Real Madrid commenced a new era under the leadership of their recently appointed coach, Álvaro Arbeloa, with a disappointing setback, suffering a 2-3 defeat to Albacete, a team from the second division.
The departure of Xabi Alonso from the managerial position followed the royal club’s loss in the Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona last Sunday, where they succumbed to a 3-2 scoreline.
This elimination prompted the Spanish newspaper “Mundo Deportivo” to deliver a harsh critique of the situation, stating, “The dismissal of Xabi Alonso did not yield the desired impact; Real Madrid has hit rock bottom, losing to Albacete in the round of 16 of the King’s Cup, this time with Álvaro Arbeloa at the helm.”
The publication noted that while Arbeloa may not have had sufficient time to familiarize himself with the team, the defeat raises significant doubts, and every match will serve as a comprehensive test for him.
Mockery from Rivals
The poor performance of Real Madrid has opened the door for rival teams to ridicule them. The official account of Cádiz on social media platform X cheekily remarked, “Our next league match will be against Albacete; don’t worry, Real Madrid, we will avenge you.”
Cádiz is set to face Albacete on the upcoming Sunday, as part of the 22nd round of the Spanish second division.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid aims to rectify their standings when they take on Levante next Saturday, competing in the Spanish league at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.
