Albacete vs Real Madrid II

Julián López de Lerma's Castilla side, playing their first of six scheduled pre-season friendlies, started brightly. The reserve team pressed high and controlled possession from the opening quarter-hour. Midfielder Pol Fortuny, orchestrating much of the early play, won a penalty in the 19th minute after a driving run into the box. Rachad Fettal stepped up and converted from the spot to give Castilla a 19th-minute lead.

Albacete pushed forward in search of an equaliser but found a well-drilled Castilla defence difficult to penetrate. The visitors used their speed on the counter-attack to double the lead just before half-time. Gabri Valero led a swift break, and Rachad finished clinically to make it 2-0 at the interval.

Castilla managed the game well in the early stages of the second half until the 67th minute, when Mateo Garrido fouled Antonio David inside the area. S. Obeng converted the resulting penalty to halve the deficit and set up a nervy final 20 minutes.

Both sides made multiple substitutions in the closing stages — Albacete used 12 changes across the second half, Castilla introduced 11 fresh legs — but the Madrid reserve team held firm to secure the 2-1 win.

Rachad's second goal in first-half stoppage time was decisive. Had Albacete gone in at the break only 1-0 down, the momentum might have shifted. Instead, Castilla's quick counter-attacking strike — finished by the same player who opened the scoring — gave López de Lerma's side a two-goal cushion that proved just enough when Albacete pulled one back after the hour.

Rachad Fettal — The forward scored both Castilla goals (20' pen, 45') and was the clear match-winner. His movement and composure in the box stood out in a first half where Castilla dominated territorially.

Pol Fortuny — The midfielder won the penalty that opened the scoring and was the creative hub in the first half, dictating the tempo from central areas.

Gabri Valero — Instrumental in the second goal, leading the counter-attack that caught Albacete exposed just before half-time.

S. Obeng (Albacete) — Scored the home side's consolation from the penalty spot and was a physical presence up front in the second half.

Player of the Match: Rachad Fettal (Real Madrid Castilla)

The betmana match page records 12 substitutions for Albacete compared to none tracked for Castilla, but Real Madrid's official match report confirms both sides rotated heavily — Castilla used 11 substitutes of their own, all of whom appeared across the second half. The lopsided substitution count reflects only which changes were registered in the event feed, not a tactical imbalance. Both sides treated the fixture as a fitness run-out, with the result secondary to minutes in legs.

For Real Madrid Castilla, this was the first of six pre-season friendlies ahead of their Primera Federación (Group II) campaign, which opens away to Teruel. Their next pre-season fixture is away to RC Deportivo Fabril on Wednesday, 5 August 2026 at the Municipal de Cantarrana Kiko Rey (19:00 local).

For Albacete, who finished 12th in Segunda División last season with 59 points, this friendly was part of their own build-up to the 2026/27 second-tier campaign.

A controlled pre-season performance from Castilla, led by Rachad's first-half double, against a Segunda División opponent. The scoreline flattered Albacete slightly — the penalty they conceded in the 67th minute was the only clear chance of the second half they created. Castilla's high press and transition speed were the standout features. Plenty of minutes still needed before competitive football begins, but a solid opening workout for López de Lerma's squad.