(Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images)
One particular moment in the eventful game in the Bernabeu summarized los galacticos' current woes: with Real Madrid trailing 1-2 against AC Milan, an unfortunate Granero was replaced by the unspectacular Drenthe.
Out of a squad valued in half a billion dollars, Manuel Pellegrini correctly sent into the pitch the only player able to inject his teammates some shame and fighting spirit (Higuain's injury prevented adding another one). By then, Raul Gonzalez and his 32 years of age were the only foundation on which to build a comeback .
The legendary number seven, way past his best, had earlier capitalized on Dida's mistake to score a goal out of pure optimism. Raul saw a goal opportunity when everyone else saw a goal kick and added to the AC Milan goalie's long list of youtube-worthy embarrassments.
Raul's hunger wasn't contagious though. Karim Benzema delivered another uninterested performance and Kaka struggled to find his place on the field. The seven or eight other Madrid players were as anonymous.
With that little, los merengues seemed to cruise into another victory. AC Milan has problems of its own and its coach, Leonardo, didn't help by choosing an open approach that gave Real Madrid plenty of space when it's obvious how much they struggle without it.
Zambrotta showed his limitations by fouling Benzema inside the area in the bluntest penalty ever ignored. Ronaldinho's first half was a perfect picture of what he has become: a shadow with Playstation moves. Pato is clearly the team's present and future but he is desperately alone.
A low margin defeat didn't seem to bother the visitors, but Real Madrid (particularly Iker Casillas) resurrected AC Milan in a matter of minutes. Pirlo caught the Real Madrid's goalie sleeping with a 30 yard cracker and Pato scored minutes after, following a horrendous charge by Casillas.
The remaining thirty minutes showed the world Real Madrid's limitations. Without Cristiano Ronaldo's runs, free kicks or headers, they are left to hope for someone else to provide inspiration. Improvisation as a tactic is sometimes painful to watch.
Drenthe tied the game when AC Milan was struggling to come to terms with an improbable victory. Once the Italian team decided to pursue it, Casillas provided those miraculous saves he has us accustomed to. Pato scored the winner at a point when Real Madrid's inertia had brought back into the game two players missing in action before: Seedorf and Ronaldinho.
The loss for Real Madrid is not terminal. Although qualification for the next round shouldn't be in danger, the defeat reveals some serious cracks. When measuring against serious opposition (Sevilla, AC Milan), the team hasn't showed spirit and ideas once adversity hits.
Pellegrini's remarks following the game ("we didn't play bad") cannot help either. Getting to November, it is time to find the team and recognize that a few things aren't clicking.
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