Spanish press reacts to Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey defeat: some call it historic, others label it a humiliation

Real Madrid is currently enduring one of the darkest chapters of the 2025-26 season. Within a single week, the "Merengue" giants have gone from competing for silverware to a total institutional crisis. After losing the Spanish Super Cup final to FC Barcelona in Jeddah, the team suffered a catastrophic and unexpected 3-2 elimination at the hands of Albacete in the Copa del Rey Round of 16.

This result, occurring on the night of Wednesday, January 14, is being labeled as one of the most humiliating nights in the club's modern history. For Álvaro Arbeloa, who was a finalist in this competition as a coach last season with the youth ranks, this debut as interim manager at the Carlos Belmonte stadium has turned into a nightmare. The Spanish press, both pro-Madrid and pro-Barça, has wasted no time in tearing into the team's performance.

In Spain, the two major sports dailies based in the capital are usually the first to demand accountability. Their headlines today reflect a fan base that is beyond frustrated.

One of the most influential outlets in Madrid, they used the headline "Disaster from the Start." This was a direct jab at Arbeloa’s first official game in charge. The editorial focused on how a team with the resources of Real Madrid could look so disorganized against a side from a lower division.

Known for its close ties to the club's inner circle, Marca was even more ruthless, calling the performance "Authentic Shame." They highlighted the "unacceptable" way the team lost, specifically pointing to the fact that the winning goal for Albacete came in the final seconds of stoppage time, catching a "clueless" defense off guard.

In Barcelona, the tone was a mix of celebrating the underdog and mocking the eternal rival’s downfall.

This outlet chose to focus on the heroic feat of the home side. They praised the "Albacete Miracle," ennobling the achievement of the club currently playing in the Liga Hypermotion (Spain's second division). For them, the story was about the small team's heart versus the giant's lack of soul.

Always the most aggressive toward the capital, Sport didn't hold back, describing the 3-2 loss as a "Frightening Ridicule." Their analysis suggested that the "Arbeloa effect" has already expired before it even truly began.

Perhaps no reaction was more anticipated than that of Tomás Roncero, the editor for AS and a legendary "super-fan" of Real Madrid. Roncero, visibly shaken, described the result as a "Total Embarrassment. An 'Irreal' Madrid." In his viral reaction video, Roncero was seen in a state of pure fury as Albacete's third goal hit the back of the net. He criticized the lack of intensity and questioned whether the "mixed lineup" strategy was a sign of arrogance that the club is now paying for dearly.

On the other side of the spectrum, the famous TV personality Cristóbal Soria took to social media to celebrate the debacle. Known for his "anti-Madridista" persona, Soria posted videos of himself laughing and mocking the club's misfortune. He even sent an ironic message to President Florentino Pérez, jokingly suggesting that the club should "sign him as manager instead of Arbeloa" because at least he wouldn't lose to a second-division team.

The fallout from January 14, 2026, will be felt for weeks. Real Madrid has been stripped of two titles in seven days, and the pressure on Arbeloa is now immense. As the team returns to Valdebebas to prepare for their La Liga match against Levante, the headlines from Marca, AS, and Sport will serve as a constant reminder that at the Santiago Bernabéu, there is no patience for failure—especially when it comes at the hands of an underdog.