Álvaro Arbeloa's debut as Real Madrid manager ended in disaster as the team were knocked out of the Copa del Rey by second-division side Albacete Balompié, losing 3-2 in a dramatic match at the Carlos Belmonte. The defeat came just days after losing the Super Cup final and sacking previous manager Xabi Alonso.
Albacete, 17th in the second division, secured a historic victory with goals from Javi Villar and a brace from Jefté Betancor, the latter scoring the winner with virtually the last kick of the game. Madrid had twice equalised through Franco Mastantuono and a late header from García, but Betancor's glorious finish sealed the win.
Arbeloa made numerous changes to the side, leaving ten first-team players back in Madrid, including stars like Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, and Thibaut Courtois. Despite this, he insisted the players on the pitch should have been good enough to win. “At this club every defeat is a tragedy, so imagine one like this,” Arbeloa said, adding that he was not afraid of failure and that the loss would make the team better.
The defeat was no fluke; Albacete were thoroughly deserving winners, playing brilliant football against a disjointed Madrid side. The home fans celebrated long into the night, while Madrid headed straight down the tunnel, defeated again. The result deepens the crisis at the club, with Arbeloa facing an early test of his managerial credentials.
