Real Madrid fell three points behind Barcelona atop La Liga ahead of the Clasico after they were beaten 3-2 by Sevilla on Sunday.
Gareth Bale started his first game for Los Blancos in almost a month, having replaced Jese Rodriguez to take the left wing in Rafa Benitez’s 4-2-3-1 formation, with Cristiano Ronaldo moving into the lone striker’s role, but James Rodriguez was only named a substitute.
Pepe also returned from injury to start alongside Ramos in central defence, while Kiko Casilla filled in for Keylor Navas between the sticks and Nacho Fernandez was elected to cover the crocked Marcelo at left-back.
Sevilla, meanwhile, handed a second League start of the season to Ciro Immobile, who leads the line in Kevin Gameiro’s absence.
An open first half was witnessed at Sanchez Pizjuan, with neither side able to sustain possession, but it was Madrid who took the lead via Ramos’ sensational overhead kick from a corner.
However, the goal came at a cost as the former Sevilla man was hauled off 10 minutes later with a suspected shoulder injury after he went down in some pain during his celebration.
It provided the cue for Immobile to grab his first girl in Nervionenses colours, pulling clear at the back post to meet Benoit Tremoulinas’ cross and mop the ball into the back of the net.
Sevilla took the initiative in the second half and subsequently the lead on the hour mark as Ever Banega finished off a sweeping, one-touch move, which left Madrid bamboozled.
The Andalucians then rounded off a convincing victory when substitute Fernando Llorente, unmarked in the box, powered a header past Casilla.
However, it could all have been so different had Los Blancos equalised moments earlier, only for Sergio Rico to make a world-class pair of saves.
James came off the bench to mark his comeback with a piledriver from distance in added time, but it was too little too late as Madrid lost precious ground in the title race.
Sevilla 3-2 Real Madrid
Immobile 36, Banega 61, Llorente 74 (S) Ramos 22, James 90 (RM)
Sevilla: Rico; Mariano, Rami, Andreolli (Kolodziejczak 84), Tremoulinas; Krychowiak, N'Zonzi; Vitolo, Banega (Krohn-Dehli 78), Konoplyanka; Immobile (Llorente 70)
Real Madrid: Casilla; Danilo, Pepe, Ramos (Varane 32), Nacho; Casemiro, Modric; Isco (James 63), Kroos (Jese 78), Bale; Ronaldo
Referee: Gonzalez Gonzalez
