In one of the most shocking results in recent Spanish football history, second-division side Albacete defeated Real Madrid 3-2 at the Carlos Belmonte Stadium on Tuesday night, eliminating the giants from the Copa del Rey in the Round of 16. The historic victory came just 48 hours after the dismissal of Xabi Alonso, with Álvaro Arbeloa suffering a nightmare debut as the club's new manager.
Arbeloa fielded a remarkably young starting eleven with an average age of just 22 years and 357 days, the youngest for any Real Madrid manager's official debut since at least the 2009-10 season. The former defender made six changes from Xabi Alonso's last lineup in the Supercopa de España final, with star players Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham not even included on the bench for the trip to face the side sitting 17th in Spain's second tier.
The home side took the lead in the 42nd minute when Javi Villar, a former Real Madrid youth academy product, rose highest to head home a corner delivered by Lazo, sending the Carlos Belmonte crowd into raptures. Real Madrid found an equalizer through teenage Argentine sensation Franco Mastantuono, who scored his first goal in a white shirt after pouncing on a rebound following Huijsen's header that was initially saved by goalkeeper Raúl Lizoain.
The second half followed a similar pattern with Madrid controlling possession but lacking cutting edge. Albacete struck again in the 81st minute through Jefté Betancor, whose powerful strike from inside the box beat Andriy Lunin. Just when elimination seemed certain, Gonzalo headed in brilliantly in stoppage time to make it 2-2 with just three minutes remaining, appearing to save Real Madrid from embarrassment.
However, in the 94th minute, Jefté Betancor produced a moment of magic that will live forever in Albacete folklore. After his initial effort was blocked, the striker coolly slotted his second attempt near the post to seal a sensational 3-2 victory. The final whistle sparked scenes of unbridled joy at the Carlos Belmonte as Albacete secured their place in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals for the first time in decades.
The defeat represents the worst possible start for Arbeloa's tenure and raises serious questions about Real Madrid's squad depth and decision-making. For Albacete, a club with a modest budget competing in the segunda división, this victory represents a defining moment in their history. The result also marks the first time Real Madrid have ever lost to Albacete in any competition, adding to the historic significance of this extraordinary cup upset.
Real Madrid must now regroup quickly as they focus on defending their La Liga title, while the inquest begins into how such a heavily rotated side could be sent to face a dangerous opponent in a knockout competition. Albacete will await the quarter-final draw with dreams of extending their remarkable cup run even further.