Madrid hit the skids

By Andy Hall

After a sensational start to the season, Real Madrid CF now find themselves immersed in a mini-crisis just as the campaign reaches a climax. Once on course for a treble, they have bowed out of two competitions in just over three weeks and face a battle royal to win the third - the Spanish league.

Cup calamity
Madrid's fall from grace began on 17 March when they went down 3-2 to Real Zaragoza in the Copa del Rey final. Madrid had been keen to lift the only trophy which has eluded them for the last eleven years, and that failure seems to have sent the team into a downward spiral.

European exit
Looking emotionally and physically spent, they let slip a two-goal lead to lose on away goals to AS Monaco FC in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. One player reportedly groaned afterwards: "That was the easiest passage to the semis we have had in years - and we blew it."

On the rocks
Matters deteriorated further on Sunday night when they were beaten 3-0 by CA Osasuna in the Primera División - their first home defeat in a year and one which allowed Valencia CF to sidle past them into top spot with six games remaining. Worryingly for Madrid, they must still play Club Atlético de Madrid, FC Barcelona and RC Deportivo La Coruña.

Body blow
To add insult to injury much of the damage has been inflicted by former Madrid players or on-loan stars - Savio Bortolini and Dani García at Zaragoza, Fernando Morientes at Monaco and Valdo at Osasuna. As a result, frustration has mounted at the Santiago Bernabéu, with cheers giving way to jeers in recent weeks.

Defensive frailties
Perhaps the mutinous elements in the crowd have a point, for while Madrid have breezed to success in the last few seasons, cracks are starting to show in their team. The brilliance of young goalkeeper Iker Casillas can no longer disguise the fact that the Merengues have serious problems in defence and an ageing squad.

Attacking values
Madrid have always been an attacking side and in favour of spectacle - defying the popular philosophy that all great teams are built from the back. They have neglected their rearguard in recent years, preferring instead to beef up the front line with the likes of Luís Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and David Beckham.

Mass exodus
Meanwhile, their defensive options have been reduced by the departures of Rafael Alkorta, Iván Campo and Aitor Karanka. Veteran captain Fernando Hierro was offloaded at the end of last term, when he was suddenly deemed too old. This season the team has conceded 42 goals in the league - almost twice the number of Valencia.

Squad rotation
Another bone of contention has been coach Carlos Queiroz's reluctance to rotate his squad. Like his predecessor Vicente del Bosque, the Portuguese has relied on his 'Golden XI' wherever possible, but this has limited the opportunities for some of Madrid's younger players.

Inexperience shows
That much was evident when Madrid travelled to Monaco with young defender Álvaro Mejía – talented but vastly inexperienced – at the heart of a crumbling defence and Borja Fernández struggling to fill the gap left by the suspended David Beckham.

Harsh reality
Sadly for the angry minority in the Madrid crowd, it may take a few more defeats before Queiroz's side recover. A disastrous spell has taught the club a painful lesson. Going forward, Madrid remain formidable, but without the defensive clout to match, more humble opponents are realising that even the so-called Galácticos have an achilles heel.