Questions were asked by Barcelona after their 3-1 win over Real Valladolid but the League title holders Real Madrid dropped another 3 points in hugely disappointing night as Malaga pips Los Blancos in a thriller by 3-2. Mourinho’s men are now 16 points behind leaders Barcelona, which strikes as an insurmountable lead, leaving Madrid’s title defense in tatters with the La Liga season is not even half way over.

Real Madrid’s woes continue after losing to Malaga

Mourinho surprised everyone by dropping captain Iker Casillas to the bench, giving Antonio Adan the unlikeliest of starts between the posts for the Spanish champions.

Malaga keeper Wily Caballero showed excellent reflexes to thwart Cristiano Ronaldo’s free kick from 30 yards out only a few minutes into the game to deny Real an early lead.

Ronaldo looked threating in the first half and combined well with Angel Di Maria to come close to score only to blast sweet return ball over the bar.

Real dominated the first half and looked like scoring, creating plenty of chances but came short of finishing and luck

First half ended, bringing respite for Malaga with the teams tied at nil-nil.

Tables were turned soon in the second half as Isco placed Malaga into a deserved lead in the 49th minute and Roque Santa Cruz scored twice in 73rd and 76th minute for the home side coming off the bench to seal the match in Malaga’s favor as Madrid were unable to react and slumped to a loss.

An own goal from Sergio Sanchez with a scramble in the box squared this up midway through the second half.

Karim Benzema pulled one back eight minutes from time, but it was too late to prevent Malaga from clinching their first win over Real since 1983.

Many eyebrows were raised before the game and later the same eyes criticized when it had been revealed that the Mourinho was choosing to start with inexperienced Adan, who was scored on 3 times in the  game over Spanish captain Iker Casillas.

“It is a purely technical decision. You can invent the stories you want, but it is a technical decision, nothing more. My opinion counts and no others, Mourinho told reporters after the loss.

That was Madrid’s fourth league defeat of the La Liga and seventh in all competitions this campaign, which is already more than they suffered in the whole of the last campaign and has seen the pressure build on the Portuguese coach Mourinho, whose job as Real manager is in jeopardy with the string of defeats.

Tags: Barcelona, Football, Jose Mourinho, Malaga, Real Madrid