3️⃣ points as Europa League football looms for Real Madrid after loss | OneFootball

Real Madrid face the very real threat of Europa League football after their 2-0 defeat against Shakhtar on Tuesday.

Goals from Dentinho and Manor Solomon were enough to secure all three points for the Ukrainian side.

Here are three points we took from the game …

Wrong kind of history

For the first time in their history, Real Madrid face Champions League group stage elimination following Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat to Shakhtar.

After gaining just one point from their opening two fixtures, they bounced back with important wins against Inter – putting them in charge of their own fate.

But their dismal performance in Donetsk has taken things out of their hands again, and should Borussia Mönchengladbach beat Inter, they are in big trouble.

The last time Los Blancos competed in the UEFA Cup was in 1994/95. And boy do they need some luck to avoid doing so again.

Ramos-shaped hole

Sergio Ramos is far from the perfect defender. But dive into the numbers and it’s clear that Madrid feel his absence in European competition.

The LaLiga giants have lost seven of their last nine Champions League fixtures without Ramos and they desperately lacked leadership in his absence.

Who knows what happened to Raphaël Varane, but his form has dropped off a cliff and Nacho – for all his effort – will never match Ramos’ levels.

This is a side in a funk. There is nothing new, no spark, no excitement. They are are slowly drifting under Zinedine Zidane and only their captain can change that.

Double trouble

There is a quote about London buses, about how you can wait for ages and then two come along at once.

Goalscorers Dentinho and Manor Solomon have only scored two Champions League goals each, and both have come against Real Madrid this season.

Talk about picking your moments.