Real Madrid was allowed to keep a command lead in top of La Liga, despite a decline in shape it has set nerves that tinkle for another second half of the season slips under Carlo Ancelotti.
by Ancelotti first to spell in load of Madrid is over in 2015 after a campaign in which Madrid won 22 consecutive matches before Christmas and then fall from January, five defeats that see him approaching the title from Barcelona.
But Madrid seem unlikely face tale stiff opposition to this term, with Barca and Atletico Madrid are both in route to finish in the top four and his main challenger, Sevilla, now in stall.
Madrid, who plays in transfer to Rayo Vallecano on On Saturday, 13 wins in a 15-match unbeaten run from October to December, but from the shift he continued to run of the year, with only three wins in They last six league games.
A shocking defeat in home of Getafe was followed by draws against Elche and Villarreal while a narrow victory over Granada, decided by a long range shot by Marco Asensio, has intensified concerns over a freeze attack.
Karim Benzema’s absence was a hard blow, with the French are missing three games with a hamstring injury before being rushed back to play in the first defeat in the leg against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions last week.
And after a sparkling few months, Vinicius Jr. has stabilized too. The Brazilian has 16 goals for the season but only succeeded one in the last six weeks, which came in the 3-0 win over Alavi on On Saturday.
That result flattered Madrid, who were booed alone at half-time fans at the Santiago Bernabeu and it could have been made feel equal more uneasy if the tension hadn’t been broken by another miraculous blow from Asensio.
Vinicius and Benzema added some shine with targets in the 80th and 90th minutes.
“What fans thought, we agreed, “Ancelotti said later game. “Nobody in the locker room was happy with That first half. “
Many suspect fatigue is a factor in The decline of Real Madrid, accuses Ancelotti of failing to rotate his team and relying too much on the same early lineup which includes the veterans like Benzema, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Casemiro.
After a grueling ride in Paris last week, when Madrid spent the most of the night without the ballAncelotti made alone one Change against Alaves, as did Fede Valverde in for Kroo in midfield. Casemiro, who watched like he needed rest, it was particularly out of order.
Yet 14 points earned out of a possible 24 in La Liga was still enough to provide a six- lead point which was extended last weekend after Sevilla were detained by Espanyol.
That draw at Cornella was the fourth for Sevilla in his last five matches all of they are coming against teams lying outside leagues are the top eight.
Sevilla are well organized and defensively solid but coach Julen Lopetegui was criticized for doing too much caution against minor opponents.
The team also suffered numerous injuries while Anthony Martial, on loan from Manchester United, has yet to catch fire.
The result it’s a complete absence of pressure on Real Madrid, who have yet to visit both Sevilla and Atletico Madrid during the run-in but it may have a fairly heavy pillow for those games not be decisive.
Sevilla face Real Betis on Sunday, with Beti, in third, in degree of move within two points of his city rival with a win in the derby the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
Atletico will do it also be under pressure when playing home in Celta Vigo on Saturday, hoping to keep some momentum on the back of their encouragement display against Manchester United in midweek.
Barcelona which is level with Athletic on points but it has a game in instead, it hosts the Athletic Club while Villarreal, which makes three points behind in sixth, take on Espanyol in precedence on Sunday.
