Álvaro Arbeloa could hardly have imagined a worse start as Real Madrid head coach, as the LaLiga giants were dumped out of the Copa del Rey in the round of 16 by Albacete, who sit 17th in Spain’s second division.
A chaotic night in Albacete
Madrid twice clawed their way back after falling behind, with Franco Mastantuono and Gonzalo García canceling out goals from Javi Villar and Jefté Betancor. García’s injury-time header appeared to have forced extra time, but Betancor had other ideas, racing in behind the Madrid defense and producing a sumptuous winner in the 94th minute.
Immediate pressure for Arbeloa
Arbeloa now comes under instant pressure after a stunning loss that will send shockwaves around Spanish soccer, and beyond. Still, Real Madrid have been here before, and in some cases, even lower.
Not the first Copa del Rey embarrassment
Los Blancos have lost to third-tier teams on three separate occasions in recent years. In October 2008, Real Union somehow defeated an admittedly not vintage Madrid over two legs. The Basque club won the first leg 3-2 at home before progressing on away goals after a 4-3 defeat at the Bernabéu.
The following season, a Real Madrid team featuring Karim Benzema, Raúl and Ruud van Nistelrooy was thumped 4-0 away to Alcorcón, who advanced to the round of 16 despite a 1-0 loss in the second leg in Madrid.
A familiar humiliation
More recently, Los Blancos, managed by Zinedine Zidane, were beaten 2-1 after extra time by Alcoyano in the round of 32 in January 2021. Current stars Eder Militao, Fede Valverde and Vinicius Junior all started and suffered as Madrid endured yet another humiliating cup exit.