Real Madrid won't win trophies playing like this

Real Madrid have now gone three games without a win, which is rather serious for a team with title aspirations. Added to that, the back-to-back defeats they have suffered came at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu against a Moldovan team and away to a newly promoted side, making the situation not just serious but dreadful. Real Madrid are running towards a crisis.

But that's football. It had looked like Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid were ready to conquer the world after thrashing Celta Vigo and Real Mallorca, as well as beating Inter and Valencia, but from one day to the next they have become an unpredictable team in terms of results, Ancelotti's chopping and changing, and their style of play. A team like Real Madrid shouldn't be reduced to throwing it into the mixer.

Often, it's not the defeat but the manner of it which is the most concerning, and that was the case for Los Blancos against Espanyol. The home side could well have won 4-0 with the chances they had, which would have been embarrassing and unacceptable.

The sight of Lucas Vazquez at right-back is proof that Ancelotti doesn't have a clear idea of his team, as he doesn't like him there. Likewise, he played David Alaba at left-back when he has said that he prefers him at centre-back.

If anything or anyone can save Real Madrid right now, it's Karim Benzema. Vinicius Junior has gone off the boil after a spectacular start to the campaign and Luka Jovic doesn't seem to be a good back-up option up top.

For Eden Hazard it was a shame his goal was ruled out, as he could have used the goal as a chance to get some of the supporters back on his side.