Soccer February 3, 2026

This is the stuff of football dreams. Albacete, a Segunda Division club from the Castilla-La Mancha region, have already written their names into Copa del Rey folklore by eliminating Real Madrid in the previous round with a stunning 3-2 victory. Jefte Betancor's brace and Javier Villar's clinical finishing sent shockwaves through Spanish football, and now the giant-killers face the defending Copa del Rey champions in their modest 17,500-seat stadium.

Barcelona arrive as overwhelming favorites at -550 on the moneyline, and for good reason. The Blaugranes are unbeaten in their last four matches and have played twice in this year's Copa del Rey without conceding a goal. Hansi Flick's side has found their rhythm, with Robert Lewandowski leading the attack and a young core including Lamine Yamal, Pedri, and Gavi providing creative firepower. Barcelona know they cannot afford to take Albacete lightly after what happened to their eternal rivals.

The atmosphere at Estadio Carlos Belmonte will be electric. The tiny ground has been a fortress in this cup run, and the passionate home support will create a hostile environment for the visitors. Albacete's direct, physical style troubled Real Madrid's high defensive line, and they'll look to employ similar tactics against Barcelona. Both Teams to Score "Yes" at 1.75 offers intriguing value, as Barcelona's high press can leave gaps, and Albacete have proven they can find the net against elite opposition. The Asian handicap of Barcelona -2 at 1.79 is the sharper play for those backing the favorites to cover comfortably.