APL

Real Madrid have never won a treble and they won't win one in 2015-16 either. More worryingly for fans of Los Blancos, however, is the notion that they may end up without a trophy at all this season. With La Liga looking tough and the Copa del Rey already gone, the Champions League may just be their best chance of title this term.

Not so long ago, Real coach Rafa Benitez spoke proudly about a 14-match unbeaten record at the beginning of his reign. But those days are long gone following the 3-2 loss at Sevilla in La Liga and the disastrous defeat at home to Barcelona last month.

The 4-0 reverse at the hands of Madrid's fiercest rivals was tough to swallow for fans and everyone else concerned with the club - and President Florentino Perez was forced to come out and ratify Rafa amid calls for the coach's head just two days later. Things were not good - and they haven't improved since.

Asked to send a message to madridistas ahead of the weekend win against Getafe at the Santiago Bernabeu, Benitez said: "I would tell them that since the loss to Barcelona, we have won three games in a row - and that we are doing a lot better than people think."