A Nightmare Debut
Álvaro Arbeloa’s management tenure began with a debilitating defeat as Real Madrid vs Albacete ended in a historic 3-2 loss in the Copa del Rey. Specifically, a magical stoppage-time winner by Jefté Betancor gave the victory to the second-division side. Consequently, the crisis continues at the Santiago Bernabéu just days after the club fired Xabi Alonso.
The fog that covered the Carlos Belmonte stadium during the initial 20 minutes served as a fitting metaphor for Madrid’s performance. While Arbeloa wished to watch his team dance, Albacete fans rejoiced late into the night.
Magic in the Mist
Despite the superiority of possession, Real Madrid could not convert control into opportunities.
- The Opener (43′): Albacete soon struck. A product of Madrid’s own academy, Javi Villar, thundered a header into the net from a corner to surprise the hosts.
- The Equalizer (45+2′): However, Madrid reacted in stoppage time. Franco Mastantuono scored from close range following a corner, sending the teams into the break at 1-1.
- The Drama (82′): Albacete reclaimed the lead courtesy of Jefté Betancor, who beat Andriy Lunin to make it 2-1.
- The Escape? (90+’): Gonzalo Garcia appeared to save Madrid as he scored a late header to draw the game to 2-2, seemingly forcing extra time.
- The Winner (90+5′): Betancor, however, had the last word. He charged into the Madrid area and clipped a beautiful shot past Lunin to win the game 3-2.
Jefté Betancor
Undoubtedly, it was the night of Jefté Betancor. The 32-year-old journeyman, playing for his 22nd club, scored twice to eliminate the European giants. His calmness in stoppage time guaranteed that Real Madrid vs Albacete will be remembered as one of the biggest upsets in the history of the Copa del Rey.
Crisis Deepens
Arbeloa was adamant after the match that the road to success lay in failure. Yet, this failure is painful. Over the course of three days, Real Madrid have lost the Super Cup final, fired their manager, and dropped out of the Copa del Rey.
According to NOVA88 Sport News analysis, while key stars like Mbappé and Bellingham remained in Madrid, the squad players failed to step up. Ultimately, this result leaves Arbeloa with immediate pressure and a team whose confidence is visibly shattered.
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