Madrid, Oct 28 (DPA) Spanish giants Real Madrid suffered one of the most humiliating results in their proud history, being thrashed 0-4 by third-division part-timers Alcorcon in the third round of the King’s Cup.

Manuel Pellegrini’s team, the most expensive side in history, could have lost by an even more scandalous margin Tuesday had it not been for several sharp saves from goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek, making a rare start.

Radio Marca described it as a ‘historic night of shame’ for Real.

Borja Perez, Alcorcon’s two-goal hero, called it ‘a wonderful night for us, really incredible.’

Real have not won the cup since 1993. Last season they were eliminated by third-division Irun – a result that lead to coach Bernd Schuster being sacked – and the same fate could await them again.

The second leg of the tie will be played on November 10 in Real’s Estadio Bernabeu. By then, the embattled Pellegrini might be out of a job unless results and performances improve quickly.

As usual in the early rounds of the cup, the Real side contained several reserves, with the likes of Kaka, Xabi Alonso and Iker Casillas being given a rest.

Alcorcon, an industrial suburb south of Madrid, surprised Real with their early aggression and speed, and Borja sent the tiny stadium wild in the 16th minute by making it 1-0.

Six minutes later, Real defender Alvaro Arbeloa – one of the club’s eight expensive summer signings – scored a clumsy own goal to make it 2-0.

Bejar Lopez then headed against the Real crossbar, and Ernesto Gomez made it 3-0 six minutes before half-time thanks to a schoolboy error from Real left-back Royston Drenthe.

Most people expected Real to hit back ferociously in the second half. But man-of-the-match Borja instead made it 4-0 in the 52nd minute, taking advantage of yet more sloppy white defending.

Veteran striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy came off the Real bench and almost scored what would have been an important away goal, but the Alcorcon defence managed to resist Real’s late pressure.