BARCELONA: In the space of just four days, Real Madrid lost a final to bitter rivals Barcelona, sacked coach Xabi Alonso and were knocked out of the Copa del Rey by a second division team, leaving them hurtling into a crisis. New coach Alvaro Arbeloa will lead the team into battle on Saturday at the Santiago Bernabeu against Levante in La Liga, knowing that anything other than a victory would be a brutal blow to their hopes of deposing Barcelona from the domestic throne.

Real Madrid and coach Xabi Alonso will part ways, the Spanish La Liga soccer franchise announced Monday. Alvaro Arbeloa will replace Alonso.

Xabi Alonso splits from the club a day after their Super Cup loss to Barcelona, with Alvaro Arbeloa named in his place.