whereas Atletico Madrid journey to face Actual Betis on Thursday.
