Albacete Shocks Real Madrid in Copa del Rey Upset

In a stunning upset, Real Madrid was eliminated from the Copa del Rey by second division team Albacete during Alvaro Arbeloa's debut as head coach. The match took place on October 1, 2023, and saw Albacete take the lead with a header from Javi Villar in the 42nd minute. Just before halftime, Real Madrid equalized through Franco Mastantuono, setting the stage for a dramatic finish. However, in the last eight minutes, Albacete's Jefte Betancor scored twice, and Gonzalo Garcia added another goal, sealing a historic victory for Albacete. This win marks the first time Albacete has triumphed over the 15-time Champions League winners, advancing them to the quarter-finals of the tournament.