Benitez left questioning Real s spirit

MADRID – Rafael Benitez lamented his side’s inability to react after going behind for the first time this season as he suffered his first defeat as Madrid boss at Sevilla on Sunday.

The 3-2 defeat leaves Madrid trailing Barcelona by three points at the top of the table with the two set to face each other next time out at the Santiago Bernabeu on November 21.

Real had got off to a flying start in Seville as Sergio Ramos’s spectacular overhead kick fired the visitors into a deserved lead.

However, after Ramos had gone off with the recurrence of a shoulder problem, Madrid fell apart as Ciro Immobile levelled before the break.

Ever Banega and Fernando Llorente set the seal on a much-needed win for Sevilla after their 3-1 thrashing at the hands of Manchester City in midweek before James Rodriguez pulled a goal back in stoppage time.

“I think we played very well for 30 minutes. We had a lot of control in every part of the game,” said Benitez.

“Then we allowed them to score from a set-piece and that conditioned the game. In the second half we started well again, but from the second goal we started to commit errors and they took advantage of that to score the third goal.

“We scored again at the last minute but it wasn’t enough.”

Ramos had to watch on in anguish as his side threw away the lead and could now be a doubt for the Barca clash.