Real Madrid's Copa del Rey rotations confirmed as key star remains out
Real Madrid face a key midweek Copa del Rey semifinal battle with Real Sociedad.
www.sportingnews.comReal Madrid were knocked out of the Copa del Rey in January 2026, losing to Albacete in the Round of 16 and ending their cup campaign for the season. Since then, they have shifted focus to La Liga and the Champions League, with mixed results in domestic and European competitions.[4][6]
Key recent points:
- January 2026: Real Madrid failed to defend the Copa del Rey title, exiting at the Round of 16 after a 3-2 loss to Albacete, prompting scrutiny of the squad and coaching situation.[6]
- January 2025–May 2025 window: They previously captured the Copa del Rey in 2023, their 20th title, highlighting the club’s strong cup pedigree when in form.[3]
- Ongoing season context: Following the cup exit, the club has emphasized recovery in La Liga and maintaining form for the Champions League push, with managerial and squad decisions under close observer scrutiny.[7][6]
Illustration of the cup trajectory:
- Real Madrid Copa del Rey participation: champions in 2023; cup exit in 2026 to a lower-division side, underlining variable cup fortunes across seasons.[3][6]
- Impact on strategy: cup elimination often leads to adjusted squad rotation and increased focus on league and European commitments for the remainder of the season.[8]
If you’d like, I can pull the latest article summaries from reliable outlets and present a concise timeline with dates and match details. Would you like me to do that?[4][6]