Albacete v Real Madrid: Confirmed line-ups for Arbeloa’s debut
Real Madrid open the Alvaro Arbeloa era at Albacete this evening. Get all the team news here...
Real Madrid will look to banish the memory of a turbulent few days when they take on Albecete in the Copa del Rey tonight.
Madrid were beaten 3-2 by Barcelona in the final of the Spanish Super Cup on Sunday evening, a result that prompted the departure of Xabi Alonso as coach less than 24 hours later.
Alvaro Arbeloa is the new man in the hotseat, although the club were vague as to whether he is an interim or permanent successor to Alonso.
His first test comes tonight against Segunda Division opposition.
Albacete have not won any of their last four league games and sit in 17th place, just a point above the relegation zone.
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ALBACETE TEAM NEWS
Defender Jon García and forwards Higinio Marin and Antonio Puertas are out injured for Albacete. Former Madrid defender Jesus Vallejo joined the club on a free transfer last summer.
Ex-Ghana youth international Samuel Obeng has joined them from second-tier rivals Ceuta. The forward played for Wydad Casablanca at the 2025 Club World Cup.
Albacete: Lizoain; Aguado, Moreno, Neva, Dani; Javi Villar, Pacheco, Capi: Lazo, Melendez, Escriche.
REAL MADRID TEAM NEWS
Jude Bellingham was one of four senior Real Madrid players left out of Arbeloa’s first squad, alongside Aurélien Tchouaméni, Alvaro Carreras and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
The decision to leave out Bellingham and Co is surprising given the number of injury setbacks the club have suffered in recent weeks.
Madrid are currently without Kylian Mbappe, although he did make an appearance as a late substitute against Barcelona at the weekend, Rodrygo, Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ferland Mendy.
Real Madrid: Lunin; Jimenez, Asencio, Huijsen, Fran Garcia; Valverde, Cestero; Guler, Mastantuono, Vinicius; Garcia.
How to watch Albacete v Madrid: TV channel, live online stream
Kick-off on Wednesday is at 20:00 BST (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT), with live coverage in the UK on Premier Sports 2 and streaming available on a vast range of devices via the Premier Sports app.
A Premier Sports subscription costs £120 a year, £11.99 per month on a 12-month contract or £16.99 per month with 30 days’ cancellation notice required.
Albacete v Real Madrid stats
- Albacete reached the Copa del Rey semi-finals in 1994/95, losing 3-2 on aggregate to Valencia
- The first of their two wins over Atletico Madrid in the competition came in the quarter-finals that season, winning 2-1 on aggregate
- They won home and away against the same opponents as part of a 3-1 aggregate win in the last 32 in 2011/12, leading to current Atleti manager Diego Simeone taking over that December
- The Clockwork Cheese have lost six and won three of their 10 home league matches this season
- With 19 goals conceded across those matches, they have the worst home defensive record in the division
- With 20 titles, Madrid are the third-most successful team in Copa del Rey history behind Athletic Club (24) and Barcelona (32)
- They have lost the most finals (21), ahead of Athletic Club (16) and Barca (11)
- Madrid’s 3-2 win at Talavera in the last 32 meant they have won away to lower-league opponents in the competition in five successive seasons since losing after extra time at third-tier Alcoyano at this stage in 2020/21, beating fourth-tier teams on each occasion
- Behind Barcelona (22 and 2.2), Los Blancos have the second-most points (21) and points per game (2.1) away in this season’s Liga. They have won two and lost one of their matches on the road in the 2025/26 Champions League