Mastantuono's goal not enough, Real Madrid knocked out of Copa del Rey | OneFootball

Real Madrid was eliminated in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey after losing 3-2 to Albacete, a Second Division team, at the Estadio Carlos Belmonte. In Álvaro Arbeloa's debut as coach, the Merengue once again showed weaknesses and suffered another sporting blow.

The home team opened the scoring at the end of the first half with a header from Javier Villar, but minutes later Franco Mastantuono appeared to equalize the match after a series of rebounds. In the second half, Jefté put Albacete ahead again with a volley, Gonzalo García equalized with a header in added time, and just when it seemed the match would go to extra time, Jefté sealed his brace and the home team's qualification.

Mastantuono's goal was the highlight for Real Madrid on an adverse night. The Argentine started, responded with a goal, and left a good individual impression, although he couldn't prevent the elimination. For Real, this marks the 24th defeat in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey, one of the most elusive rounds in its history.

The defeat adds to the recent loss against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup and worsens the club's delicate current situation. While Arbeloa begins his tenure with a setback, Mastantuono's future is under scrutiny in a crucial semester, with the aim of gaining continuity and staying on track for the 2026 World Cup.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.