Defending champions Barcelona defeated Albacete 2-1 in the quarterfinals of the 2025/26 Copa del Rey, thanks to goals from Yamal and Araujo. After the match, Flick expressed his delight at Araujo's goal, stating that such a performance was crucial for building the defender's confidence.

Rashford intercepted the ball in the 39th minute and created an attacking opportunity. Frenkie de Jong passed the ball diagonally into the penalty area, and Yarma took the opportunity to shoot from distance and score, helping Barcelona open the scoring with a 1-0 lead.

In the 56th minute of the second half, Rashford took a corner kick, and Araujo headed the ball into the net despite the defense, extending Barcelona's lead to 2-0. Ultimately, Barcelona defeated Albacete 2-1 to advance to the semi-finals.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said in a post-match interview, "I'm really happy for Araujo. It's fantastic that he scored. This goal will help him build more confidence, which is exactly what we need and what he needs. We will continue to support and help him."

“This match was not easy at all, especially in the final stages, where we made it more difficult. We missed a lot of chances again, and we have wasted too many opportunities in recent matches, which is something we must improve on.”

Furthermore, Barcelona defender Araujo stated, "That's often how cup matches are; the outcome isn't decided until the very last moment. Scoring goals is crucial for confidence and helps us continue to grow. It's important that I can contribute offensively because we have many players who excel at headers."

“Head coach Flick is like a father to us, and we all love him very much. He knows how to handle each player’s situation. I hugged him because he has always been a supporter of me.”

Image source: Internet