Albacete 3-2 Real Madrid Player Ratings: Last-Gasp Drama Sees Albacete Triumph Over Los Blancos

Albacete and Real Madrid delivered a Copa del Rey classic at the Estadio Carlos Belmonte, producing a night of chaos, drama, and unforgettable late twists. Against all the odds, Albacete stunned a rotated yet dangerous Real Madrid side with a sensational 3–2 victory, showing immense belief and fight in front of a delirious home crowd.

The hosts struck first just before the interval when Javi Villar powered home a header, sparking wild celebrations and putting the underdogs ahead on the big stage. One of the best teams, Real Madrid, however, responded in typical fashion, refusing to go into the break behind as Franco Mastantuono bundled in an equaliser during stoppage time, keeping Los Blancos firmly in the contest.

The second half only turned up the madness.

The game exploded in the closing stages, with Jefté Betancor coming off the bench to restore Albacete’s lead, only for Gonzalo García to level the score in the 91st minute. Just when penalties seemed inevitable, Betancor struck again in the 94th minute, sealing a famous last-minute winner and writing his name into club folklore.

It was a night that perfectly captured the magic of the Copa del Rey. Let's take a closer look at the Real Madrid vs Albacete Player Ratings from this extraordinary clash.

Key Takeaways

• Copa del Rey magic on full display, as underdogs Albacete outlasted Real Madrid in a chaotic, drama-filled 3–2 thriller.

• Momentum swung relentlessly, with goals on either side of halftime keeping the tie alive until the very end.

• Jefté Betancor was the hero, scoring twice late on to seal a historic last-gasp victory.

Albacete Player Ratings vs Real Madrid

Here's a look at the Albacete Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Raúl Lizoain - 7.0: The captain made some crucial saves, four in total, including a big one from a Dean Huijsen header. He commanded his area well, coming for high claims and punching clear when needed. He couldn't do much about either of the goals he conceded, which were close-range efforts. A reliable performance between the sticks that gave his defence confidence.

Defenders

Lorenzo Aguado - 6.5: A busy evening for the defender. He was solid for the most part, making four interceptions and winning a decent number of his duels. However, he was part of a defence that looked a little stretched at times, especially against the trickery of Vinicius Junior. A committed, if slightly flawed, performance.

Javi Moreno - 7.0: A rock at the back for Albacete. What stood out to us was his dominance in the air, winning three of his four aerial duels. He made an incredible nine clearances, constantly repelling Madrid's attacks. He was aggressive, physical, and a real leader in that backline.

Javi Villar - 8.0: Scored a fantastic opening goal with a thumping header, showing great desire to get on the end of the cross. Beyond his goal, he was defensively immense, making four clearances and a crucial tackle. He seemed to be everywhere, blocking shots and starting attacks. An all-action display.

Carlos Neva - 6.5: A steady performance on the defensive flank. He was responsible, making seven clearances and keeping his side of the pitch relatively secure. He even managed to create a chance going forward. Wasn't flashy, but did the simple things effectively throughout his 90 minutes.

Daniel Bernabéu Garcia - 7.0: Had a very strong 74 minutes before being substituted. He was a ball-winning machine, recovering possession five times and winning six of his seven duels. He was tenacious in the tackle and read the game exceptionally well. His energy was a key factor in disrupting Madrid's rhythm.

Midfielders

Antonio Pacheco - 7.0: Looked very composed in the midfield before his substitution. His passing was neat, and he was surprisingly strong in the challenge, winning all of his ground duels. He provided a calm presence in a chaotic midfield battle. A really solid, professional job.

Ale Meléndez - 7.5: We noticed him everywhere on the pitch. An absolute workhorse in the engine room, he made four interceptions, two tackles, and still had the energy to create two chances for his forwards. He was the link between defence and attack, and his tireless running set the tone for the whole team.

Capi - 6.5: Put in a real shift for his 58 minutes on the pitch. He recovered the ball five times, showing great defensive awareness. However, he was dribbled past on three occasions, which shows the difficulty he had against Madrid's skillful midfielders. A battling performance nonetheless.

Forwards

José Carlos Lazo - 7.5: A constant menace before being taken off. He provided a pin-point assist for the opening goal, a beautiful cross right onto Villar's head. His movement and directness caused problems for the Madrid defence, and his shot on target kept Lunin on his toes. A very effective display.

Dani Escriche - 6.0: It was a frustrating night for the forward. What stood out was his work rate, but he struggled to make an impact, losing possession ten times and winning only three of his twelve duels. He was caught offside twice, a sign of his eagerness getting the better of him. He battled hard but lacked the final product.

Substitutes

Jefté Betancor - 9.0: The undisputed man of the match. To come off the bench and score two goals, including a 94th-minute winner against Real Madrid, is the stuff of dreams. His first was a superb strike, and the second was pure predatory instinct. Changed the game completely. Highest rated player on the pitch.

Agus Medina - 6.5: Came on and added fresh legs and stability to the midfield as Madrid pushed for a winner.

Riki Rodríguez - 7.0: Made a real impact, forcing a good save from Lunin with a shot from distance and bringing energy to the middle.

Jonathan Gómez - N/A: Didn't have enough time to make a significant impact.

Pepe Sánchez - N/A: Brought on late to help see out the game.

Manager

A. González Fernández - 8.5: He got his tactics spot on. His team played with immense courage and belief. His substitutions were a masterstroke, particularly the introduction of the game-winner, Jefté Betancor. A famous night for the Albacete boss who outwitted his more famous opponents.

Real Madrid Player Ratings vs Albacete

Let's take a deeper look at the Real Madrid Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Andriy Lunin - 5.5: A difficult night for Andriy Lunin. Conceding three goals from five shots on target is never a good look. He made a couple of saves but looked indecisive at times, particularly on the crosses that led to the goals. From our perspective, he didn't inspire much confidence.

Defenders

Raúl Asencio - 6.0: Raúl Asencio was tidy in possession with a 90% pass accuracy, but that's not the main job of a defender. He was part of a backline that conceded three goals and looked vulnerable throughout. The late yellow card for a clumsy foul summed up a frustrating evening for him.

Fran García - 6.5: A decent outing for Fran García before being substituted. He was solid defensively, winning all his tackles, and tried to get forward, creating one chance. He wasn't a liability, but he didn't provide the spark Madrid needed from the fullback position either.

Dean Huijsen - 6.0: A very mixed 65 minutes from Dean Huijsen. His passing was excellent, but he looked rash, committing a couple of fouls and picking up a deserved yellow card. He was a threat on set pieces but looked defensively suspect before being withdrawn.

David Jiménez - 5.0: A really tough game for the young defender. He struggled to cope with Albacete's attacks down his flank and was dribbled past too easily. He offered little going forward and was eventually substituted. A performance to forget.

Midfielders

Federico Valverde - 7.0: The captain, Federico Valverde, tried his best to drag his team through the match. He was everywhere, with incredible passing accuracy and a constant desire to shoot from distance. He played with passion and intensity but was let down by the defensive frailties around him.

Arda Güler - 7.0: A brilliantly frustrating performance from Arda Güler. On one hand, he was Madrid's chief creator, providing five key passes and the assist for the late equalizer. On the other, he lost possession an astonishing 26 times. It was a high-risk, high-reward display that ultimately ended in disappointment.

Jorge Cestero Sancho - 6.0: A quiet game in the heart of midfield. He made some important blocks, but an error leading to a shot put his team under pressure. He was tidy but lacked the dynamism to really take control of the midfield battle against a fired-up Albacete side.

Forwards

Vinicius Junior - 6.5: It was the full Vinicius Junior experience. Dazzling dribbles one moment, losing the ball cheaply the next. He lost possession 23 times and was caught offside twice, which killed his team's momentum. He was a constant threat but lacked the clinical edge to make a decisive impact.

Gonzalo García - 7.5: One of the few bright sparks for Madrid. Gonzalo García took his late goal brilliantly with a well-placed header and was a consistent threat. He worked hard and was one of the few players who looked truly dangerous. A very promising performance despite the result.

Franco Mastantuono - 6.5: The youngster Franco Mastantuono got his goal, a poacher's finish from a corner. However, outside of that moment, he struggled. He lost the ball 17 times and made an error that led to a shot. The goal bumps up his rating, but it was a difficult learning experience for him.

Substitutes

David Alaba - 6.0: Brought on to add experience, but couldn't prevent the late defensive collapse.

Eduardo Camavinga - 6.5: Added some energy and bite to the midfield but wasn't able to turn the tide.

Dani Carvajal - 6.0: A surprising quiet cameo from the veteran, who couldn't lock down the right side.

César Palacios - N/A: Not enough time to make an impact.

Manuel Ángel - N/A: Brought on for the final few minutes.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's player of the match goes to Albacete's substitute Jefté Betancor.

Worst Performer

Real Madrid's David Jiménez was the worst performer in the Albacete vs Real Madrid Copa Del Rey match.