Audio By Carbonatix
European giants Real Madrid were handed a humiliating Copa del Rey last-32 defeat by third division outfit Alcoyano - who were down to 10 men.
Zinedine Zidane's side took the lead through defender Eder Militao but Jose Solbes took the tie to extra time.
Alcoyano - who play in Segunda Division B - had Ramon Lopez sent off for a second booking but earned a famous win when Juanan stole in at the near post.
"I take responsibility and whatever has to happen will happen," Zidane said.
Club legend Zidane has won three Champions League titles as a manager but is under pressure, with his side four points behind La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid - who have two games in hand.
Real are 19-time winners of the Copa del Rey, but have not lifted it for seven years and have only won it twice since 1993.
Incredibly, this is the fifth time a team from the third tier has eliminated them since 2001.
Real were without captain Sergio Ramos - who is out of contract this summer and could leave the club after 16 years - as Zidane made nine changes from the team who lost to Athletic Bilbao in the Super Cup.
But the team that finished against Alcoyano still contained Karim Benzema, Eden Hazard, Marcelo, Casemiro and Toni Kroos.
The humiliating defeat saw Spanish media call Zidane's future into question, with Tomas Roncero, editor-in-chief of newspaper AS, delivering a damning assessment.
"Madrid writes one of the most embarrassing pages in its history," he said.
"Let 2021 end now. This is a nightmare. Zidane's flower has withered forever."
Marca simply said: "If he is saved from this, it is a miracle."
The France legend himself was more pragmatic. Only six months ago, he won the title at the end of the first full season of his second spell as boss.
"The players have left everything on the field. We have had chances and when you don't put it in, what happened to us can happen," he said.
"I assume responsibility and we will continue working. We will not go crazy.
"I think the players are with me but you have to ask them, we have done good things in the season. We have to concentrate on that things can be done."
Latest Stories
-
IPGs confirm payment of legacy power debts, commend government for clearing arrears
13 minutes -
WPL 2025/26: Army Ladies end first round in first position in Southern Zone
16 minutes -
GoldBod reduces Ghana’s debt service burden and import costs – Report
31 minutes -
We have prevented labour crises and upskilled workers for green jobs – Labour Minister
33 minutes -
Ethiopia launches construction of largest airport in Africa
45 minutes -
Commercial banks begin Interest rate cuts following Ghana Reference Rate reduction
47 minutes -
Sogakope gets major tourism and transport boost with opening of Royal Shekinah City
53 minutes -
One killed, 37 injured in Suhum–Mankrong highway crash
1 hour -
Five best young players at AFCON 2025
1 hour -
The creatives we need: Disruptors and revolutionaries
1 hour -
GoldBod formalisation yields $3.8bn in FX, far outweighs BoG losses – Report
1 hour -
Bank of Ghana relieved of gold trading burden by GoldBod
1 hour -
Agricultural Value Chains and Export Competitiveness: Transforming Ghana Beyond Cocoa
2 hours -
First Atlantic Bank secures regulatory approval to operate in Liberia
2 hours -
Today’s Front pages: Monday, January 12, 2026
2 hours
