After last season's 5-2 embarrassment at the Wanda Metropolitano, many thought Real Madrid would be out for vengeance this season as they travelled across town to take on their bitter city rivals Atletico Madrid. However, that was far from the case. Los Blancos put in yet another embarrassing performance, ultimately losing 2-1 despite a late push to secure a point.
This performance was yet another this season that wasn't up to the pace, and is another worrying sign of what could come as the season goes on. This was a poor performance from the team as a whole and has left a number of questions in the heads of Real Madrid's fans as to what exactly is going on with them at the moment.
Here are three burning questions from Real Madrid's 2-1 loss to Atletico Madrid.
3 burning questions from Real Madrid's gut-wrenching loss to Atletico Madrid
1. Why does Vinicius Junior still start?
The Brazilian's form has been a hot talking point so far this season, but after his performance against Atletico, it is starting to become a serious problem. Vinicius has failed to make an impact in any game so far this season and has been a liability in front of goal and to the team in general. Despite this, he still remains an undisputed starter for Jose Mourinho. Why?
There are a number of other attackers in the squad who have proven so far this season that they can be a difference maker, more so than Vinicius can be. Brahim Diaz, Carlos Espi, and Yan Diomande, who came on for the Brazilian against Atletico and looked like the best attacker on the pitch for Real Madrid, have all had a bigger impact for the team early on this season than Vinicius.
Why can't one of them get a chance in the starting lineup ahead of the Brazilian? Being an undisputed starter means providing an output, and Vinicius simply isn't doing that this season, so once club football is back after the international break, it would be smart for Jose Mourinho to try other players in the attack instead of just playing Vini, hoping that, at some point, it will click for him.
2. What is wrong with Real Madrid's defense?
One of Real Madrid's main goals in the summer transfer window was to reinforce their backline that had been leaking in goals for fun for the last couple of seasons, and with the signings they made, many thought they patched up all their defensive holes. The arrivals of Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konate, and Denzel Dumfries had all the makings for a rock-solid new look backline for Real Madrid, given all the talent and winning experience they all bring; however, that has been far from the case.
Real Madrid's defense still looks paper-thin and all over the place, with goals still flowing in. Real Madrid have kept just one clean sheet through eight games, conceding nine goals, but looking like they'll concede many, many more.
There's no unity in the backline, with players still failing to cover their roles, and still looking like they have yet to get on the same page with one another, and that has been a major downfall for the team in the early days of the season.
With a manager like Jose Mourinho at the helm, many thought he'd tap back into his old days and create a rock-solid defense back that has been far from the case, and it doesn't look like it will be getting better any time soon.
3. Are Real Madrid's La Liga title hopes already over?
Having failed to lift the La Liga trophy since the 23/24 season, Real Madrid have it hot on their minds to finally get their hands back on the trophy, but after the loss to Atletico, are those hopes already killed?
Real Madrid have already suffered two losses this season, and sit six points behind Barcelona at the top of the table. With Barcelona in the form that they're in, it already looks like it will be a tall mountain for Real Madrid to climb to get their hands back on the La Liga title.
Real Madrid will have to bank on Barcelona dropping points at some point, which is always possible; however, it would be in Real's best interest to win both Clasicos to help their title charge, and when looking at the form of the two teams, that looks nearly impossible for Real Madrid at this point. Jose Mourinho will have to go deep into his bag and somehow get the team firing on all cylinders, with La Liga title hopes already looking dire this early into the season.
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