Vinicius The Brazilian starts the duel at Estádio Carlos Belmonte, at Albacete, Espanha, at 5pm (Brasília time). The match marks the debut of Álvaro Arbeloa as interim coach of the merengue club after the recent departure of Xabi Alonso.
Real Madrid opts for a mixed formation, but keeps the striker as the central piece in the attack. Vinicius Junior returns to the starting lineup after important participation in previous games and seeks to contribute with speed and dribbling to overcome the opposing defense. Albacete, from Segunda Divisão, enters motivated by their campaign in the competition and bets on the home advantage to try to eliminate the Spanish giant.
Real Madrid confirmed lineup
Real Madrid plays in 4-3-3 with Andriy Lunin in goal. The defense has David Jiménez on the right flank, Raúl Asencio and Dean Huijsen in defense, in addition to Fran García on the left.
In midfield, Federico Valverde takes on the captain’s armband, accompanied by Jorge Cestero and Arda Güler. The attack has Franco Mastantuono on the right, Gonzalo García as a center forward and Vinicius Junior on the left wing, where the Brazilian must act with freedom to create plays.
Vinicius Junior as a highlight
Vinicius Junior is Real Madrid’s main offensive reference in this match. The new coach Álvaro Arbeloa highlighted the importance of the player, emphasizing that he wants to see him acting with boldness and characteristic speed.
The Brazilian striker appears as an untouchable piece in the current squad, especially with the absence of other attacking names. Sua presence raises the team’s level in search of a place in the quarter-finals.
Albacete confirmed lineup
Albacete enters with a 4-4-2 formation, led by goalkeeper Raúl Lizoain. The defensive line includes Lorenzo Aguado, Javi Moreno, Carlos Neva and Diego Bernabeu.
In the middle, Aleix Meléndez, Álex Pacheco, Javi Villar and Capi make up the sector. The attack has Jaime Villar and Dani Escriche as options to explore counterattacks. Coach Alberto González Fernández maintains the basis that advanced in the competition.
Main absences from Real Madrid
Real Madrid faces several absences for the duel. Jogadores like Kylian Mbappé, Rodrygo, Thibaut Courtois, Jude Bellingham, Éder Militão, Antonio Rüdiger and
The club prioritizes rotation in the squad, but keeps Vinicius Junior as a starter to guarantee quality in the offensive sector. The debut of Arbeloa brings expectations for a strong collective performance.
Where to watch live
The live broadcast on Brasil takes place exclusively on Disney+, a streaming service with rights from Copa from Rey. Fans need an active subscription to follow.
ge.globo offers real-time coverage with bid updates, statistics and comments. The local time in Albacete is 9pm (Espanha time).
Stadium and referee details
The Estádio Carlos Belmonte, with capacity for around 17 thousand people, will host the confrontation. Referee Victor Garcia Verdura referees the match, with an average number of cards that indicates a physical but controlled game.
Albacete has a history of good performance at home in knockouts. Real Madrid seeks to impose technical superiority even with an alternative team.
Expectations of the confrontation
Vinicius Junior should be the focus of Real Madrid’s offensive actions. Sua imbalance ability can decide the game quickly.
Albacete tries to surprise with defensive organization and speed in counterattacks. The single match increases the tension for both sides.
Decisive factors
The speed of Vinicius Junior on the wings can explore spaces in the opponent’s defense. The Whites’ possession of the ball should prevail throughout the minutes.
Albacete’s defensive solidity will be tested. Lunin’s performance in goal also influences the final result.
