Albacete vs Real Madrid 3-2 highlights
The Copa del Rey has always been a tournament of surprises, but what happened at the Estadio Carlos Belmonte on January 15, 2026, will be etched in football history forever. Albacete, an underdog team, pulled off a miraculous 3-2 victory against the reigning giants Real Madrid. Despite having almost 80% possession, Real Madrid failed to contain the counter-attacking masterclass shown by the home side. In this long-form analysis, we dive deep into the tactics, individual performances, and the reasons behind this shocking exit.
Match Overview: How the Drama Unfolded
From the first whistle, Real Madrid showed their intent to dominate. With a 4-3-3 formation featuring Arda Güler and Valverde, they pushed Albacete deep into their own half. However, Albacete’s 5-3-2 defensive setup proved to be a wall that was hard to crack.
First Half: The Initial Shock
Albacete waited patiently for their chance. In the 42nd minute, Villar broke the deadlock, sending the home fans into a frenzy. It seemed like Real Madrid would go into the break trailing, but Franco Mastantuono had other ideas. At 45+3′, he found the back of the net to equalize for the visitors.
Second Half: The Betancor Show
The atmosphere at the Estadio Carlos Belmonte was electric from the start. Real Madrid, despite fielding a strong lineup, struggled to break down Albacete’s low block. The first half was a game of patience for the home side. Villar’s clinical strike in the 42nd minute exposed the lack of communication in Madrid’s defense.
Although Franco Mastantuono gave Madrid fans a glimpse of hope with his equalizer at 45+3′, the second half revealed deeper tactical issues for Los Blancos. Jefte Betancor’s first goal in the 82nd minute came from a quick transition where Madrid’s midfield failed to track back. His second, and the match-winner in the 94th minute, was a result of sheer individual brilliance, dancing past two defenders before slotting it past Lunin. Real Madrid’s late push, resulting in a goal by G. Garcia at 90+1′, was simply too little, too lat
The second half saw Real Madrid pushing even harder, but they lacked clinical finishing. Jefte Betancor became the hero of the night, scoring in the 82nd minute to put Albacete ahead once again. As Real Madrid committed everyone forward, Betancor struck again in stoppage time (90+4′) to make it 3-1. Although G. Garcia scored a late goal for Madrid at 90+1′ (bringing it to 3-2), the final whistle confirmed the historic upset.
Tactical Analysis: Possession vs Precision
The stats tell a story of total dominance by Real Madrid, but a lack of efficiency.
| Statistic | Albacete | Real Madrid |
| Ball Possession | 22% | 78% |
| Total Shots | 12 | 20 |
| Shots on Target | 5 | 5 |
| Accurate Passes | 149 (75%) | 648 (90%) |
| Corners | 3 | 11 |
Why Real Madrid Lost:
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Ineffective Possession: 719 passes were completed by Madrid, but most were in their own half or side-to-side. They failed to penetrate the “Bus” parked by Albacete.
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Defensive Fragility: Despite having stars like Alaba and Militao, the defense looked shaky against long balls.
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Clinical Finishing: Albacete had only 5 shots on target and they converted 3 of them—a 60% conversion rate.
Player Ratings and Performance (Real Madrid)
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Lunin (5.1): A night to forget for the keeper. He failed to make key saves when needed.
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Arda Güler (7.7): One of the few bright spots for Madrid. His creativity was evident, but he lacked support in the final third.
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Valverde (6.8): Worked hard in the midfield but couldn’t influence the game enough to change the scoreline.
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Fran Garcia (7.4): Solid performance on the wing, providing width and crosses, but defense was his weakness tonight.
Player Ratings and Performance (Albacete)Jefte Betancor (9.0): The undisputed Man of the Match. Two goals and constant pressure on the Madrid defense.
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Meléndez (7.9): Controlled the tempo for Albacete during the rare moments they had the ball.
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Villar (7.3): Set the tone with the opening goal.
The Injury Crisis: A Hidden Factor?
The tactical rigidity of Carlo Ancelotti’s 4-3-3 was clear today. While maintaining 78% possession looks impressive on paper, it lacked the verticality needed to disturb Albacete’s 5-3-2 formation. The absence of Eder Militao due to a tendon injury was the most significant factor. Madrid’s defense lacked a leader to organize the line during counter-attacks. Furthermore, with Rodrygo and Mendy sidelined with ankle issues, the bench strength was insufficient to change the game’s momentum late in the second half.
Real Madrid entered this match with several key players injured or doubtful.
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Militao (Tendon Injury): Out until late January.
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Rodrygo & Mendy: Both were doubtful due to discomfort and ankle injuries.
- Trent Alexander-Arnold: Back in training but not match-fit.
This lack of squad depth was clearly visible as the game progressed.
Match Statistics (Trusted Source): FotMob
Conclusion
This result serves as a reminder that in football, possession does not always equal points. Albacete’s grit, determination, and tactical discipline earned them a place in the next round. For Real Madrid, it’s time to regroup and focus on La Liga and the Champions League.
Read more: Supercopa Final 2026: FCB vs RMA Analysis
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