Real Madrid dumped from Copa del Rey in Arbeloa's 1st game


Álvaro Arbeloa got off to a dismal start as the new coach of Real Madrid, seeing his team lose to second-division club Albacete 3-2 and drop out of the Copa del Rey in the round of 16 on Wednesday.

Jefté Betancor scored the winning goal four minutes into stoppage time to send Albacete to the quarterfinals. Gonzalo García had also scored in added time for Madrid to even the match at 2-2.

It was the third time the hosts had led on the night and substitute Betancor's second goal of the game, and this time Madrid could not fight back.

Madrid struggled from the start in the debut of Arbeloa, the club's former B-team coach who was picked Monday to replace Xabi Alonso following a tumultuous eight-month stint at the helm.

Stars including Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, Thibaut Courtois and Rodrygo were all rested, while Vinícius Júnior started, but was mostly ineffective as Madrid had difficulty creating scoring opportunities.

Albacete players celebrate after scoring a goal against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey.
Albacete players celebrate after scoring a goal against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey.
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The hosts had gotten on the board first with Javier Villar scoring with a header off a corner kick in the 42nd and Franco Mastantuono equalized from close range three minutes into first-half stoppage time. Betancor put Albacete back in front in the 82nd with a shot from inside the area after the Madrid defense failed to fully clear a cross into the box.

It was the first time Albacete, who are 17th in the second-division table, have ever beaten Madrid.

Like Alonso, the 42-year-old Arbeloa played several years for Madrid. He has been with the club for 20 years, having coached many of its youth squads.

As a player, Arbeloa helped Madrid win eight titles from 2009-16, including two European Cups and one Spanish league. He also helped Spain win the 2010 World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 European Championships.

Information from PA and The Associated Press was used in this recap.