RReal Madrid, currently coached by Alvaro Arbeloa, was criticized after losing in the last 16 to second-division club Albacete in the quarter-finals. With the score at 3-2, Real Madrid looked lacking in ideas and confident of winning simply because they are Real Madrid. Florentino Pérez’s team could do nothing against the excellent approach of former Madrid midfielder Jesus Vallejo, who managed to reach the quarter-finals based on good football and heart, despite being much cheaper than the Merengues team.
Albacete 3-2 Real Madrid: historic embarrassment for Florentino Perez and Alvaro Arbeloa
Portugal teammate Cristiano Ronaldo signs with club superstar hates
Jesus Vallejo’s side took the lead in the 42nd minute with a header from a corner kick by Javi Villar that found the back of the net.
Real Madrid, led by Alvaro Alveola, equalized after just five minutes thanks to Argentine Franco Mastantuono. The Argentine prodigy was able to score Real Madrid’s second goal after a save from Albacete’s goalkeeper left the ball dead in the area, allowing the Argentine to equalize.
In the second half, Real Madrid could not cope with the good play of the home team, and Albacete took the lead again in the 82nd minute with a goal from Jefte Betancor. Just when it looked like all was well for Real Madrid, youth player Gonzalo García seemed to score the equalizer in the 91st minute.
When everything was decided and both teams were to go to overtime, Jefte Betancor broke the deadlock with his second goal. The Albacete player left Andriy Lunin stranded and the ball drifted from corner to corner of the goal and into the angle. The referee marked the end with a late goal, and Jesus Vallejo secured a place with Albacete in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey.
The incredible difference in values between Albacete and Real Madrid
One need only compare the value of one gang to another to put into perspective the feat achieved by a second-division team against one of the greatest clubs of all time. Albacete of Spain’s Segunda Division has a team value of just $16.9 million, while Real Madrid’s team value is around $1.56 billion. This meant that Real Madrid fielded a team 90 times more expensive than their opponents, and despite the club having some of the most expensive players in the world, the white team could not beat Albacete, who played with heart.
