Real Madrid suffered a historic and deeply embarrassing exit from the Copa del Rey, knocked out by Albacete B in what will go down as one of the darkest nights in the club’s recent cup history. A foggy evening in La Mancha mirrored the confusion on the pitch, as Álvaro Arbeloa’s heavily rotated side completely lost control of the contest.

The Madrid coach opted for a reserve XI, a decision that backfired spectacularly. The young and inexperienced lineup struggled from the opening minutes, overwhelmed by Albacete’s intensity and belief. Even Andriy Lunin, usually a reliable last line of defence for Los Blancos in tricky situations, failed to deliver his customary heroics.

The Ukrainian goalkeeper conceded twice, beaten by goals from Xavi Villar and Jefte. The decisive late strike from the Brazilian proved especially painful, raising serious questions about Lunin’s positioning and reaction at a critical moment when Real Madrid desperately needed composure.

To their credit, the visitors showed flashes of character. Goals from Mastantuono and Gonzalo allowed Madrid to claw their way back into the game on two occasions. However, defensive fragility — with Lunin at the heart of a nervous back line — ultimately proved fatal. Although the keeper produced one outstanding save to deny Riki, he was unable to conjure another miracle when Jefte struck late on.

The defeat means Real Madrid have missed out on a second trophy opportunity in the space of a single week. What was meant to be the beginning of a new chapter under Álvaro Arbeloa has instead started with a nightmare.