Albacete vs Real Madrid Prediction & Betting Tips (14 January)

Straight from the Spanish 2nd division, Albacete had the audacity to take out Celta Vigo in the 1/16th final at the end of the penalty shootout. After that, the Manchegos were never able to win a single game in the league, even conceding defeat at home to receive Leganes 1-3. Facing Granada on the road 1-1 and last weekend on the pitch of Real Sociedad B 0-0, Albacete could not do better than two points sharing. In the rankings, in Liga Hypermotion, the local team occupies 17th place, feeling the hot breath of the red zone. On the other side of the median, will move a very unfortunate Real Madrid, again beaten in the final of the Spanish Super Cup by Barça, defeated 3-2, for the 2nd successive year. Last year, in this Copa del Rey, the Madrilenians had already been beaten by FC Barcelona in the final 3-2 after.

It's starting to be a lot of lost finals for the White House, which before this, had only lost 5 of their 32 finals played. In the championship, the men of Arbeloa, new coach following the dismissal of X.Alonso, occupy 2nd place, again and again taking second place by Barça, untenable for a year and a half. In the previous round, Real Madrid had to deploy to beat Talareva 2-3, notably through a double from Kylian Mbappé.

At Albacete, the very experienced H.Marin (9 goals, 2 assists in the league last season) no longer plays due to a suspension initially, and now an injury. Replacement defender Jon Garcia Herrero will also be on the flank and absent like Antonio Puertas (6 goals, 2 assists in the league this season). For the rest, the group will be identical to the one summoned in the championship, with Jefte Betancor (4 goals), Agus Medina (6 goals), the corridor player V.Valverde (passed by the Villarreal reserves) and former Real Madrid, J.Vallejo.

It was his last big test, and Xabi Alonso unfortunately did not overcome it, the Spanish Super Cup being lost, for the 2nd successive year, the leaders Madrid have decided to put the Spanish legend out of work. His successor is none other than a former club player: Arbeloa. What will happen to Kylian Mbappé, announced injured for three weeks at the start of the month but well on his feet to play 20 minutes in the Super Cup final last Sunday, a priori, he remains uncertain, at least until the clash with Monaco in the Champions League in six days. Brazilian central defender E.Militao will be missing (injured), as will Ferland Mendy and Alexander-Arnold. 

• Summary: Albacete Balompié is going head to head with Real Madrid starting on 14 Jan 2026 at 20:00 UTC . The match is a part of the Copa del Rey .