Arbeloa Leads Real Madrid for First Time in Copa del Rey

14 January 2026at12:20

Álvaro Arbeloa will lead Real Madrid for the first time as head coach tonight, January 14, 2026, in the Copa del Rey Round of 16. Real Madrid will face Albacete at the Carlos Belmonte Stadium in Albacete. This appointment follows the dismissal of former coach Xabi Alonso.

Arbeloa's squad for this away match includes several prominent players such as Vinicius Jr. and Fede Valverde, in addition to five youth players: Juan Martínez, David Jiménez, Manuel Ángel, Palacios, and Sestelo.

The coaching staff opted to rest several key players for this encounter, including Aurélien Tchouaméni, Álvaro Carreras, Jude Bellingham, and Thibaut Courtois. The team will also be without Rodrygo Goes, Antonio Rüdiger, Éder Militão, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Ferland Mendy due to injury. Kylian Mbappé is also unavailable for the match.

Arbeloa's first appearance at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium is scheduled for next Saturday, which coincides with his birthday.

Q&A

Why are several key Real Madrid players unavailable for Álvaro Arbeloa's coaching debut?

Key Real Madrid players like Jude Bellingham are rested for Arbeloa's debut, while Rodrygo Goes, Kylian Mbappé, and others are unavailable due to various injuries.

What led to Álvaro Arbeloa taking charge of Real Madrid for the Copa del Rey match?

Álvaro Arbeloa steps in as Real Madrid's head coach for the Copa del Rey after the dismissal of former coach Xabi Alonso, marking his first senior team match.