Real Madrid vs. Malaga: 10 Moments That Drove Madridistas to Drink

Real Madrid had the three points in the bag. Up 1-0, thanks to a first-half header from Karim Benzema, with just a couple minutes of added time to play. You would have bet the farm on Los Merengues finishing things out.

But Malaga had other ideas. A needless foul just outside the area gave Santi Cazorla all the chance he needed. One brilliant free kick later, and Jose Mourinho's men found themselves wondering where their other two points went.

Those are the things you'll see in the highlights. But we're going deeper. These are the 10 moments when an inch this way or an inch that way could have seen Real Madrid keep their double-digit lead at the top of the La Liga table.

Cristiano Ronaldo's First Chance

Cristiano Ronaldo would provide the assist on Karim Benzema's goal, but he had a chance early that went wasted.

In the sixth minute, Mesut Ozil lofted a ball through the middle of the Malaga defense. Ronaldo ran on to it and found himself free at point-blank range. Malaga keeper Wilfredo Caballero rushed out, Ronaldo looked to pop a little ball over him, Caballero got a hand to it for the save.

Chance gone, but optimism was running high.

Kaka Loses Sight of the Best Player on the Park

Every time a pass could put a player free on goal for Real Madrid, it seemed that Kaka was the one playing it. Except this one time.

Kaka received the ball on a counter in the 19th minute. He pushed at the retreating Malaga defenders. Ronaldo went screaming down the left side in acres of space. The pass was on. La Liga's leading scorer would have been free.

Kaka didn't see him. Instead, the Brazilian took a couple more touches and tried to thread a ball through to a much less open Karim Benzema down the right. It didn't connect, and you could taste Ronaldo's frustration.

The First Penalty Shout

Nearing the half-hour mark, Real Madrid looked very threatening when Ronaldo received the ball at the top of the box.

The Portuguese man exploded between two Malaga players as he crossed into the area. He pushed the ball through the opening and was a step from freedom when Malaga midfielder Nacho Camacho brought him down.

The crowd roared, Ronaldo looked up expectantly and nothing happened. The referee could not have been closer to the play and wasn't interested.

Karim Benzema Takes Forever on the Ball

Real Madrid's goalscorer, Karim Benzema, had a raft of chances against Malaga. He converted one, but this is the first one he left on the table.

Just after halftime, Kaka split the Malaga defense with a dagger pass through the middle. Benzema met it with yards separating him from the last defender.

Benzema considered shooting, considered the square ball to an open Ronaldo and then took a few more touches. All the consideration gave Malaga defender Welington Robson time to recover and get in a saving tackle.

If they hadn't already started, this incident sent Madrid fans reaching for their sangria.

Cristiano Ronaldo Spurns Another Kaka Gift

If you're starting to get used to the idea of Kaka playing through the Malaga back-line seemingly at will, then you've got a pretty good idea of how things went on the night.

As the second half-hour concluded, Kaka drove at the central defenders before sending a ball through toward the left side, where Cristiano Ronaldo was steaming in free as a bird.

Ronaldo curled his body around the ball and sent it bending for the far corner. Caballero got down quickly and got just enough of a hand on the shot to send it careening off target.

Kaka Substitution

Kaka played a brilliant game against Malaga. If Madrid created a chance through the first 67 minutes, odds are, it came through the Brazilian.

So when his number went up in red on the fourth official's board, everyone in the stadium was surprised. José Maria Callejón would trot onto the field and play pretty well, but the swap must have left supporters wondering just what Jose Mourinho was thinking.

Callejon Almost Makes Mourinho Look a Genius

Two minutes after coming on, Jose Callejon almost made his boss look like a genius... almost.

Ronaldo burst down the left side to create just enough space to get a cross in to the far post. Callejon attacked the header, but saw it deflect just wide of goal.

No goal, and even more ominous for Madrid's evening, not even a corner as the referee signaled for a goal kick.

Karim Benzema with Too Much Space in Front of Goal

In the 70th minute, Mesut Ozil did magic tricks to weave through a handful of Malaga players at the top of the area and get free down the left side.

The German pulled a wonderful ball back to Benzema, who was standing completely unmarked in the center of goal.

Malaga's defenders could only watch as Benzema bailed them out by putting his shot into the Bernabeu stands. Having already scored one and wasted one, Benzema would have kicked himself, and Madrid fans would have gladly volunteered to kick him at missing out on the hypothetical hat trick.

The Second Penalty Shout

The end was quickly approaching when Real Madrid left-back Marcelo Vieira da Silva pushed forward into the attack.

Ronaldo played a ball to his feet as he crossed into the Malaga area. Marcelo's first touch dropped the ball into his path, but he never got a second as Camacho brought him down.

The shout went up, Mourinho went apoplectic, but no whistle sounded. Replays showed the Malaga defender got no touch on the ball, but the justice of their cause will do little to soothe the Madrid faithful following the dropped points.

Santi Cazorla Makes Madrid Pay

Into added time, and a wasteful Madrid side are still holding their 1-0 lead.

As Malaga's Santi Cazorla was working away from goal with the ball at his feet, he was bowled over by substitute Esteban Granero. The needless foul would prove costly.

Cazorla capped his wonderful game with a sparkling free kick to steal the two points from Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid.

If you want to see it, click on the video. Madridistas, I would suggest you skip the video and have another drink.