Moreno seals victory as Albacete edge past Al-Rayyan

Albacete Balompié hosted Qatar's Al-Rayyan in a pre-season friendly that offered both sides valuable match practice ahead of their respective campaigns. The stadium held a steady crowd eager to see how the hosts would fare against their Gulf opposition. Neither team came out with anything to lose, and the opening exchanges reflected that relaxed atmosphere, with both sides content to feel their way into the contest.

The breakthrough came in the 60th minute when Javier Moreno finally cracked open the Al-Rayyan defence to give Albacete the lead. Moreno's moment of quality separated the teams and proved decisive in what became a tightly contested affair. Al-Rayyan tried to respond but found the home defence resolute and organised, limiting the visitors' attacking opportunities in the final stretch.

Albacete controlled the tempo in the second half and managed the game well once ahead. They kept Al-Rayyan at arm's length without needing to force matters, showing the kind of composure that friendly matches allow. The visitors pressed forward at times but could not find the breakthrough they needed to get back into the contest.

The 1-0 victory will have satisfied Albacete as they continue their pre-season preparations. Moreno's goal proved enough to secure three points worth nothing on paper but valuable in terms of momentum and rhythm. Both teams gained useful minutes, though Albacete's home crowd will have been pleased with their team's performance and the clean sheet to take forward.