Three takeaways from Albacete 1-2 Barcelona | Copa del Rey | OneFootball

Barcelona took to the field at the same venue where Real Madrid and Celta Vigo faced elimination from the Copa del Rey in their game against Albacete last night.

On this occasion, however, the favourites prevailed.

Barring the final ten minutes of the game, when they were under some pressure, it was a rather routine win for Barcelona, with them dominating the possession as usual, controlling the tempo of the game and creating threats from both flanks.

Lamine Yamal opened the scoring in the first half while Ronald Araujo doubled the lead from a set-piece after the break.

The hosts then threatened to mount a comeback, but Barcelona managed to hold on and get through.

Barça Universal brings you three takeaways from Albacete 1-2 Barcelona.

Same theme repeats itself

What has been a common theme in recent games for Barcelona, and continued to be so last night, was the team’s poor finishing in front of goal – something they were expected to have made a conscious effort to improve on.

Barcelona did struggle against Albacete. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

After the win over Elche, where Barcelona created 13 big chances but could take only three, last night they created eight big chances and took just two.

To put into perspective, they converted one in 4.3 chances at the weekend and one in four chances last night.

The ratio simply isn’t good enough or sustainable, especially when one considers how clear and straightforward some of the chances created were.

After all, the season ahead is ruthless and there is no room for such lackadaisical finishing.

Marcus Rashford was terrible in front of goal, missing another 1v1 and a chance set up by Yamal on a platter.

The same goes for the starting striker, Robert Lewandowski, who could not bury the chances that came his way and let go of at least two clear goals.

Ferran Torres, who came on to replace the misfiring forwards, was no better himself as he too let two clear-cut chances slip away with disappointing touches and finishes. 

Ten minutes of hell

Albacete gave Barcelona a run for their money. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

As a result of Barcelona’s poor finishing and inability to capitalise on chances, they were hanging by a narrow two-goal lead with ten minutes to go, always at the risk of a collapse.

Albacete then began to mount the pressure and found the back of the net once, only to have it ruled out for offside.

Their second big attempt of the period, however, came in the 87th minute, and they capitalised on it effectively to get within one goal of Barcelona.

Forced to fend off the threat for ten minutes, including extra time, the Catalans thus had to face real hell and face the consequences of their poor finishing.

After all, the Copa del Rey has no extra-time and had Albacete scored an equaliser, the game would have gone straight to penalties, where it would again be a 50:50 affair.

In fact, the game came frighteningly close to reaching that point as the hosts seemingly got the ball past Joan Garcia for the equaliser, and only a clearance off the line by Gerard Martin kept the Catalans ahead.

What the game teaches and reiterates to Barcelona, thus, is the importance of capitalising on chances and burying the result early on.

After all, there would have been no panic scenario or edgy situation had they just converted a chance or two more of the six missed.

Into the semifinals

While the game did highlight certain areas for Barcelona to improve on, all that the Catalans must take away from it amid the hectic schedule is that they got the job done and that their objective is achieved.

Barcelona are in the semi-final. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

What Albacete achieved earlier in the Copa del Rey will go down in history as one of the big ‘giant-killer’ stories, especially given how they consistently punched above their weight to eliminate Leganes, Celta Vigo and Real Madrid from the competition.

It is only poetic that the ‘giant’ they eventually stumbled upon was Barcelona, Spain’s most in-form team and the defending champions of the event.

With the win at Carlos Belmonte last night, the Catalans move to the semifinals of the Copa del Rey and are now one of four teams remaining in the competition.

They are well in the race to defend their title, which is just two opponents away, and keeps them alive as contenders on all fronts this season.

The draw will reveal Barcelona’s upcoming path to their title defence, but it will certainly be a Primera División club from here on.

With the Albacete game, the saga of playing spirited lower division teams away from home comes to an end, and Barcelona have got past the worst of it.