45'+3' Gooooal! Albacete 1, Real Madrid 1. Franco Mastantuono (Real Madrid) scored with a left-footed shot from close range into the center of the goal following a corneR.

42’ Gooal! Albacete 1, Real Madrid 0. Javi Villar (Albacete) headed the ball into the top right corner from the center of the box, following a corner cross from José Carlos Lazo.

The mentality of the new coach

In his first appearance before the media, Álvaro Arbeloa displayed a firm and optimistic attitude toward the challenge of managing the Merengue bench.

"We have an extraordinary squad and a group of players ready for any challenge, fully aware of what it means to defend this badge," said the Salamanca-born coach, downplaying the issue of fixture congestion.

Arbeloa also made it clear that his absolute priority is tonight’s match, aware that in the Copa del Rey there is no room for error: “I am extremely eager to make my debut. We are in a competition where everything is at stake in a single game, and right now my mind is focused solely on this match.”

Real Madrid is entering a critical period that will test the depth of their squad. With six matches scheduled across three different competitions before February 1, the white team has no margin for error. After the cup clash, the Santiago Bernabéu will host two key fixtures: Levante’s visit in LaLiga and the 2026 European debut against Monaco in the Champions League.