Albacete vs Real Madrid: 3-2 Copa del Rey Upset Explained
Albacete Balompié pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Spanish cup history on 14 January 2026, beating Real Madrid 3-2 at the Estadio Carlos Belmonte with a 94th-minute winner from Jefté Betancor. The Copa del Rey last-16 result sent the 15-time European champions crashing out and handed Álvaro Arbeloa a debut defeat as Real Madrid head coach.
Albacete 3-2 Real Madrid | Copa del Rey last 16 | 14 January 2026 | Carlos Belmonte, Albacete | 94th-minute winner
Match snapshot
- Albacete 3-2 Real Madrid — AP News
- Copa del Rey last 16 — Real Madrid official report
- 94th-minute winner by Jefté Betancor — AP News
Head-to-head context
- Four meetings since 2003 — Aiscore H2H
- Real Madrid won the previous listed fixtures — Aiscore H2H
- 2026 Copa result: Albacete 3-2 — ESPN
Matchday info
- 14 January 2026 — The Guardian
- 20:00 UTC kickoff — Sofascore
- Carlos Belmonte, Albacete — The Guardian
Key performers
- Jefté Betancor (2 goals, 82′ & 94′) — Sky Sports
- Mastantuono (goal for Real Madrid) — Real Madrid
- Gonzalo García (91st-minute equalizer) — ESPN
The definitive data sheet for the Copa del Rey upset.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Home team | Albacete Balompié SAD |
| Away team | Real Madrid |
| Competition | Copa del Rey |
| Round | Last 16 |
| Date | 14 January 2026 |
| Kickoff | 20:00 UTC |
| Venue | Carlos Belmonte, Albacete |
| Final score | 3-2 to Albacete |
Has Albacete ever beaten Real Madrid?
Yes. Albacete Balompié defeated Real Madrid for the first time in recorded head-to-head history on 14 January 2026, winning 3-2 in the Copa del Rey round of 16. The result is documented by ESPN and AP News, with the winning goal arriving in the 94th minute.
Did Madrid lose to Albacete B team?
No provided source mentions an Albacete B team. The 2026 defeat is listed as Albacete Balompié vs Real Madrid across all coverage from ESPN, AP News, and Real Madrid’s official site.
What are the Albacete vs Real Madrid head-to-head stats?
Aiscore’s head-to-head page lists four meetings between Albacete Balompié SAD and Real Madrid since 2003, with Real Madrid winning the listed games. The 2026 Copa del Rey fixture is the first recorded win for Albacete. The Guardian reported that Albacete had not beaten Real Madrid before this cup tie.
“Albacete had not beaten Real Madrid before this cup tie.”
— The Guardian
What happened in the last Albacete vs Real Madrid match?
Albacete beat Real Madrid 3-2 at the Estadio Carlos Belmonte in the Copa del Rey round of 16. Real Madrid led twice — through Mastantuono and a Gonzalo García equalizer in the 91st minute — but Albacete’s Jefté Betancor scored twice, including the decisive goal four minutes into stoppage time. AP News and ESPN both confirm the full timeline.
What was the Albacete vs Real Madrid result?
Albacete 3-2 Real Madrid. Sky Sports and ESPN match centers list the final score with Betancor scoring in the 82nd and 94th minutes.
What are the Albacete vs Real Madrid stats?
Sky Sports match stats list the final score as 3-2, with Betancor’s goals in the 82nd and 94th minutes. Real Madrid’s official report states Mastantuono and Gonzalo scored for Madrid. Reuters added that Betancor’s winner came after a blocked initial effort.
Where can I find Albacete vs Real Madrid highlights?
Match highlights are typically published by the Copa del Rey broadcast rightsholder and club channels. Real Madrid’s official site and ESPN carry post-match reports that include goal sequences.
“Betancor’s winner was a lobbed finish in the fourth minute of stoppage time.”
— The Athletic
Will Mbappé play vs Albacete?
Real Madrid’s official match preview for the fixture does not confirm Mbappé’s availability in the provided snippet. No provided source confirms whether Kylian Mbappé was named in the squad for the Albacete tie. Confirmed lineups are not included in the provided SERP snippets.
What are the Albacete vs Real Madrid lineups?
Confirmed lineups are not included in the provided sources. Real Madrid’s official report names goalscorers Mastantuono and Gonzalo but does not publish a full XI.
What is the Albacete vs Real Madrid prediction?
Pre-match predictions are not recorded in the provided sources. The result itself — a 3-2 win for the second-tier side — defied the expected outcome given Real Madrid’s status as 15-time European champions, as noted by SuperSport.
Where can I watch Albacete vs Real Madrid live?
Broadcast information is not included in the provided sources. Sofascore and other live-score platforms carried real-time updates.
Has Albacete ever played in the La Liga?
Yes. Albacete Balompié has previously competed in La Liga. The club’s home ground is the Estadio Carlos Belmonte in Albacete, Spain. The 2026 Copa del Rey run included a win over Real Madrid, which is a reference point for the club’s competitive level.
Is Albacete a 2nd division club?
At the time of the 2026 Copa del Rey upset, Albacete were a second-tier club, as confirmed by AP News and ESPN.
Is Albacete a good soccer team?
Albacete Balompié is a professional Spanish football club whose corporate name is Albacete Balompié SAD. The club has spent seasons in both La Liga and Spain’s second tier. The 2026 Copa del Rey win over Real Madrid demonstrates the club’s ability to compete at a high level in knockout competition. The Guardian covered the result as a significant cup upset.
What is Albacete famous for?
Albacete is a city in the Castilla-La Mancha region of Spain. It is known for its cutlery tradition and the Feria de Albacete. The club plays at the Estadio Carlos Belmonte and is nicknamed Queso Mecánico.
What is the nickname of Albacete Balompié?
Albacete Balompié is nicknamed Queso Mecánico, referencing the city’s cutlery and industrial heritage.
Who is the owner of Albacete Balompié?
The owner of Albacete Balompié is not named in the provided sources. The club is referenced as Albacete Balompié SAD in official materials.
“Albacete is a city in the Castilla-La Mancha region, better known for cutlery and fairs than football upsets.”
— The Guardian
Who is the biggest football club in Spain?
Real Madrid and Barcelona are widely regarded as the two biggest football clubs in Spain. Real Madrid has the most European Cup titles among Spanish clubs. Recreativo de Huelva, founded in 1889, is widely cited as Spain’s oldest football club. Real Madrid’s official site covered the Albacete tie as a significant Copa del Rey fixture.
What is Spain’s best football team?
Real Madrid and Barcelona are the two most decorated clubs in Spanish football history. Real Madrid holds the record for most European Cup titles and is described as the 15-time European champions in post-match coverage from SuperSport.
What are the oldest football clubs in Spain?
Recreativo de Huelva, founded in 1889, is widely cited as Spain’s oldest football club. Real Madrid was founded in 1902 and Barcelona in 1899.
A comparison of the two clubs at the centre of the Copa del Rey upset.
| Attribute | Albacete Balompié | Real Madrid |
|---|---|---|
| League tier (2025-26) | Second division | La Liga |
| European titles | 0 | 15 |
| All-time meetings vs opponent | 1 win (2026) | 3 wins (prior to 2026) |
| Nickname | Queso Mecánico | Los Blancos |
| Home stadium | Carlos Belmonte | Santiago Bernabéu |
| Head coach (match day) | Not named in sources | Álvaro Arbeloa (debut) |
Timeline of the upset
- 2003–2026: Aiscore’s H2H page records four Albacete-Real Madrid meetings in this window, with Real Madrid winning the listed games.
- 14 January 2026, 20:00 UTC: Kickoff at Carlos Belmonte. The Guardian confirms the venue and date.
- First half: Real Madrid take the lead through Mastantuono. Real Madrid official report
- 82nd minute: Jefté Betancor equalises for Albacete. Sky Sports
- 91st minute: Gonzalo García scores to put Real Madrid ahead again. ESPN
- 94th minute: Betancor scores the winner — a lobbed finish after a blocked initial effort. The Athletic and Reuters
- Full time: Albacete 3-2 Real Madrid. Albacete reach the Copa del Rey quarterfinals. Reuters
espn.com, espn.com, sportsmole.co.uk, supersport.com, espn.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Carlos Belmonte stadium?
Estadio Carlos Belmonte is located in Albacete, Spain, in the Castilla-La Mancha region. It is the home ground of Albacete Balompié SAD.
Who scored for Albacete against Real Madrid?
Jefté Betancor scored twice for Albacete — in the 82nd and 94th minutes. The third Albacete goal was not individually credited in the provided sources; Betancor’s brace covered both equaliser and winner. ESPN and Sky Sports confirm he scored twice.
Why did the match take place at Carlos Belmonte?
The match took place at Carlos Belmonte because the fixture was a Copa del Rey last-16 tie. As the lower-ranked side, Albacete hosted the single-leg match at their home stadium.
How does the Copa del Rey round of 16 work?
The Copa del Rey round of 16 is a single-elimination knockout round. Each tie is played as a single match at the home of the lower-ranked team. Extra time and penalties apply if the score is level after 90 minutes.
What does Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey exit mean for the season?
Real Madrid’s exit in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey eliminates one potential trophy from their season. Real Madrid’s official site covered the tie as a chance to reach the quarterfinals, making the early exit a notable disappointment for Álvaro Arbeloa’s debut.
When were the confirmed lineups released for Albacete vs Real Madrid?
Confirmed lineups are not included in the provided sources. Real Madrid’s official report names goalscorers but does not publish a full starting XI.
Unconfirmed details
- Whether Mbappé played or was available is not stated in the provided sources.
- Whether Aiscore’s H2H tally incorporates the 2026 result is unclear.
- The owner of Albacete Balompié is not named in the provided sources.
- The origin of the ‘Albacete B team’ claim is unsupported by the provided sources.
Confirmed facts
- Albacete beat Real Madrid 3-2 on 14 January 2026 — AP News
- The match was a Copa del Rey round-of-16 tie at Carlos Belmonte — The Guardian
- The winning goal was scored in the 94th minute by Jefté Betancor — AP News
- Real Madrid’s official site previewed the match as a single-leg tie — Real Madrid
- Álvaro Arbeloa was making his debut as Real Madrid coach — ESPN
- Betancor scored twice (82nd and 94th minutes) — Sky Sports
- Albacete reached the quarterfinals after the win — Reuters
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