Arbeloa’s Debut: Real Madrid Pursues Copa del Rey Quarterfinals at Albacete
Real Madrid is set to face Albacete in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals on January 14, 2026. This match marks the debut of Álvaro Arbeloa as head coach following the departure of Xabi Alonso. The encounter will begin at 17:00 in Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile, and 15:00 in Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador.
Current Context of the Teams
Real Madrid is navigating a challenging season. The team recently lost the Supercopa de España final to Barcelona. Currently, they sit in second place in LaLiga, trailing four points behind their rivals. Despite the turmoil, Copa del Rey remains a critical objective for the club this season.
Albacete, on the other hand, is struggling in the lower region of the second division. In their latest match, they secured a goalless draw against Real Sociedad B. However, they achieved a significant upset in the earlier round of the Copa del Rey by eliminating Celta.
Match Details
- Date: January 14, 2026
- Time:
- 17:00 (ARG, URU, CHI)
- 15:00 (COL, PER, EC)
- Event: Copa del Rey Quarterfinals
- Teams: Real Madrid vs. Albacete
The presence of Emilio Butragueño, the director of Institutional Relations at Real Madrid, during Arbeloa’s presentation underscores the importance of this match. With a new manager at the helm, Real Madrid aims to focus on their performance in this knockout tournament.
