Real Madrid paid the price for their profligacy as they were held to a goalless draw by 10-man Malaga on Saturday and replaced at the summit of La Liga.
Los Blancos made just the two changes from their midweek 2-1 win at Athletic Bilbao, Nacho and Jese replacing Pepe and Mateo Kovacic, but their lack of invention in the first half-hour resulted in a growing chorus of boos from the Santiago Bernabeu faithful.
Cristiano Ronaldo remained on 321 goals after two matches without any luck, and a profligate first half was compounded by a series of misguided headers and failure to beat Carlos Kameni one-on-one.
However, he showed signs of waking up in the latter stages of the opening 45 as he forced Kameni into action with a thumping, first-time volley, which the goalkeeper impressively kept out.
Malaga, on the other hand, fluffed arguably the best chance of the evening, Juankar at the far post failing to steer a low cross on target, despite being unmarked.
Kameni looked to grow into the match with each passing save as he pounced on Karim Benzema’s through ball before Ronaldo could get there, before extending himself to put off Isco from sliding Marcelo’s deep cross home.
The second half was a story of missed chances from Ronaldo, who continually looked to the skies for answers. His first chance saw his unleash an acrobatic volley towards Kameni, who made an instinctive save.
Ronaldo then fluffed a succession of golden opportunities, starting with a dragged shot wide of Kameni’s near post, a header at the far post going wide and a further two attempts, both of which went wayward.
Madrid’s problems then took a turn for the worst, when Jese Rodriguez was stretchered off on the hour mark with a suspected calf tear after he landed awkwardly from a shot at goal, on a day when Lionel Messi was ruled out for two months with a knee injury.
Benzema was next up for Los Merengues but too failed as the Cameroon No 1 gathered his turn and strike safely, before Isco saw an effort cleared off the line by Weligton, replays showing the entire ball not entering Keylor Navas’ net.
Immediately at the other end, Nordin Amrabat was given his marching orders for a blatant elbow into Marcelo’s face, not long after firing the Andalucians’ best chance of the game wide.
Madrid eventually did break the deadlock as Modric’s cross was bundled home, but the midfielder was adjudged offside when he took down Marcelo’s delivery at the far post.
There was still time for another spurned Ronaldo opportunity, the No 7 somehow soaring a diving header over the bar from a yard out.
Real Madrid 0-0 Malaga
Amrabat sent off 77 (M)
Real Madrid: Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Nacho, Marcelo; Kroos, Modric; Jese, Isco (Kovacic 60), Ronaldo; Benzema
Malaga: Kameni; Rosales, Weligton, Angeleri, Torres; Recio, Tissone; Fornals (Horta 80), Tighadouini (Juanpi 70), Juankar; Amrabat
Referee: Gonzalez Gonzalez
