Copa del Rey Shock: Second-Division Side Knocks Out Los Blancos
The post-Xabi Alonso era has started in disastrous fashion. In his first game as head coach, Álvaro Arbeloa watched as Real Madrid suffered a historic 3-2 defeat to Albacete, resulting in an early exit from the Copa del Rey.
Coming just days after losing the Spanish Super Cup to Barcelona, this defeat has plunged the reigning European champions into a full-blown mid-season crisis.
“Team of Bloggers”: Fans Fume at Lack of Effort
Despite fielding stars like Vinícius Júnior, Federico Valverde, and Arda Güler, the team failed to show any tactical cohesion. While youngsters Gonzalo García and Franco Mastantuono found the back of the net, the senior players were heavily criticized for their lack of intensity.
On social media, the Madridista fanbase exploded in anger. One viral post on X summed up the mood:
“Today’s Real Madrid is a team of bloggers and celebrities more interested in their personal brand than winning titles. Disgusting!”
The Mbappé Dependency
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The match highlighted a worrying trend: Real Madrid’s total reliance on Kylian Mbappé. Without the Frenchman leading the line, the attack lacked bite. Vinícius Júnior, in particular, struggled to take control of the game, failing to provide the leadership expected in the absence of the club’s top scorer.
Real Madrid 2025/26 Season Stats:
Games Played: 29
Defeats: 6 (already higher than the entirety of last season)
Wins: 20
Draws: 3
The Road Ahead
Arbeloa now faces immense pressure before his first La Liga match. Real Madrid returns to the Santiago Bernabéu this Saturday (Jan 17) to face Levante. With the Copa del Rey and Super Cup gone, Los Blancos must now focus entirely on La Liga and the Champions League to save their season.
