Updated: Jan 14, 2026, 05:21 pm
Álvaro Arbeloa got off to a dismal start as the new coach of Real Madrid, seeing his team lose to second-division club Albacete 3-2 and drop out of the Copa del Rey in the round of 16 on Wednesday.
Jefté Betancor scored the game-winning goal four minutes into stoppage time to send Albacete to the quarterfinals. Gonzalo García had also scored in added time for Madrid to even the match at 2-2.
It was the third time the hosts had led on the night and substitute Betancor’s second of the game and this time Madrid could not fight back.
Madrid struggled from the start in the debut of Arbeloa, the club’s former B-team coach who on Monday was picked to replace Xabi Alonso following a tumultuous eight-month stint at the helm.
It was the first time Albacete, who are 17th in the second-division table, have ever beaten Madrid.
Information from PA and The Associated Press was used in this recap.
