Total crisis for Madrid: Two titles lost in four days and the worst possible debut for Arbeloa

Real Madrid deepened their worst crisis in a decade after falling on Wednesday in Albacete (3-2). The seventeenth-placed team in the Liga Hypermotion knocked out the current tournament runner-up from the Copa del Rey, who, in the debut of Álvaro Arbeloa, presented a disastrous image at the Carlos Belmonte Stadium

The Manchegos were always ahead on the scoreboard and, with a goal from Javier Villar in the first half and a brace from Jefté Betancor towards the end, they knocked out a completely out-of-sorts Madrid: lacking judgment or speed in circulation, clear ideas, or, much less, defensive solidity.

The abrupt departure of Xabi Alonso did not improve the dynamics of a team in freefall, with an erratic Vinicius and an insufficient Arda Güler to break down the resistance of an organized, brave Albacete, who were deserved winners of the round of 16 tie

Arbeloa rested Bellingham, Tchouaméni, and Courtois, a decision that, with Mbappé and Rodrygo injured, ultimately sealed the 'Merengue' disaster in the Copa. Just three days after the defeat in the Spanish Super Cup final against FC Barcelona (3-2), the Whites say goodbye to their second title of the season. 

Arbeloa pays for the broken dishes in his debut

After the Copa del Rey elimination, Arbeloa faced the press, showing self-criticism and taking responsibility for the defeat. The manager admitted the seriousness of the situation but believes he can turn the page to resume the fight for LaLiga on Saturday against Levante at a Bernabéu that will be a cauldron. Against the players and Florentino Pérez.

"I have a very talented squad, and it's not easy for them with a new coach on one day to do everything I've asked of them. I feel I'm the most responsible, **I'm the one who made the decisions regarding the lineup, how we wanted to play, and the substitutions**," the Spanish coach began.Regarding the future, he added: "The important thing is to start working and get them back, we have many players to get back to their maximum physical level".

Madrid will host Levante on Saturday (2:00 PM CEST) and, next Tuesday, will do the same against Monaco in the Champions League (9:00 PM CEST). In the league, the Whites are second, 4 points behind Barça, with the entire second half of the season still to play. In the Champions League, the team is in 7th place, still in direct qualification for the round of 16.

Real Madrid on track for its worst season since 2019

During Florentino Pérez's second tenure as president, Real Madrid has completed **six seasons without titles: 2009/10, 2012/13, 2014/15, 2018/19, 2020/21, and 2024/25**. The worst by far was 18/19, although in 09/10 and 20721 there were historic embarrassments in the Copa del Rey against Alcorcón (4-1 on aggregate) and Alcoyano (2-1), respectively.

In 2019, the whites said goodbye to the possibility of winning anything in the first week of March, after falling in the Copa 'semis' against Barça (0-3), in the League against the same Barcelona (0-1), and in the Champions League round of 16 against Barça (1-4)

The three defeats at the Bernabéu left Florentino very exposed in a season where the 'Merengues' had three coaches: Julen Lopetegui (sacked in November), Santiago Solari (sacked in March), and Zinedine Zidane.

The outlook for 25/26 looks much worse, with Arbeloa's interim role likely to be very brief and the entire second half of the season still to be played, with two titles already lost and a squad lacking the physical and mental strength to overcome the crisis.