{"id":7581,"date":"2026-01-14T23:19:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T22:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/weisetech.dev\/fc-barcelona-noticias\/en\/albacete-eliminates-real-madrid-in-copa-del-rey-round-of-16-3-2_315755_102\/"},"modified":"2026-01-14T23:22:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T22:22:00","slug":"albacete-eliminates-real-madrid-in-copa-del-rey-round-of-16-3-2_315755_102","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fcbarcelonanoticias.com\/en\/copa-del-rey\/albacete-eliminates-real-madrid-in-copa-del-rey-round-of-16-3-2_315755_102.html","title":{"rendered":"HISTORIC UPSET: Albacete eliminates Real Madrid in Copa del Rey round of 16 (3-2)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Albacete made history on their home turf by eliminating Real Madrid from the Copa del Rey (3-2). A brace from Jeft\u00e9 Betancor left Los Blancos KO after a disastrous match in Arbeloa’s debut as coach<\/h2> \r\n
\r\n \r\n \r\n Calendar of FC Barcelona <\/a>\r\n<\/div>

Historic ridicule for Real Madrid<\/strong> and a monumental feat for Albacete<\/strong>. This summarizes the round of 16 of the 2025\/26 Copa del Rey<\/strong> at the Estadio Carlos Belmonte<\/strong>, which ended with a home victory (3-2) thanks to a dramatic brace from Jeft\u00e9 Betancor<\/strong>. Alberto Gonz\u00e1lez’s team, 17th in La Liga Hypermotion, took down the reigning tournament runner-up.<\/p>

In the debut of \u00c1lvaro Arbeloa, the ‘Merengue’ squad could not complete a more disastrous match. With no other weapon than crosses to anywhere and corners to try to hurt Albacete’s defense, the whites were **a slow and predictable team** for 90 minutes. In goal, with Courtois out, Lunin was not up to par this time, while the defense was a complete mess.<\/p>

The home team was always in the lead and sealed the match in the 90+5′, although Madrid had managed to draw 2-2 in the 90th minute. The image of Real summarizes the moment of absolute crisis and bewilderment, consummated with the dismissal of Xabi Alonso and a sporting project adrift. Albacete, who had never beaten Madrid, is in the Copa quarterfinals<\/p>

Another last-gasp goal saved Madrid before halftime<\/h2>

Albacete held the zero for the first half hour without too much trouble. Madrid wanted to control the game from the start with slow possession and predictable attacks, but the Whites, dressed in blue on Wednesday, barely threatened the opponent’s area with a shot from **Fede Valverde** from the edge of the box in the 8th minute.<\/p>

Fog became the protagonist at the Carlos Belmonte Stadium, while Real completed a first half to forget<\/strong>. In the 37th minute, a corner from the right, taken by Jos\u00e9 Carlos Lazo, allowed the home team to open the scoring. Javier Villar, with a header, shot Lunin down<\/strong> with a powerful strike, after easily anticipating Franco Mastantuono in the jump.<\/p>

Albacete seemed to be heading into halftime with a lead, but the main referee, **Garc\u00eda Verdura**, despite the two minutes of added time having passed, awarded a corner from the left to Madrid. Arda G\u00fcler crossed and **Huijsen tested the goalkeeper Lizoain** with a powerful header, but the rebound remained loose in the six-yard box and **Mastantuono** managed to push it into the net to seal the 1-1 in the 48th minute.<\/p>

Jeft\u00e9 Betancor, the hero of Albacete’s feat<\/h2>

The second half began with a similar rhythm to the first, although with Albacete a bit more withdrawn into their own half. Despite this, Real Madrid continued to pose no threat, opting solely for crosses from the wing to try and set up Gonzalo Garc\u00eda in the box.<\/p>

Minutes passed and Arbeloa reached for the bench, bringing on Alaba and Camavinga<\/strong> in place of Huijsen and Fran Garc\u00eda. Then Dani Carvajal<\/strong> and academy player C\u00e9sar Palacios came on for David Jim\u00e9nez and Mastantuono. Instead of loosening up, Madrid played worse and worse, and Albacete, in the 82nd minute, regained the lead.<\/p>

**Jeft\u00e9 Betancor**, who had come on in the 58th minute, made it 2-1 with a first-time finish, taking advantage of a short clearance from **Gonzalo**. Lunin could have done more, but reacted late in the first half. Gonzalo, in the 90th minute, seemed to force extra time with another header, following a corner from Arda G\u00fcler on the left.<\/p>

\ud83e\udd2f \u00bfPERO QU\u00c9 HAS HECHO, JEFT\u00c9?

\u00a1\u00a1QU\u00c9 GOLAZO DEL ALBACETE EN EL 94!!

El equipo manchego cierra as\u00ed el partido y elimina al Real Madrid.

\ud83d\udcfa @La1_tve<\/a>

\ud83c\udd9a @AlbaceteBPSAD<\/a> | 3-2 | @realmadrid<\/a> | 90+4\u2019#CopaDelReyMapfre<\/a> | #LaCopaMola<\/a>\ud83c\udfc6 pic.twitter.com\/DcHA7kuSkl<\/a><\/p> \u2014 RFEF (@rfef) January 14, 2026<\/a> <\/blockquote>

However, Albacete went for the heroic and, in the 90+5′, sealed the tie with another golazo from Jeft\u00e9 Betancor<\/strong>. The ’10’ entered the box and, after an initial shot blocked by Dani Carvajal, took advantage of the rebound to chip the ball into the far post, while Lunin watched motionlessly.<\/p>

This way, Albacete, who are fighting to avoid relegation to the third division and had never won an official match against Real Madrid, eliminated the ‘White House’ from the Copa del Rey in a disastrous debut for \u00c1lvaro Arbeloa. The ‘merengues’ are falling into their worst crisis in a decade and, on Saturday, there will be a very hostile reception at the Santiago Bernab\u00e9u when they host **Levante** (2:00 PM)<\/p>

Match Report: Albacete Balompi\u00e9 3-2 Real Madrid<\/h2>