A Real let-down

This campaign, Real Madrid has posted its worst results for a first half of the league season under José Mourinho. Numerous factors have led to the team's slump. Injuries, certain players not pulling their weight and Mourinho's set-to with several dressing-room heavyweights have played a substantial role in Real Madrid's struggles. Such has been the downturn that a player-by-player analysis of the team shows that only five members of the squad are at the expected level, with another four recording middling marks and the rest singularly failing to set the world alight.

The last group is a mixed bag of underperformers and players who have been powerless to stop Madrid from throwing the league away only halfway through the season. Injuries have decimated the squad, with long-term absentees Higuaín and Marcelo particularly sorely missed. This pair was joined by Pepe, who recently underwent an operation despite Mourinho's wishes to put it off.

In performance terms, Di María best embodies the drop-off between Madrid's displays this year and last. Casillas and Ramos, meanwhile, have both had high-profile run-ins with Mourinho, which have gained added exposure owing to their prominence as club captains.

Kaká has equally little reason to feel satisfied with Mourinho, or with himself for that matter – particularly after picking up a stupid red card against Osasuna. Essien is nothing more than a stop-gap and isn't in it for the long haul. Coentrao stumbles from decent performances to acts of indiscipline, Carvalho is only wheeled out in emergencies, while none of Morata, Nacho or Albiol has featured as much as expected.