Real Madrid: Los Blancos Remain Elite Contenders Despite Slow Start in Spain

Real Madrid may not be sitting atop the La Liga standings, but it's impossible to write them off as the middle-of-the-road team they've appeared to be at times.

Given their shaky start, Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid were under heavy scrutiny to start off the season. Some people were insinuating that it was time to hit the panic button, but it's important to look at things in perspective.

A draw against Racing Santandar raises a red flag, but it certainly doesn't point to the demise of Real Madrid. Seeing the team struggle prompted people to suggest Real Madrid was on the verge of collapse.

They aren't Arsenal, and they aren't going to have to wait around for Leonel Coira to develop before they can compete in La Liga.

Back-to-back blowout dominant performances have returned some of the swagger back to Real Madrid. La Liga or not, every win is a quality win at this point, and a 3-0 outing against Ajax is just what they needed to restore their confidence.

The season is still young and there will be plenty of opportunities to move up in the standings lying in front of them. They are only two points off the lead, and the critics have clearly written them off prematurely.

Real Madrid may not be the team to beat in La Liga, as that designation belongs to Lionel Messi's Barcelona squad, but they are still a contender.

Real Madrid has the firepower to carry their newly-found momentum throughout the season. They may be down right now, but they certainly are not out. No team in La Liga is discounting Real Madrid, and they shouldn't be seen as anything less than an elite contender.