The Copa del Rey quarter-final match between Albacete Balompié and Barcelona will take place on 3 february at the Carlos Belmonte stadium. Albacete Balompié vs Barcelona: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Albacete Balompié
Albacete Balompié is the only Segunda División representative still competing in the Copa del Rey. In the previous round the team produced the biggest shock of the current edition: they were clear underdogs against Real Madrid but managed to snatch victory over the high-profile opponent in a brilliant match at their home ground (3:2). Before that the club eliminated San Fernando, Leganés and Celta Vigo. Thanks to that impressive run Albacete Balompié has reached the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey for the first time in the 21st century. The club's best result in this competition remains a semi-final appearance in 1994/95.
- Five of the club's last matches in the Copa del Rey have been Over matches.
- The team conceded in 5 of its previous 6 matches in this competition.
- Albacete Balompié's scoring run in the national cup stands at 5 matches.
Potential Albacete Balompié Lineup (3-4-3)*
Diego Mariño – Carlos Neva, Jesús Vallejo, Javi Villar – Fran Gámez, Jonathan Gómez, Alejandro Meléndez, Antonio Pacheco – Víctor Valverde, Agus Medina, Hefte.
Forward Ignacio Marín, as well as defenders Pepe Sánchez and Jon García, are injured.
Barcelona
Barcelona, as the current Copa del Rey holders, intend to defend that title. In this season's competition the team has overcome two rounds, securing away victories over Guadalajara and Racing Santander by identical 2:0 scores. That run has taken Barcelona into the quarter-finals of the national cup for the 15th time in the last 16 seasons. During that period the club has won seven trophies, and overall Barcelona have lifted the Copa del Rey 32 times – a tournament record.
- The team is unbeaten in eight Copa del Rey matches (7 wins, 1 draw).
- Barcelona have kept clean sheets in five consecutive away matches in this competition.
- The team's away scoring run in the national cup stands at 14 matches.
Potential Barcelona Lineup (4-2-3-1)*
Joan García – Jules Koundé, Pau Cubarsí, Eric García, Alejandro Balde – Frenkie de Jong, Fermin López – Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha – Ferran Torres.
Defender Andreas Christensen, forward Raphinha, and midfielders Pedri and Gavi are unavailable due to injury.
Referee
José Munuera Montero (Spain)
Matches – 12 (the La Liga and the Copa del Rey, 2025/26);
Yellow Cards Shown (including second yellows) – 49;
Average Yellow Cards Per Match – 4.1;
Red Cards Shown – 5;
Average Fouls Per Match – 28;
Penalties – 0%.
Albacete Balompié vs Barcelona: Match Prediction
Albacete Balompié approach the match as well-founded heavy underdogs with very slim chances of progressing. Nevertheless, during the current Copa del Rey the team has already shown it can pull off remarkable feats. If the fairytale ends, the club is unlikely to surrender without a fight. Notably, in their last 27 Copa del Rey matches Albacete Balompié have never lost by more than one goal. Their home run without a defeat by a margin of 2 goals in this competition stretches to 15 matches.
Barcelona will again visit a club that is noticeably inferior in class. In both previous cup matches the team won 2:0, but the performances were far from dominant. Opponents held the score at 0 for most of the time, and Barcelona's second goal came very late. It is telling that Barcelona have not recorded a big win in five consecutive Copa del Rey matches. Away from home the team crushed an opponent in only 2 of the last 9 matches in this competition.
Prediction: Albacete Balompié (+2.5)
* For each team the starting lineup shown is from their previous match.
