## Copa del Rey Shocker: Giant-Killers Albacete Draw Reigning Champions Barcelona!
The Copa del Rey quarter-final draw has delivered a mouth-watering clash, pitting the tournament’s surprise package, Albacete, against defending champions and La Liga leaders, Barcelona. This highly anticipated encounter follows Albacete’s sensational elimination of Real Madrid in the previous round, setting the stage for a classic David-and-Goliath battle.
The morning’s draw saw the Segunda Division side, who have captured the imagination of football fans across Spain, selected to face the formidable Catalan giants. A sense of destiny seemed to hang in the air, with many speculating that the team responsible for stunning Real Madrid would inevitably meet their fiercest rivals, Barcelona.
Albacete’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Real Madrid last week, in what was Alvaro Arbeloa’s debut as manager, sent shockwaves through the competition. The decisive moment came in the 95th minute, when Jefte Betancor netted the winner, securing a place in the quarter-finals and writing a new chapter in the club’s history.
### Jefte Betancor: “We’ll Pour Our Hearts Out Against Barça!”
Jefte Betancor, the hero of the hour against Real Madrid, was present at the draw and expressed his team’s unwavering determination. “We intend to give absolutely everything, dedicating our heart and soul to the challenge against Barça,” he declared. “They are undoubtedly a magnificent team, but we’ve already demonstrated our capabilities by overcoming Madrid.”
Barcelona themselves are no strangers to dramatic cup glory, having clinched the title last April with a thrilling 3-2 triumph over Real Madrid. Jules Kounde famously scored the winning goal in injury time during that epic final held in Seville, cementing their status as reigning champions.
### The Full Copa del Rey Quarter-Final Line-Up
The complete draw for the Copa del Rey quarter-finals is as follows:
* Albacete vs. Barcelona
* Alaves vs. Real Sociedad
* Valencia vs. Athletic Bilbao
* Real Betis vs. Atletico Madrid
These exciting ties are scheduled to be played between February 3rd and 5th, promising a captivating few days of cup football.