The 2026 Copa del Rey is slowly entering its decisive stage, with eight teams still vying for the coveted trophy. The Carlos Belmonte Stadium will host the first quarterfinal match, featuring Albacete and Barcelona as the main protagonists.
The outcome for the visitors could shift depending on whether they win, tie, or lose this match. The only certainty for now is that a defeat could be a heavy blow at this stage of the competition.
Albacete, for their part, already know what it’s like to pull off shocks. In the previous round, they narrowly defeated Real Madrid 3-2, producing one of the biggest stories of the tournament.
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Albacete’s starting lineup confirmed
In search of another Copa del Rey upset, Alberto Gonzalez will field the following starting XI to face their opponent: Lizoain, Lorenzo, Moreno, Bernabeu, Neva, Melendez, Villar, Pacheco, Capi, Puertas, Medina.
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Barcelona’s starting XI confirmed
These are the eleven players selected by Hansi Flick to take the field for this match: Joan Garcia, Cancelo, Araujo, Eric, Martin, Frenkie De Jong, Bernal, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Marcus Rashford, Robert Lewandowski.
Both teams secured their place in this round through tightly contested matches. Barcelona defeated Racing de Santander 2–0, with a late goal from Yamal sealing the win, while Albacete delivered a major upset by knocking out Real Madrid 3–2 in one of the final plays of the match.
Referees confirmed for the match
The match will be officiated by Jose Luis Munuera as the main referee, with Antonio Ramon Martinez and Adrian Diaz serving as his assistants. Juan Antonio Manrique will round out the officiating crew as the fourth official.
VAR duties will be handled by Valentin Pizarro, with Daniel Jesus Trujillo serving as AVAR.
Kickoff time, venue and how to watch!
This important match will kick off at 3 PM ET. It will take place at Carlos Belmonte Stadium in Albacete, which has a seating capacity of 17,524.
Albacete and Barcelona face each other in the 2026 Copa del Rey quarterfinals
Welcome to a new LiveBlog on Bolavip. This time, we’ll be covering the minute-by-minute action of the Albacete vs Barcelona match, a key clash for both teams’ aspirations. The game is part of the 2026 Copa del Rey quarterfinals.
Matias Persuh is a sports journalist and writer who began his career after graduating with a bachelor's degree in Sports Journalism in 2008. Over the years, he has covered numerous events, including local soccer games, and has conducted interviews with players and coaches. In addition to his writing, Matias has contributed as a columnist on various radio shows. Joining Bolavip US in July 2024 marked a significant step forward in his career, allowing him to continue developing his skills and delivering resonant news and reports to the audience.
