Minutes after Iker Casillas denied Pato from point blank range, a chip over Madrid’s defensive line found the foot of Brazilian international who volleyed home to seal his double and victory for Milan at the Bernabeu. Milan came into the Spanish capital needing a positive result after falling to FC Zurich at home in their previous game, and Pellegrini’s men were facing what was billed as their second true test of the season. The most concerning detail of Madrid’s loss Wednesday night was not the fault of one specific player or a particular aspect of the team but the fact that Madrid has failed to produce results in either of their two big games so far this season. Seemingly unable to win the big games, Madrid could be in store for a very long season.

The play of the defense has been an accepted scapegoat thus far throughout the campaign while some media sources have called for a change of formation, another defensive midfielder, to assist the unstable back line. While Drenthe was marvelous as a substitute Wednesday, even putting Los Blancos level late in the second half, neither he nor Marcelo are decent enough left backs. Much like their right-back counterpart all three defensemen are too offensively minded lacking the discipline to reestablish position after runs up field. Marcelo was the man out of position in the 88th minute, which allowed the isolated Pato to easy volley home for the victory. The usually impenetrable Iker Casillas showed that he was human Wednesday night with an error leading to the second Milan goal. He is the best in the world and has rescued his maligned defense enough that they have become dependent on brilliance game after game (which is usually the case); however, the Spanish number one will not be there to atone for every defensive blunder. While Casillas may have misplayed the long ball to Pato, allowing the Brazilian to run past the keeper and easily touch home, it was a dreadful ball from Sergio Ramos that initiated the opportunity.

The other popular topic of debate this season has been the playing time of Raul. Despite being the captain and most decorated player in Real Madrid history, questions have been raised about the fitness of the thirty-two-year-old Spaniard. Regardless of where you stand on this issue, the fact is that the man has been producing this season. Scoring five times in seven starts the Spanish international has found the back of the net two more times than Karim Benzema, Madrid’s big summer signing from Lyon. Although Raul may not have the same pace or talent he once possessed in his youth, he has been doing what strikers are meant to do: score. A veteran of his caliber may score dozens of garbage goals, point and case the opening goal Wednesday, but there is something to be said about a player who knows exactly where to be and when to be there. Once Los Blancos have recovered from their early season injuries, I think that the captain’s playing time needs to be reduced. However, at the moment, there are many other more pressing areas of concern that need to be addressed.

Is Cristiano Ronaldo that good that his presence has been missed that much? The Portuguese international is certainly missed, but the lack of Madrid’s ability to win a big game, at least thus far, as well as its frequent defensive inconsistencies should be the two major areas of concern. With still many weeks remaining before Ronaldo’s return and pivotal match-ups spread throughout that time frame, Madrid is going to need to find more immediate answers to the questions that have been distressing them all season.