Glamour fails to paper over the cracks at Real Madrid

Real Madrid may have succeeded in their ambition to assemble one of the most exciting attacking line-ups in world football, but their lack of defensive cover was cruelly exposed in their 4-1 thrashing at Sevilla on Sunday.

With Roberto Carlos injured and Michel Salgado suspended, coach Carlos Queiroz opted for an improvised defence, sending regular centre-backs Francisco Pavon and Raul Bravo out to the wings and drafting in the inexperienced Ruben to partner Ivan Helguera in the middle.

The experiment backfired in spectacular fashion as Real were torn to shreds at the back by a razor-sharp Sevilla attack who snatched three goals in the opening quarter of an hour.

Queiroz was quick to accept some of the blame, but the root of the problem lies in the club's failure to heed warnings about the squad's deficiencies at the back.

Former coach Vicente del Bosque had repeated requests for defensive reinforcements turned down over the last two seasons, only to see Ronaldo and David Beckham added to an already formidable attacking line-up.

Queiroz echoed his predecessor's requests when he was appointed in the summer. The club did make an attempt to sign highly rated Argentine centre back Gabriel Milito but the deal fell through after concerns over the player's fitness.

A last-minute bid for Valencia defender Roberto Fabian Ayala also failed.

Real president Florentino Perez has said he only wishes to splash out major transfer fees on midfielders or forwards as part of his policy of building Real's image as the most glamorous club side in the world.

Perez told reporters on Sunday that lessons would have to be learned from the Sevilla defeat, but it may the Real boss himself who has to review his tactics.