Araujo regains his laughter with a Barça team that doesn't falter in the Cup

BarcelonaNot far from the statue commemorating the moment when Andrés Iniesta, a son of Albacete, decided the World Cup final, Lamine Yamal worked his magic. The Carlos Belmonte stadium, which evokes memories of the 90s for those of a certain age, joins the list of venues where the genius from Rocafonda has displayed his brilliance. Just before halftime of an uncomfortable first half, marked by numerous fouls and a lot of noise, he stopped time to gently chip the ball past the home goalkeeper. It was the beginning of the end for Albacete's resistance in a match where Ronald Araujo seemed the happiest. The Uruguayan, a starter in the match that opened the door to the Copa del Rey semifinals for Barça, headed in the second goal, celebrating with a hug from Hansi Flick, the manager who has unconditionally supported him through tough times. It was a special moment.

A happy ending to a very complicated match that finished with an open script where Barça could have snatched victory. Whenever they play a Copa del Rey match against a Segunda División team, Barça knows they'll have to be focused. The Blaugrana may have more talent, but it's precisely the club's glorious past that makes their opponents come out playing more fired up than ever. And even more so in Albacete, where this year they've already rubbed their eyes in disbelief, first eliminating Celta Vigo and then bringing down the gauntlets of Arbeloa's Real Madrid. The Albacete side had already played the role of David twice, defeating two Goliaths, so Barça was well warned. Excuses were out of the question, and Hansi Flick fielded a starting eleven strong enough that the last thing he wanted was extra time. And it almost happened, because Albacete, outplayed, managed to stay alive until the end of the match, scoring a goal in the final minutes that came too late for their hopes.

TheDawn He gave his all, with very close marking that the referee allowed far too easily. Lewandowski looked to the sky in frustration every time he was fouled. He couldn't advance, with an Albacete defender glued to him like a tick. Flick had opted for the Pole, somewhat overshadowed by Albacete's physical play and three central defenders, while Rashford filled in for the injured Raphinha. But the entire game still revolved around Lamine Yamal, who demanded the ball as if it were the Santiago Bernabéu. Every time he was fouled or booed by the home fans, his eyes lit up. If you want to anger Lamine Yamal, you're practically guaranteed defeat. Nothing pleases the genius from Rocafonda more than emerging victorious from difficult situations, as if each time he faced an opponent it was one of those basketball games played on courts in New York neighborhoods, with its own unique language, where anything goes to show who's boss. And the one in charge is Lamine Yamal, who played the full 90 minutes. He never shies away, no matter the competition or the pitch.

His goal before halftime was key, following a good defensive play by Frenkie de Jong. They needed to score quickly because Albacete were competing really well, with some good counter-attacks led by former Sabadell player Agus Medina. The home team's coach, Alberto González, was slowing down the game a lot while keeping an eye on the Barcelona bench, where he waited for Fermín, whom González had coached years ago at Linares when neither of them could have imagined what the future held. Flick had opted for Olmo, De Jong, and a very active Marc Bernal in midfield. The player from Berga is gaining prominence, accumulating minutes, and showing glimpses of his quality. And all this with Araujo playing in defense, putting everything he's been through behind him and thinking about the future. Perhaps the only thing that jarred in the team was João Cancelo, an electric player but a bit too erratic. He can win you games, but he can also lose them, and at halftime, he already had a yellow card and was playing with fire with borderline actions. At halftime, Flick substituted him for Cubarsí. It was no surprise.

And Barça kept at it, repeatedly punishing an increasingly exhausted Albacete side. Especially after Araujo's beautiful header, whose face lit up as he saw the ball go into the back of the net. The Uruguayan gave his all, solid in defense. He ended up completely worn out, chasing every ball, enjoying himself as a player again, turning the page after months of doubts and fears. It's always a good idea to stop when you need to. It's not a bad thing at all, quite the opposite. The Uruguayan ended up receiving a standing ovation from the Barça fans when he was substituted by Koundé, completely out of commission.

But Barça missed their chances in front of goal. Barça had already let Elche off the hook and missed more chances, allowing Albacete to dream by scoring in the 88th minute. Gerard Martín even managed to clear a ball off the line in a frantic final five minutes, during which VAR disallowed a goal by Ferran Torres. Anything could have happened in a finale that didn't reflect Barça's control of the match. In the end, Albacete surrendered, showing dignity and competitiveness, but unable to stop a Barça side that secured a victory that allows them to continue their progress in all competitions. Flick's team shows no signs of slowing down, guided by Lamine Yamal, who is leading the charge while awaiting Pedri's return.