LA LIGA RACE:HOW REAL MADRID BOTTLED IT

After Barcelona dispatched Levante with minimal fuss on Sunday,a familiar feeling will engulf Real Madrid fans all over the world,they are once again trailing Barcelona in the race for the la Liga crown.13 games in,they are 11points off the pace.This begs the question,what has gone so wrong for Los Blanchos?
If you take a cursory look at last season's table after 13 games,you will see Real Madrid had 35points,now they gave 26 points.Barcelona had 29 points,now they have 37 points.Quite simply,that is a whooping 18 point swing.

THE GAMES WHERE THEY DROPPED POINTS:

Real 1- 1 Valencia
Getafe 1-2 Real
Sevilla 1-0 Real
Bêtis 1-0 Real

In all the games above,Real Madrid showed an uncharacteristic lack of invention & urgency.They failed to take the game to their opponents.Sometimes they refuse to build on an early goal only to concede a late equalizer or winner other times,they concede an early goal & fail to get back into the game.
They have not been helped by injuries to key players & the notable drop in performance of Mesut Ozil & to a lesser extent Xabi Alonso.Even the two strikers Higuain & Benzema have consistently blown hot & cold.
Some quarters of the press even questioned the players' motivation after last season's success.
Now the question is:can they still defend their title? Personally,I think they can't.They need Barcelona to lose four times & then go on to win all their remaining games! Even for a team this talented that is a dream too tall.