Xabi Alonso’s successor suffers worst possible start to tenure as second-tier Albacete triumph in major upset.
New Real Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa suffered an embarrassing defeat in his first match in charge as second-tier Albacete produced a stunning Copa del Rey upset.
Jefte Betancor struck a brilliant winner deep into stoppage time at Estadio Carlos Belmonte as Albacete snatched a dramatic 3-2 victory in the round-of-16 tie.
It was the third time the hosts had led on the night and substitute Betancor's second of the game and this time Real could not fight back.
Javi Villar opened the scoring for the team 17th in the Segunda Division after 42 minutes but Real replied before the break through Franco Mastantuono.
Betancor thought he had won it when he came off the bench to put his side ahead for a second time eight minutes from time but Gonzalo Garcia levelled again in the first minute of stoppage time.
Yet it was not enough to spare Real's embarrassment as Betancor had the final say from a late breakaway.
It was a dismal start for Arbeloa, who succeeded the sacked Xabi Alonso on Monday.
"At this club a draw is bad, a tragedy, so imagine a defeat like this," Arbeloa said afterwards, per ESPN. "It's painful, especially against a lower division team. Obviously we have to improve."
"I'm responsible, I take the decisions: the team, how we want to play, the substitutions. We'll try to recover our morale and physically, and improve for the game on Saturday [against Levante]."
"I was convinced the squad was the right one, and I still think that. We have an extraordinary squad, with great players."
“It isn't easy for them to do everything I've asked of them after just one day [in the job]. We have a lot of players to get back to their best physical level "
"I don't regret anything. I'd pick the same team again.”
Meanwhile, captain Dani Carvajal admitted that Real Madrid had hit “rock bottom” but insisted there was “still time to turn the season around.”