Historic Cup Shock and Early Exit
Second division team Albacete took Real Madrid by surprise when they defeated them 3-1 to eliminate them from the Copa del Rey round 16! This upset is perhaps among the most stunning victories ever witnessed during this tournament due to such disparate status differences among the clubs involved.
Dramatic Finish Seals the Upset
The match was marked by multiple turns, but its turning point came late into stoppage time when Jefte Betancor scored for Albacete – sealing an historic triumph at Estadio Carlos Belmonte and sending its fans into wild celebration.
New Coach’s Tough Debut
Alvaro Arbeloa made his managerial debut for Real Madrid after taking over from Xabi Alonso, unfortunately, with disappointing results as defensive errors late in the match proved costly for both him and the club.
Context and Reaction
Real Madrid fielded an understrength side that left them exposed, including stars Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham who weren’t present – contributing to Albacete’s disciplined defense and clinical finishing at crucial moments allowing them to capitalize.
If you want player ratings or a timeline of all goals from the match, just let me know!
Conclusion
Albacete caused shockwaves within Spain on Saturday by defeating Real Madrid 3-2 to exit their national tournament and advance. At Estadio Carlos Belmonte, this match was full of drama; Albacete twice took the lead before Real Madrid scored late goals to temporarily even out the score. Jefte Betancor scored late in stoppage time to send home fans into celebration and complete one of the most incredible cup shocks in recent history. Real Madrid was left particularly dismayed by their defeat, as it marked Alvaro Arbeloa’s managerial debut and continued their struggles in domestic cup competitions. Albacete took advantage of key players such as Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham being absent to capitalise through disciplined defending and clinical finishing, causing many in the 2026 Copa del Rey tournament to remember this result as one of its major shocks.