Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey campaign came to a stunning halt as second-division Albacete eliminated the holders in Álvaro Arbeloa’s first match in charge, delivering one of the most surprising results in recent Spanish cup history.
Handed the reins following Xabi Alonso’s departure by mutual consent earlier in the week, Arbeloa opted for significant rotation ahead of Saturday’s La Liga fixture against Levante. Key figures including Kylian Mbappé, Rodrygo, Thibaut Courtois and Jude Bellingham were all rested, while academy prospects Jorge Cestero and David Jiménez were handed starts.
Despite the outcome, Arbeloa stood firmly behind his decisions, taking full responsibility for the defeat. “If anyone is responsible and to blame for this outcome, it’s clearly me,” he said. “I made the decisions regarding the line-up, the way we played and the substitutions. I’m not afraid of failure. Failure is part of the road to success.”
Albacete capitalised on Madrid’s profligacy to take the lead in the 42nd minute when Javi Villar rose highest to head José Lazo’s corner beyond Andriy Lunin. The visitors responded swiftly, with 18-year-old Franco Mastantuono equalising in first-half stoppage time after punishing a mistake from goalkeeper Raúl Lizoain.
Madrid dominated possession—nearing 80% in the opening stages—and looked to have regained control, but the second half proved far more even. Arbeloa turned to his bench, introducing experienced figures such as David Alaba, Eduardo Camavinga and Dani Carvajal in search of a decisive breakthrough.
Instead, it was Albacete manager Alberto González whose substitutions proved decisive. Jefte Betancor struck twice in the final eight minutes, either side of Gonzalo García’s equaliser, to secure a historic 3–2 victory and Albacete’s first-ever win over the 15-time Champions League winners, sending them into the quarter-finals.
The defeat compounds a difficult period for Real Madrid, coming just days after their Spanish Super Cup loss to Barcelona. More significantly, it casts an immediate shadow over Arbeloa’s appointment. Facing a side sitting 17th in Segunda División, the scale of the upset has intensified scrutiny over Madrid’s decision to entrust the role to a coach with limited senior managerial experience.
For a club defined by trophies and dominance, the result is more than a cup exit—it is a deeply unsettling moment. What was meant to be a fresh start under a former club stalwart has instead begun with confusion, frustration and growing doubt. Any grace period Arbeloa may have expected from the Bernabéu faithful appears to have vanished instantly, leaving him under pressure almost from the moment his tenure began.
