Real Madrid made a real embarrassment in coach Alvaro Arbeloa’s debut in the Spanish Cup. In the first game after parting ways with Xabi Alonso, the “Royals” lost 2:3 (1:1) to second division club Albacete Balompie in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey. Without superstar Kylian Mbappé, the 20-time cup winner was disappointed throughout the entire season and lost to 17th place in the table. the Segunda Division is not undeserved.
Real parted ways with former Leverkusen champion Alonso on Monday after the defeat in the Spanish Super Cup against FC Barcelona (2:3), but there seems to be no improvement in sight.
Jefté Betancor Sanchez (90+4) scored late to secure a celebrated victory for the outsiders, after Gonzalo (90+1) had kept Real’s hopes alive shortly before. Javi Villar (42′) and Betancor Sanchez (82′) had previously given Albacete the lead twice, while Real’s Franco Mastantuono (45’+3) had equalized in the meantime.
There was hardly any class difference throughout the entire season. Real created few chances to score, the hosts even had the better opportunities.
For Arbeloa, it is a bitter setback after his promotion from the second team to head coach. He knew that the only thing that mattered for the Royals was to “win, win and win again. That’s in our blood,” he said before the game.
But Real could not convince at all under his leadership. The decision was made in a turbulent final phase. Gonzalo Garcia equalized for Real in stoppage time. But then came Betancor’s second trick: the 32-year-old caused a sensation with a flick into the far corner.
