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Real Madrid lost to Albacete in the Copa del Rey in their first match with Arbeloa as coach

15 January 2026 01:53 (UTC +04:00)

Real Madrid lost 2-3 to Albacete in an away match in the Round of 16 of the Spanish Cup, APA reports.

The winners' goals were scored by Javi Villar (42nd minute) and Hefte Betancor (82, 90+4). The losers' goals were scored by Franco Mastantuono (45+3) and Gonzalo García (90+1).

Real Madrid played its first match under Álvaro Arbeloa. The World Cup winner with the Spanish national team was appointed head coach on January 12, replacing his compatriot Xabi Alonso, who had been in charge of the team since May.

Albacete won its first match against Real Madrid. The teams had met 14 times before, with Madrid winning 11 of those matches. The last time Real and Albacete played each other was in April 2005 in the Spanish league, when Los Blancos won 2-1 away. Albacete currently sits in 17th place in the second-tier Spanish league.