Real Madrid crash out of Copa del Rey to second tier strugglers in first match after Xabi Alonso’s sacking – as Alvaro Arbeloa endures nightmare debut within the dugout

Real Madrid began life without Xabi Alonso by crashing out of the Copa del Rey to second tier strugglers Albacete as Alvaro Arbeloa endured a nightmare first match in charge.

Alonso was sacked as Madrid boss on Monday after just a matter of months at the helm on the back of his side’s 3-2 defeat by arch rivals Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday night.

Former Madrid and Liverpool defender Arbeloa was immediately appointed as the Spaniard’s replacement, but his reign got off to the worst possible start on Wednesday.

In a game that saw Arbeloa, who was working as head coach of Madrid’s B team, rotate his side, but heavy hitters including the likes of Vinicius Jnr, Federico Valverde and Dean Huijsen were all involved from the off.

The first goal of the game came in the 42nd minute when defender Javi Villar gave the home side the lead, but Franco Mastantuono equalised for Madrid just before the half-time break.

Jefte Bentancor thought he has caused an upset in the 82nd minute when he put the underdogs ahead again, only for in-from forward Gonzalo Garcia to break home team hearts and equalise.

In the fourth minute of stoppage time, however, Jefte scored again to send the home players, staff and fans into raptures and leave Arbeloa with a first game in charge to forget.

The result came a day after Madrid and England star Jude Bellingham was forced to turn to social media to hit back at suggestions he fell out with Alonso with an X-rated rant.

Bellingham posted on his own JB5 social media site: ‘Until now l’ve let far too many of these slide, always hoping the truth will come to light in its own time,’ Bellingham began, posting on his own app. ‘But honestly… What a load of s***.

‘Truly feel sorry for the people that hang onto the every word of these clowns and their “sources”. Do not believe everything you read, every now and then these lot need to be held accountable for spreading this kind of damaging misinformation for clicks and added controversy.’

The likes of star forward Kylian Mbappe have also faced criticism for seemingly defying Alonso, with the France captain defying his boss’ orders to form a guard of honour for Barcelona after the Super Cup final.