KATHMANDU: Real Madrid have been shockingly knocked out of the Copa del Rey in the Round of 16, as second-division side Albacete defeated them 3-2 with a dramatic injury-time winner from Jefté Betancor on Wednesday.

At Estadio Carlos Belmonte, Real twice managed to equalize but could not avoid defeat.

The match marked the first game under new coach Álvaro Arbeloa, who replaced Xabi Alonso earlier this week.

Albacete took the lead in the 42nd minute when Javi Villar scored from a header off a José Carlos Lazo corner. Real Madrid responded in injury time of the first half through Franco Mastantuono.

In the 82nd minute, Betancor capitalized on another set-piece to put Albacete ahead again, but Gonzalo García equalized for Real in the first minute of injury time with a header to make it 2-2.

However, the drama wasn’t over. Just three minutes later, Betancor scored on the rebound after Dani Carvajal’s initial save, sealing a historic victory for the 17th-placed Segunda División side.

Albacete’s stunning triumph over one of Spain’s giants marks a remarkable achievement in the Copa del Rey.