The new era, unexpectedly launched in the middle of the season, did not bring a major overhaul to the starting lineup. Of course, given the nature of the competition, the opponent, and the injury situation, it’s impossible to judge the coaches’ approach solely on today’s eleven. Real Madrid lined up, at least on paper, in a 4–3–3, with Cestero, Valverde and Arda in midfield, and Vini, Mastantuono and Gonzalo leading the attack.

We’d like to say it all looked different, but the opening stages delivered no tactical “wow” and no noticeable boost in intensity either. There simply wasn’t a change. Albacete played as well as they could, while Real offered nothing going forward. For long stretches, you could spend more time checking the weather forecast than analysing Los Blancos’ play, because there was so little to see.

For 42 minutes, the match had the colour of fog – and not only because of the conditions. The players ran, the ball moved, but there were no goals, no chances, and no emotions. Real managed four shots from distance, including one on target, but no one looked sharp in attack. Once again, nothing happened when it was time to actually create something.

Finally, in the 42nd minute, a corner kick led to Albacete taking the lead. Maybe it sparked something in Real, because they equalised fairly quickly – still before the break – and, fittingly, also from a corner. Arda delivered, Huijsen’s effort went straight at the goalkeeper, and Mastantuono finished the rebound from close range. At half-time it was 1–1, a scoreline that probably pleased Madridistas more than the performance did.

After the interval, Real pushed a bit harder and at times managed to pin the hosts inside their own box. It didn’t amount to much, though: every move ended either with an overhit cross or with Albacete hacking the ball clear from the chaos in the area. After a few minutes of pressure, the tempo dropped again, and – as is often the case with Los Blancos – between the 60th and 80th minute nothing happened.

Albacete took advantage and made it 2–1, with Gonzalo and Lunin both heavily involved. Real tried to respond, but their attempts felt like banging their heads against a wall. Maybe they could have tried a little earlier? Still, the pressure did pay off eventually, as Gonzalo made it 2–2. But moments later, after a baffling piece of goalkeeping from Lunin, Jefte decided the tie.

Real Madrid lost today to a second-division side fighting to stay up among the 42 best teams in Spain. Even that bar proved too high. It’s shameful on so many levels that words simply fail.

Albacete Balompié – Real Madrid 3–2 (1–1)
1–0 Javi Villar 42' (assist: Lazo)
1–1 Mastantuono 45+3'
2–1 Jefte 82'
2–2 Gonzalo 90+1' (assist: Arda Güler)
3–2 Jefte 90+4'

Albacete: Lizoain; Aguado, Moreno, Neva, Dani Bernabéu (84' Jogo); Meléndez, Pacheco (77' Pepe), Javi Villar, Capi (58' Riki); Lazo (58' Medina), Escriche (58' Jefte).

Real Madrid: Lunin; David Jiménez (77' Carvajal), Asencio, Huijsen (65' Alaba), Fran García (65' Camavinga); Cestero (86' Manuel Ángel), Valverde, Arda Güler; Mastantuono (77' Palacios), Vinícius, Gonzalo.