Real Madrid suffered one of the most embarrassing nights in its recent history after being eliminated from the Copa del Rey with a dramatic 3–2 defeat against Albacete, a second-division side, decided in the final moments of the match. The shock result sent the Spanish giants crashing out of the competition far earlier than expected and raised serious questions about the club’s current direction.

The match, played on Wednesday night, exposed defensive lapses and a lack of control that ultimately proved costly. Beyond the immediate elimination, the defeat deepened an already troubling period for the club, marked by instability on the bench and a squad struggling to regain its balance. Albacete struck just before halftime when Franco Mastantuono scored in stoppage time of the first half, capitalizing on a moment of defensive disorganization. Real Madrid responded after the break, but their play lacked the authority and composure traditionally associated with a team of their stature.

David Alaba was substituted in the 65th minute with the score level at 1–1, a decision that drew attention and left the defense exposed. From that point on, Real Madrid lost structure, allowing Albacete to grow in confidence and belief as the minutes ticked away. The closing stages delivered pure drama. Gonzalo García appeared to rescue the visitors with a powerful header in the 91st minute, seemingly forcing extra time and restoring hope to the Madrid side.

That hope, however, was short-lived. Jefte emerged as the hero for Albacete, scoring twice in the decisive moments, in the 82nd and 94th minutes. In the winning goal, Dani Carvajal initially blocked a shot following a counterattack but failed to close down the play, allowing Jefte to unleash a precise strike into the far corner. The Copa del Rey exit comes only days after another painful setback.

On Sunday, Real Madrid lost 3–2 to FC Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Jeddah, a defeat that led to the dismissal of head coach Xabi Alonso and underscored the growing instability surrounding the team. The night also proved disappointing for Elche, who were eliminated despite taking the lead away from home against Real Betis. A defensive assist from David Affengruber put the newly promoted side ahead, but they ultimately fell 2–1, bringing an end to their cup run and completing a bitter evening in the competition.