Real Madrid ousted from Copa by 2nd-division club Albacete in debut of coach Arbeloa

By Canadian Press on January 14, 2026.

MADRID (AP) — 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 game-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.

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

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Tales Azzoni, The Associated Press

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