Albacete's cheeky welcome banner for Barça echoes Laporta's famous election poster
Segunda División side Albacete have recreated Joan Laporta's iconic Madrid election billboard to welcome Barcelona ahead of their Copa del Rey quarter-final clash.
Albacete have shown they’ve got both a sense of humour and a keen memory as they prepare to welcome Barcelona for Tuesday’s Copa del Rey quarter-final showdown.
Clever social media banter
The Segunda División outfit took to social media with a proper bit of pre-match banter, recreating Joan Laporta’s famous election campaign billboard that caused such a stir in Madrid. The Manchegan club posted an image mimicking Laporta’s iconic “Ganas de volver a veros” (Looking forward to seeing you again) poster that the Barça president strategically placed near the Santiago Bernabéu during his election campaign.
The original billboard was a massive statement piece - 50 metres tall, 20 metres wide, plastered on the side of an apartment building just a stone’s throw from Real Madrid’s stadium. Talk about having some front!
Albacete didn’t just stop at the visual gag either. They went the extra mile by adding a message in Catalan that translates to “We have a message for you, culés” - showing they’re taking this cup tie seriously while having a laugh at the same time.
David vs Goliath clash with history
Tuesday’s match marks the 15th meeting between these two clubs, though it’s their first encounter since the 2004-05 season. The previous 14 battles all came in La Liga, with Barcelona dominating the head-to-head:
- 9 Barcelona wins
- 4 draws
- Just 1 Albacete victory (back in 1994-95)
- 32 goals scored by Barça, 11 by Albacete
While history favours the Catalans, Albacete have already proven they’re no mugs in this cup run. Alberto González’s side have already knocked out both Real Madrid and Celta Vigo on their way to the quarter-finals - making this potential banana skin all the more slippery for Xavi’s men.
The second-tier underdogs are clearly up for this one, showing they can mix clever psychological games with serious football ambitions. Barcelona had better be ready for a proper cup tie atmosphere when they rock up to the Carlos Belmonte.