🥐 Beyond Real Madrid’s shock defeat... 5 stories to start your Thursday | OneFootball

This Thursday’s football news dawns still shaken by the earthquake caused by one of the most unexpected results in recent times in the Copa del Rey.

Álvaro Arbeloa’s debut on the Real Madrid bench did not have the desired effect, sparking an institutional earthquake that has left much of the Madrid squad under scrutiny after their visit to Albacete.

While the Madrid side tries to lick its wounds, the spotlight now shifts to El Sardinero and the major European leagues. Between highly anticipated debuts in Barcelona and goal scorers regaining their reputation in England, today’s matchday will define much of the aspirations of the continent’s giants in a relentless January.

Arbeloa debuts with defeat and elimination

Real Madrid has been at the center of the biggest negative surprise of the Copa del Rey round of 16. In Álvaro Arbeloa’s debut as coach, the team suffered a 3-2 defeat against Albacete, crashing out of the competition. The lack of defensive solidity left several key players exposed, marking a very complicated start for the new manager.

Betis and Alavés advance with confidence

The cup round also brought joy for Real Betis and Deportivo Alavés. Betis managed to come from behind against Elche thanks to a stellar brace from Chimy Ávila, showing their composure in critical moments. Meanwhile, Alavés relied on their defensive solidity to secure a convincing 2-0 win over Rayo Vallecano, booking their place in the quarterfinals.

Clash of leaders: Racing vs. Barcelona

The main event today is the clash between Racing de Santander and FC Barcelona. The leader of the Second Division hosts the leader of the First Division at a packed Sardinero. The big question is whether Hansi Flick will give minutes to João Cancelo, whose return to the Barcelona shirt has generated enormous anticipation.

Kompany’s Bayern has no rival

In Germany, Bayern Munich continues its triumphant march toward the Bundesliga title. With their recent victory over Köln, Vincent Kompany’s team has posted historic numbers: 15 wins in just 17 matches. Their collective solidity and attacking hunger keep the Bavarians as the most in-form team in all of European football.

Gyökeres shines in the London derby

Viktor Gyökeres has once again shown why Arsenal bet on him. In the first leg of the Carabao Cup semifinals, the Swedish striker was the key figure with a goal and an assist in the ‘gunners’ 2-3 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. This performance silences the criticism of recent months and puts Arteta’s team very close to the final.

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

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