Second-tier Albacete knock Real Madrid out of Copa del Rey

Real Madrid fell to a shock 3-2 defeat by Albacete in the Copa del Rey last 16 on Wednesday as Alvaro Arbeloa’s debut as coach ended in humiliation by second-tier team.

Appointed on Monday to replace Xabi Alonso, Arbeloa and his side were ousted by Jefte Betancor’s stoppage-time winner at the Carlos Belmonte stadium.

Without French superstar Kylian Mbappe and various other key players, Arbeloa’s side struggled against a side currently 17th in Spain’s second division.

Albacete took the lead through Javi Villar but Franco Mastantuono equalised just before half-time.

Jefte put the hosts back ahead after 82 minutes and then scored the winner after Gonzalo Garcia’s 91st-minute goal looked to have forced extra time for the 15-time European champions.

After Madrid lost the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday against rivals Barcelona, president Florentino Perez replaced Alonso with reserve team coach Arbeloa.

The Spaniard selected two players currently playing in the reserves he led until Monday – holding midfielder Jorge Cestero and right-back David Jimenez.

Real Madrid sack Alonso, appoint Alvaro Arbeloa new coach

As well as Mbappe, he left out players including goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Jude Bellingham, to rest ahead of the return to LaLiga action on Saturday against Levante.

Arbeloa said: “If anyone is responsible and to blame for this outcome, it’s clearly me, the one who made the decisions regarding the line-up, how we wanted to play, the substitutions.

“I can only thank the players for the way they welcomed me, for the effort they put in today.

“I’d do the same again, I brought a team capable of winning.”

The Star