Real Madrid's Copa del Rey Nightmare Under New Coach
Real Madrid experienced a shocking Copa del Rey exit on Wednesday night. The Spanish giants fell 3-2 to second-division Albacete in the last sixteen. This defeat marked a disastrous debut for new coach Alvaro Arbeloa.
Arbeloa's Painful First Match in Charge
Alvaro Arbeloa took charge of Real Madrid just two days before this match. The club appointed him on Monday to replace Xabi Alonso. His first game ended in complete humiliation against lower-league opposition.
"Here at this club, a draw is already bad—it's a tragedy. Imagine a defeat like this, it's painful," Arbeloa told reporters after the match. "I'm sure all our fans feel the same way."
The new coach accepted full responsibility for the disappointing result. "If anyone is responsible and to blame for this outcome, it's clearly me," he stated firmly.
How the Dramatic Match Unfolded
The game started under unusual conditions. Heavy fog descended on the Carlos Belmonte stadium just minutes after kickoff. This created a gloomy atmosphere that matched Madrid's eventual mood.
Albacete shocked the visitors by taking the lead after 42 minutes. Javi Villar escaped his marker at a corner and headed home. Real Madrid equalized just before halftime through Franco Mastantuono.
The second half saw Albacete frustrate Madrid's attack repeatedly. Then Jefte Betancor put the hosts ahead again after 82 minutes. Gonzalo Garcia appeared to rescue Madrid with a 91st-minute equalizer that seemed to force extra time.
But Jefte had the final say. The striker produced a sensational lofted finish in stoppage time to secure a famous 3-2 victory. This marked Albacete's first ever win against Real Madrid.
Key Absences and Team Selection
Arbeloa fielded a weakened team for this cup match. He rested several key players ahead of Saturday's La Liga fixture against Levante.
- French superstar Kylian Mbappe did not feature
- Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois remained on the bench
- Midfielder Jude Bellingham also sat out the match
The new coach selected two players from the reserve team he previously managed. Jorge Cestero played in holding midfield while David Jimenez started at right-back.
"I'd do the same again, I brought a team capable of winning," Arbeloa defended his selection decisions after the defeat.
Player Reactions and Looking Forward
Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal came on as a substitute but could not prevent Jefte's winner. He acknowledged the team's current struggles openly.
"We're not at our best moment, we have to work hard," Carvajal told reporters. "We ask for forgiveness from the fans. We were not up to the level of this club."
The defender promised improvement moving forward. "We will give our lives in the next games and months to turn it around," he vowed.
Broader Copa del Rey Context
This shocking result continues a difficult period for Real Madrid. The club lost the Spanish Super Cup final to rivals Barcelona just three days earlier. That defeat prompted President Florentino Perez to replace Alonso with Arbeloa.
Elsewhere in the Copa del Rey, other matches produced different outcomes:
- Real Betis defeated Elche 2-1 to advance
- Alaves beat Rayo Vallecano 2-0 to reach the quarter-finals
Defending champions Barcelona face their own test on Thursday. They travel to play second division leaders Racing Santander.
Arbeloa reflected philosophically on the defeat despite its painful nature. "I'm not afraid of failure," he said. "Failure is on the path to success, for me they are not in opposite directions."
The new coach thanked his players for their effort despite the disappointing result. "I can only thank the players for the way they welcomed me, for the effort they put in today," he concluded.
