Albacete will look to continue their dream run in the Copa del Rey when they host Barcelona at the Estadio Carlos Belmonte. The second-tier outfit will be eyeing a spot in the last four, but it won’t be easy, as the Catalan giants are out-and-out favourites because of the quality in their squad and the fact that they are record winners of the competition.
The home team are 12th in the second division with 33 points in their 24 outings. While they have not been consistent enough in the league, Albacete has done wonders in the cup competition. After knocking out Celta Vigo in the round of 32, they took down giants Real Madrid in the round of 16.
While not many gave them a chance against Los Blancos, they stunned everyone with a sensational 3-2 win. More importantly, Albacete are heading into this fixture on the back of four straight wins, and they will be confident about putting up a strong fight against Barcelona.
Meanwhile, the visitors are top of La Liga with 55 points in their 22 games. The Blaugrana are a point clear of second-placed Real Madrid, and they have won each of their last four games across competitions. They secured a comfortable 2-0 win over Racing Santander in the round of 16 and will be hoping for a similar performance here.
The Catalan giants secured a comfortable 3-1 win over Elche in their last outing, and they will be looking to build on it on Tuesday, when they resume their Copa del Rey campaign. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.
The home team will be without the services of Edward Cedeno, who recently underwent surgery. Meanwhile, Higinio Marin Pedreno is a major doubt due to a thigh injury. Apart from the duo, everyone else should be available for selection.
Albacete will line up in a 4-4-2 formation, where Raul Lizoain will take charge between the sticks. Lorenzo Aguado and Jonathan Gomez will feature as the full-backs, while Javi Moreno will partner Carlos Neva in the heart of the defence.
Capi and Ale Melendez will feature out wide on the flanks in midfield, while Antonio Pacheco will start alongside Javi Villar in central midfield. The quartet will look to support the backline and ensure Barcelona do not dominate the proceedings throughout.
In the final third, Jefte Betancor could start with Agus Medina. The duo will be patiently waiting for their opportunity to hit Barcelona on the break.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Lizoain; Aguado, Moreno, Neva, Gomez; Capi, Pacheco, Villar, Melendez; Betancor, Medina
The Catalan giants remain without the services of Gavi (knee), Pedri (hamstring), and Andreas Christensen (ACL). While everyone else is available for selection, Hansi Flick is expected to rotate his team for this fixture.
They could line up in a 4-3-3 formation, where Joan Garcia will be in goal. Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde will feature as the full-backs, while Eric Garcia will partner with Pau Cubarsi at the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Marc Bernal will take up the holding role in the centre of the park, while Fermin Lopez and Dani Olmo will be in his support. The trio will look to control the tempo and dominate the proceedings. Marcus Rashford and Lamine Yamal will feature on the flanks, while Ferran Torres will lead the line for Barcelona against Albacete.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Garcia; Kounde, Garcia, Cubarsi, Balde; Olmo, Bernal, Lopez; Yamal, Torres, Rashford
Fermin Lopez has been one of Barcelona’s standout performers this season despite not being a regular starter. He is firmly on the list of players to watch. The 22-year-old attacking midfielder has been in sensational form, racking up 10 goals and 11 assists in just over 1,700 minutes across 27 appearances.
His ability to arrive late in the box, combine in tight spaces and influence games in the final third makes him a constant threat and a key figure in the Catalan giants’ attacking play. He will be eager to add to his tally against Albacete and help his team reach the last four.
Barcelona’s superior quality and depth should eventually shine through, even with Hansi Flick expected to rotate his squad. The Catalan giants are in strong form, and with their midfield control and pace out wide, they should be able to pin Albacete back for long spells and create chances consistently as the game progresses.
That said, Albacete’s remarkable cup run deserves respect, especially after knocking out Real Madrid, and they have also won their last four games on the bounce. They are likely to start with intensity and look to exploit transitions, but sustaining that threat over 90 minutes against Barcelona will be a tall order.
If the visitors find an early breakthrough, the tie could quickly tilt in their favour, paving the way for a comfortable win. The Hard Tackle predicts a 4-0 win for the away team.
