Alarm bells are ringing at Real Madrid following a shocking 3-2 defeat to second-division side Albacete in the Copa del Rey. The loss, which came in the Round of 16, marks a disastrous start for new coach Alvaro Arbeloa, who was appointed just days prior after Xabi Alonso's departure.
The match, played at Albacete's Carlos Belmonte stadium, saw the home side take the lead in the 42nd minute through Javi Villar. Real Madrid responded just before halftime with a goal from Franco Mastantuono. Albacete regained the lead in the 82nd minute courtesy of Jefte Betancor. Just when it appeared Real Madrid were heading for extra time after Gonzalo Garcia's late goal, Jefte Betancor struck again in stoppage time to seal a memorable victory for Albacete.
Arbeloa, who replaced Alonso after Real Madrid's loss to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final, selected two players from the reserve team he previously managed. However, even with the likes of Vinicius Junior and Arda Güler in the starting lineup, Real Madrid struggled to overcome a determined Albacete side. The absence of key players like Kylian Mbappe undoubtedly impacted the team's performance.
The defeat has sent shockwaves through the Real Madrid fanbase and has raised serious questions about the team's current form and direction. Arbeloa acknowledged the disappointment, stating, "At this club every defeat is a tragedy, so imagine one like this". He also added, "Failure is the road to success," insisting he was not afraid and that he had suffered eliminations even worse, but this had hurt.
Adding to the drama, the match was played under heavy fog, creating an intense atmosphere at the Carlos Belmonte stadium. Furthermore, the night was marred by racist chants directed at Vinicius Jr. by fans outside the stadium. The Brazilian player was reportedly booed throughout the match and struggled to influence the game.
The loss means Real Madrid's hopes for silverware this season now rest on La Liga, where they trail Barcelona, and the Champions League. Some optimistic fans are clinging to the hope that early Copa del Rey exits have historically been followed by major success in other competitions. For example, their elimination in the 2023-24 season preceded a Champions League title and La Liga victory.
Despite the setback, Arbeloa remains defiant, asserting that he would make the same team selection again, believing it was capable of winning. However, the pressure is now firmly on the young coach to turn things around and restore Real Madrid to their former glory. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether this Copa del Rey defeat serves as a wake-up call or the beginning of a deeper crisis at the Santiago Bernabéu.
