Real Madrid's new manager Alvaro Arbeloa suffered a humiliating defeat in his first match in charge as second-tier Albacete pulled off a stunning 3-2 upset in the Copa del Rey round of 16.
Jefte Betancor scored a dramatic winner deep into stoppage time at the Estadio Carlos Belmonte, having earlier come off the bench to put his side ahead for a second time. Javi Villar opened the scoring for the hosts, but Real equalised through Franco Mastantuono before half-time. Betancor struck again eight minutes from time, only for Gonzalo Garcia to level in the first minute of added time. However, Betancor had the final say from a late breakaway.
Arbeloa, who replaced the sacked Xabi Alonso on Monday, accepted responsibility for the defeat. 'At this club a draw is bad, a tragedy, so imagine a defeat like this,' he said. 'It's painful, especially against a lower division team. Obviously we have to improve.' He added that he was 'convinced the squad was the right one' and that it was not easy for the players to implement his ideas after just one day in charge.
Captain Dani Carvajal admitted that Real Madrid had hit 'rock bottom' but insisted there was 'still time to turn the season around.'
