Real's nightmare before Xmas
2005-12-22 07:51
Madrid - Real Madrid's year ended on a depressing note when the Spanish giants were beaten 2-1 by Racing Santander in front of their own fans on Wednesday.
First half goals by Ayoze Diaz and Felipe Melo grabbed three points for Racing and left Real the two-week winter break to ponder how they are going to revitalise their season or whether they are going to go another year without a trophy.
The defeat also left them 11 points behind leaders and bitter rivals Barcelona who beat Celta Vigo 2-0 on Tuesday.
Ayoze sent a swerving free kick from 20 metres past the Real wall, although it took a slight deflection, to breach the host's defences after 20 minutes.
Melo then embarrassed the Spanish giants further just six minutes later when he wandered unhindered past three Madrid players before chipping the ball over falling Real keeper Iker Casillas.
Ronaldo got one back with a header after 67 minutes, and had another close effort late in the game, but Real left the field once again with the crowd whistling in their ears.
The defeat will increase the pressure on Real coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro, who took over from former Brazil boss Wanderley Luxemburgo only two weeks ago.
Lopez Caro has won only one of his four games since taking over at the Real helm and has yet to taste victory in the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
He was given the backing of Real president Florentino Perez until the end of the season on Monday but the former Real reserve team coach could find that he is looking for another job sooner if he fails to get better results quickly.
A further negative note was struck when David Beckham was booked early in the game.
The England captain will now miss Real's first league game of 2006, a tough away trip at Villarreal on January 8.
- AFP