Puertollano C.F. vs Albacete Prediction & Betting Tips (12 November)

Calvo Sotelo Puertollano and Albacete Balompié finally meet in the first round of the 2026-27 Copa del Rey at the Estadio Ciudad de Puertollano on Thursday 12 November 2026, after the tie was postponed twice. Originally scheduled for 28 October, the match was suspended by the RFEF along with the rest of the day's fixtures following the tragic train accident in Urda (Toledo), and its planned rearrangement did not survive the congested calendar either. The tie is a Castilla-La Mancha derby — the Segunda Federación "mineros" against Segunda División Albacete — with the winner advancing directly to the second round, and the game will be broadcast live on CMM, the regional channel of Castilla-La Mancha. Despite the long wait, excitement has only grown in Puertollano, with the club publicly expressing its disagreement with aspects of the rescheduling while confirming that a sell-out crowd is expected at the Ciudad de Puertollano.

Albacete arrive with the far stronger pedigree on paper, but their 2026-27 campaign under coach Alberto González has been a difficult one: they sit near the foot of LaLiga Hypermotion after a bruising run of results, including a heavy 5-0 defeat away to Real Valladolid in their most recent away league outing, a 1-3 home loss to SD Eibar, and a 2-0 defeat at Girona. Across that stretch the Queso Mecánico have conceded freely and failed to keep a clean sheet, scoring just a handful of goals while shipping two or more per game — form that gives the underdogs genuine hope of a cup shock. Puertollano, meanwhile, have been competitive in Segunda Federación and arrive only three points off the pace in their division, well organised and highly motivated to test themselves against professional opposition in front of their own fans.

The squad lists for 2026/27 underline the gulf in resources that makes this tie so intriguing. Albacete can call on an experienced Segunda División group led by goalkeeper Diego Mariño, summer signing and former Real Madrid centre-back Jesús Vallejo alongside Lluís López, Carlos Neva and Fran Gámez in defence, a midfield featuring Agus Medina, Antonio Pacheco, José Corpas and Víctor San Bartolomé, and an attack with Rober González, Mario Soberón, Víctor Valverde, Moroccan international Munir El Haddadi and Ghanaian striker Samuel Obeng, with veteran captain Higinio Marín providing leadership. Puertollano will rely on their settled Segunda Federación core, defensive discipline and the energy of the home crowd rather than star names, and they will hope Albacete's fragile confidence and poor run of league results travel with the visitors on the short trip across the region.

In terms of betting, European odds strongly favour the professional side: bookmakers price an Albacete win around 1.40-1.50, the draw near 4.20, and a Puertollano home win as high as 6.50, with over 2.5 goals available at roughly 1.75. Those numbers reflect the division gap more than current form, and Albacete's leaky defence has kept them winless for weeks. Our prediction, however, leans on the visitors' superior individual quality eventually telling over 90 minutes — especially if the likes of Munir, Soberón or Rober González find their rhythm against a brave but outmatched defence that can still nick a goal on the break or from a set piece. Prediction: Puertollano 1-3 Albacete — the cup dream survives the delays, but only just, in what should be an open, entertaining Copa del Rey night in Puertoll