Careful What You Wish For... Real Madrid Suffer Shock Loss on Alvaro Arbeloa's Debut

Los Blancos Suffer Shock Cup Defeat under Alvaro Arbeloa

Is it already time to admit that Xabi Alonso wasn't the problem ? Let's be honest, the sacking was harsh, but the club has a track record of abrupt manager departures. This might be the lowest of the lows yet. Exiting the Copa del Rey in the Round of 16 to LaLiga 2 side Albacete, a side that has chopped and changed between the second and third tiers of Spanish football, is quite the eye-opener.

Former player and coach Alvaro Arbeloa has taken the helm following Alonso's departure, and let's just say that it hasn' t started well. The combination of a lack of stability and an overwhelming number of egos is never going to be an easy ship to steer. While Arbeloa spent much of his career as a Real Madrid player, you'd hardly suggest that his career warrants immediate respect from a Madrid dressing room. Rival fans are already suggesting that the former defender needs a lifetime contract, though I can't help but think they might be mocking his managerial skills.

🚨❌ Second division side Albacete beat and eliminate Real Madrid from the Copa del Rey!

Álvaro Arbeloa loses his first game as Real Madrid manager. pic.twitter.com/ibQMvNn2QF

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 14, 2026

The Tale of The Defeat

They may have been the heavy underdogs, but Albacete has proven that they are capable of giant-killing before. The La Liga 2 outfit defeated Atletico Madrid 3-1 in the 2011/2012 season to reach the round of 16 of this competition, and fate may well have played its part to go one step further against their Madrid rivals. The home fans cheered every touch of the ball . A Madrid side without Kylian Mbappe may suggest this victory was written in the stars after all.

The hosts took the lead following a corner late in the first half, much to the delight of the vast majority in the Estadio Carlos Belmonte. This joy was short-lived, as the La Liga side struck back on the brink of halftime , 18-year-old Franco Mastantuono claiming his second goal for the club since his move from River Plate. Los Blancos were expected to run away with it in the second half, but the home side had other ideas. Substitute Jefte Betancor made his mark by firing past Andriy Lunin in the 82nd minute, a shot that the Ukrainian would not want to watch back.

The best teams always manage to find a way , and who else but Gonzalo Garcia to draw his side level in stoppage time ? The Spanish forward has wasted no time in making a claim for regular minutes in this Real Madrid side ; after all, it's only one of the world's greatest footballers that stands in his way. The home side appeared destined to pull off a shock result, but it seemed for all the world that the game was heading to extra time, until it wasn't. Betancor decided that his job wasn't finished just yet, and in the fourth minute of stoppage time, produced a moment of quality that sent the place into delirium.

UNBELIEVABLE SCENES! 😱😱

After conceding a stoppage time equaliser, Albacete get the winner from a beautiful Jefté Betancor chip to knock Real Madrid OUT of the Copa del Rey in Alvaro Arbeloa's first game in charge 🏆 pic.twitter.com/4DS3Nc2EMC

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) January 14, 2026

The 32-year-old revealed in the post-match interview that he had previously considered quitting football, so it's moments like these that you will cherish for a lifetime. He led his side to a first quarter-final appearance in 30 years, inflicting successive cup defeats on Los Blancos . For a side with such a polished history, the last week has been nothing short of a nightmare as far as Real Madrid is concerned.

Speculation still surrounds the future of Vinicius Junior, the Brazilian linked with a move away from the club after reports that he was unhappy in Madrid. Whether this was purely because of the relationship with Alonso or not, his form this season has been far from the standards expected of him , and a move elsewhere may work in the interest of both parties.

What’s Next for Madrid?

Reports suggest that Florentino Perez is already in the market for another former player to have a go at managing the club, or so I'd assume. The league must now be the priority for Real Madrid, currently four points behind Barcelona after 19 matches. Removing the outside noise is essential if Arbeloa wants to succeed as manager with the club, letting performances speak for themselves on the pitch.

I am willing to give the Spaniard the benefit of the doubt to succeed in his role, with former manager Carlo Ancelotti previously stating that he would like to see Arbeloa as Real Madrid manager. He also noted that he would like to see Xabi Alonso at the forefront in the same interview, so we may already know how this story ends. Arbeloa is said to adopt the 'Ancelotti style' ; whether that includes the famous eyebrow technique is yet to be seen.