Los Blancos slumped to defeat to Villarreal on Sunday night, surrendering more ground in the Spanish title race.
Rafael Benitez is under more pressure than ever as Real Madrid manager after his side slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Villarreal on Sunday night.
An early Roberto Soldado goal was enough to settle the game, but barely tells the story of a typical game of two halves.
The hosts flew out of the blocks and, by half-time, probably should have led the ten-time european champions by two or three goals.
But a revitalised Real Madrid dominated the second half and, if it weren’t for a raft of spurned chances - with Karim Benzema the worst offender - could have mounted a comeback.
"It’s difficult to explain,” said Benitez, trying to make sense of a defeat that leaves his side five points off Atletico and Barcelona, with the latter still boasting a game in hand."
"These are things that sometimes happen and it has happened to us."
"In the first half we’ve not been good. We’ve not done what we planned."
"In the second half we’ve lacked incisiveness."
"What’s important is to front up in games as we have done in the second half against Villarreal."
"I’m not happy at all with the first half, I’m happy with the reaction in the second, even though we’ve not had that incisiveness, despite creating all those chances."
"[Villarreal] did well, they pressured well and with speed in attack."
"Reacting too late has cost us three points today."