Albacete goalkeeper Raul Lizoain has insisted his side must go beyond their limits to compete with Real Madrid as excitement builds ahead of their Copa del Rey round of 16 clash.
As the Copa del Rey continues to serve up nights where belief collides with pedigree, Albacete are bracing themselves for one of the biggest tests in their recent history.
Speaking to Mundo Deportivo in the build-up to the heavyweight clash, Lizoain reflected on the magnitude of hosting the Spanish giants and the buzz surrounding the fixture.
According to the shot-stopper, the occasion has lifted the entire city, with fans and players alike counting down to a rare footballing spectacle.
“There’s a lot of excitement, enthusiasm, and buzz throughout the city,” he said.
“It’s been a long time since a team of Real Madrid’s stature has come to the city, and everyone is looking forward to the match.”
From there, attention quickly shifted to the draw itself.
Reaching this stage of the competition always comes with expectations, and Lizoain admitted the squad knew a daunting opponent was inevitable once qualification was secured.
“No, we knew that it would most likely be a Super Cup team and everyone had their own preference.”
On the pitch, however, reputation alone will not decide the outcome. Lizoain anticipates a battle shaped by intensity, discipline and belief, stressing that Albacete will not be overawed by the occasion.
With a packed stadium and vocal supporters, the goalkeeper believes his side can rise to the challenge and make it a contest.
“Well, a tough, hard-fought match for both sides.
“We know Real Madrid’s potential, but we’ll have our chances and we’ll fight.
“We’ll do everything we can, with a full stadium and our fans behind us, which will give us an extra boost, as it did against Celta. I think it will be a great game.”
Still, when it comes to beating Real Madrid, Lizoain was refreshingly honest. According to him, matching the visitors at normal levels simply will not suffice. Albacete, he insists, must push far beyond their limits to even the scales.
“You have to be at 200%. It’s not enough to be at 90%. You have to be well above your capabilities to be able to compete against a rival like Madrid.
“And then there’s the support of our fans, of course.”
In a lighter exchange, the goalkeeper was asked which Madrid player he would prefer to remove from the equation.
His response blended humour with realism, before highlighting the obvious danger men.
“I’d remove them all (laughs). It depends on the starting eleven, but [Kylian] Mbappe and Vinicius [Jr.] are the most decisive.”
As talk turned to the possibility of a famous upset, Lizoain resisted the temptation to make bold promises. Instead, he focused on the importance of the occasion and the desire to give the supporters a night to remember.
“I’m not one for promises because in football things happen, and then you have to fulfill them.
“Above all, I would be very happy to give the city a good show. I’d have to think about it, but I promise you that if we qualify, we’ll talk again and I’ll do something.”
With belief building and expectations grounded in realism, Queso Mecanico head into their Copa del Rey date knowing that only an extraordinary performance will keep the dream alive.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
