Albacete beat Real Madrid 3-2 in the Copa del Rey Round of 16 on January 14, 2026, at the Carlos Belmonte Stadium. Javi Villar and Jefté Betancor, who scored twice, netted for Albacete, while Franco Mastantuono and Gonzalo García scored for Real Madrid. Jefté’s 94th-minute goal sent Albacete into the quarterfinals.
Key Takeaways
- Final score: Albacete 3-2 Real Madrid.
- The match was played on January 14, 2026, at Carlos Belmonte.
- Javi Villar opened the scoring for Albacete.
- Franco Mastantuono and Gonzalo García scored for Real Madrid.
- Jefté Betancor scored twice, including the decisive goal in stoppage time.
- The result eliminated Real Madrid from the Copa del Rey and sent Albacete through to the quarterfinals.
Albacete vs Real Madrid Result and Match Details
The Albacete vs Real Madrid match became one of the notable results of the 2025-26 Copa del Rey after Albacete won 3-2 at the Carlos Belmonte Stadium.
The game was the Round of 16 stage of the competition and was played as a single-leg tie, meaning there was no second match at the Santiago Bernabéu. Real Madrid therefore needed to win or force extra time to remain in the tournament. Instead, Albacete scored a late winner and advanced.
| Match Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Albacete vs Real Madrid |
| Competition | Copa del Rey |
| Round | Round of 16 |
| Date | January 14, 2026 |
| Stadium | Carlos Belmonte |
| Final score | Albacete 3-2 Real Madrid |
| Attendance | 16,807 |
| Winner | Albacete |
The official LaLiga match record lists the five goals and their scorers, while BBC Sport reported an attendance of 16,807.
Albacete vs Real Madrid Goals and Scorers
The match produced five goals, with both teams scoring twice before Albacete found the decisive goal in added time.
First Half
Albacete took the lead in the 42nd minute through Javi Villar. He headed home following a corner, giving the home side a 1-0 advantage shortly before halftime.
Real Madrid responded just before the break. Franco Mastantuono equalized in the 45+3rd minute after Arda Güler’s corner eventually reached him following a save from Albacete goalkeeper Raúl Lizoain.
The teams went into halftime level at 1-1.
Second Half
Real Madrid increased its control after the interval, but Albacete remained dangerous.
In the 82nd minute, substitute Jefté Betancor restored Albacete’s lead. The home team moved ahead 2-1 with time running down.
Real Madrid then found another equalizer. In the 91st minute, Gonzalo García headed the ball into the net from an Arda Güler corner to make the score 2-2. At that point, the match appeared to be heading toward extra time.
The Dramatic 90+4 Winner
The decisive moment came deep into stoppage time.
With the clock beyond 90 minutes, Jefté Betancor scored his second goal of the night to make it 3-2. The goal came in the 94th minute and immediately changed the outcome of the tie.
Real Madrid had no time to produce another response. Albacete held on to complete a 3-2 victory and progress to the next round.
How Albacete Eliminated Real Madrid
Albacete’s path to victory was built around taking advantage of important moments.
The hosts scored first through a set piece, responded after Real Madrid’s equalizer, and then produced another lead late in the second half. Even after Gonzalo García made it 2-2 in stoppage time, Albacete continued attacking and found one final opening.
Real Madrid’s official match report also notes that the team had opportunities from set pieces, including a Gonzalo header that narrowly missed in the second half. The match ultimately turned on Albacete’s ability to score at crucial moments.
The match was also the first game in charge for Álvaro Arbeloa, who had taken over as Real Madrid manager shortly before the fixture. Real Madrid rotated its squad, with several regular starters not beginning the match. BBC Sport reported that Kylian Mbappé, Rodrygo, Thibaut Courtois and Jude Bellingham were among those rested.
Albacete vs Real Madrid H2H Record
Before the 2026 Copa del Rey match, Albacete and Real Madrid had met 14 times, all in La Liga. Real Madrid had won 11, while three matches ended in draws.
The January 2026 Copa del Rey meeting changed that record. Albacete’s 3-2 victory became the club’s first win over Real Madrid in their recorded 15 meetings.
| H2H Record | Matches |
|---|---|
| Real Madrid wins | 11 |
| Draws | 3 |
| Albacete wins | 1 |
| Total meetings | 15 |
| Real Madrid goals | 35 |
| Albacete goals | 12 |
The 15-match record includes 14 La Liga meetings and one Copa del Rey meeting.
The previous meeting had been in April 2005, when Real Madrid won 2-1 away at Albacete. The teams then went more than two decades without meeting before the 2026 cup tie.
Match Statistics and Key Events
The final score tells only part of the story. The match featured repeated momentum changes and a dramatic finish.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| Javi Villar scores for Albacete | 42′ |
| Franco Mastantuono equalizes | 45+3′ |
| Jefté Betancor makes it 2-1 | 82′ |
| Gonzalo García makes it 2-2 | 90+1′ |
| Jefté Betancor scores the winner | 90+4′ |
The official LaLiga record confirms all five goals and the listed times.
The match also had a strong home crowd. BBC Sport recorded an attendance of 16,807 at Carlos Belmonte, adding to the atmosphere of an important single-game cup tie.
Why the 2026 Match Was Significant
For Albacete, the result was significant because it represented the club’s first recorded victory over Real Madrid. It also secured progression in the Copa del Rey after Albacete had already eliminated UD San Fernando, Leganés and Celta de Vigo earlier in the competition.
For Real Madrid, the defeat meant elimination in the Round of 16. The loss also came in Arbeloa’s first match as head coach after replacing Xabi Alonso.
The most memorable part of the game was the timing. Real Madrid had equalized at 2-2 in the 91st minute, but Albacete scored again only minutes later. That sequence turned what looked like a potential extra-time match into a 3-2 Albacete victory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of Albacete vs Real Madrid?
Albacete defeated Real Madrid 3-2 in the Copa del Rey Round of 16 on January 14, 2026. Javi Villar and Jefté Betancor scored for Albacete, while Franco Mastantuono and Gonzalo García scored for Real Madrid.
Who scored the winning goal for Albacete?
Jefté Betancor scored the winning goal in the 94th minute. It was his second goal of the match and gave Albacete a 3-2 victory.
Did Albacete eliminate Real Madrid from the Copa del Rey?
Yes. Albacete won the single-leg Round of 16 tie 3-2 and advanced to the quarterfinals, while Real Madrid was eliminated from the competition.
How many times have Albacete and Real Madrid played each other?
They have met 15 times in recorded competitive matches. Real Madrid has 11 wins, Albacete has one win, and three matches have ended in draws.
When was the previous Albacete vs Real Madrid match?
Before the January 2026 Copa del Rey meeting, the previous match was on April 3, 2005. Real Madrid won that La Liga match 2-1 at Albacete.
Where was Albacete vs Real Madrid played?
The match was played at Estadio Carlos Belmonte, Albacete’s home stadium, on January 14, 2026.
Conclusion
The Albacete vs Real Madrid match ended with a memorable 3-2 Copa del Rey victory for Albacete. Javi Villar opened the scoring, Jefté Betancor added two goals, and Real Madrid’s goals came from Franco Mastantuono and Gonzalo García. The decisive moment arrived in the 94th minute, when Jefté scored again to send Albacete through.
The result also changed the historical H2H record between the clubs. After 11 Real Madrid wins and three draws in their first 14 meetings, Albacete finally recorded its first victory over Real Madrid in the 15th meeting.
I am Abubakar, an educator and content writer with a Master’s degree in English Language. I write about English language, vocabulary, and educational topics, simplifying complex concepts for everyday readers. Alongside my passion for teaching and learning, I focus on creating helpful and engaging content that improves knowledge, communication skills, and language understanding.
