Real Madrid won La Liga only three months ago because of their defensive steel and a relentless will to win but ahead of Saturday's Clasico against Barcelona, they appear to be a team unravelling. After losing 1-0 at home to Cadiz for the first time in their history last weekend, Madrid fell 3-2 in the Champions League on Wednesday to Shakhtar Donetsk, who had 10 first team players and nine staff missing due to coronavirus infections. Just as Cadiz had waltzed almost at will through the same Madrid defence that conceded only 25 league goals last season, Shakhtar wreaked havoc in Zinedine Zidane's back-line and on another night would have scored more.

The three goals they did chalk up in 13 wild first-half minutes was the same number Madrid shipped in their first nine games following La Liga's resumption last season. And while there is no measure for commitment or concentration, it was clear both against Cadiz and Shakhtar that some of Madrid's players had lost their edge. Lethargic performances, where the pressing was slack and the passing imprecise, suggest this team is not as tuned in as they were in June and July. "We lacked a bit of everything but above all our confidence, which is the most important thing," said Zidane.