Second-division Albacete defeated Real Madrid 3-2 in the Copa del Rey round of 16, with Jefté Betancor scoring twice—including a 94th-minute rebound—to spark historic celebrations at Estadio Carlos Belmonte. The shock result marred interim coach Álvaro Arbeloa's debut, coming days after Xabi Alonso's dismissal following a Supercopa de España final loss to Barcelona.
Real Madrid arrived in turmoil after a 3-2 Supercopa final defeat to Barcelona in Saudi Arabia, prompting Xabi Alonso's sacking less than 24 hours earlier. Former Castilla coach Álvaro Arbeloa took interim charge for the January 14 clash (20:00 BST kickoff), fielding a depleted squad of reserves and youth amid injuries to Kylian Mbappé (limited recently), Rodrygo, Antonio Rüdiger, Éder Militão, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ferland Mendy, and exclusions of Jude Bellingham, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Álvaro Carreras, and Thibaut Courtois.
Albacete, 17th in Segunda División and winless in four league games, lined up with Imanol Lizoain in goal; Álvaro Aguado, Pape Moreno, Rubén Neva, Dani Bernabéu in defense; Javi Villar, Alberto Pacheco, Capi in midfield; and José Carlos Lazo, Manu Meléndez, Jorge Escriche up front (injuries to Jon García, Higinio Marín, Antonio Puertas). Madrid featured Andriy Lunin in goal; Leo Jiménez, Youssef Asencio, Dean Huijsen, Fran García in defense; Fede Valverde, Manuel Cestero in midfield; Arda Güler, Franco Mastantuono, Vinícius Júnior in attack; Gonzalo García up top.
Albacete led 1-0 in the 42nd minute via Javier Villar's header from Lazo's corner. Mastantuono equalized 1-1 at 45+3', finishing after Lizoain parried Huijsen's header (Albacete coach red-carded at halftime for protests). After the break, 32-year-old forward Jefté Betancor (sub 58th, fresh from 19 goals for Greece's Panserraikos) volleyed 2-1 in the 82nd. Gonzalo García headed 2-2 at 90+1 from Güler's corner, but Betancor won it 3-2 at 90+4, beating Dani Carvajal to a rebound and looping past Lunin.
The upset evokes Madrid's infamous 2009-10 'Alcorcónazo' loss to a third-tier side under Manuel Pellegrini. Hero Betancor said: “It's the greatest thing that's happened in football. These are the things you dream of as a kid.” Arbeloa shouldered blame: “If anyone is responsible, it's me, as I made the lineup decisions.” This low point intensifies pressure on Arbeloa and exposes Madrid's woes.
