Minnows Eibar humiliate Santiago Solari's dire Real Madrid

On-loan Barcelona defender Marc Cucurella played a part in each of Eibar's three goals

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois looks dejected after Sergi Enrich gave Eibar a 3-0 lead at Ipurua Stadium. EPA

Santiago Solari proved the perfect caretaker but his debut as permanent manager of Real Madrid on Saturday ended in a disastrous 3-0 defeat at Eibar.

Four wins while in temporary charge earned Solari a contract until 2021 over the international break, only for Real to revert to the kind of chaotic display that earned Julen Lopetegui the sack.

This defeat also brought into focus the mindset of Madrid's players, after their captain Sergio Ramos faced allegations of an anti-doping violation on Friday night from German magazine Der Spiegel. The club denied any breach, while the player issued a statement saying he was "vehemently opposed to doping".

Eibar were stronger, more aggressive and, worryingly for Solari, appeared clearer about the plan they wanted to execute. Marc Cucurella, brilliant down the left, was instrumental in all three goals, scored by Gonzalo Escalante, Sergi Enrich and Kike Garcia.

Real's loss halts their revival under Solari and denies them a golden opportunity to make up ground on Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, who face each other at the Wanda Metropolitano later on Saturday.

"It is not about finding people to blame," Solari said afterwards. "Everything is fixable. We had won four straight games, done some things very well, and we have to get back to that."

Defender Raphael Varane added: "We were not well-organised, we were not comfortable and we did not find any answers."

Eibar, meanwhile, shoot up to seventh, a reward for their first victory over Real Madrid at the 11th attempt, inside their tiny 7,083-capacity Ipurua.

"We could even have scored more," said their manager Jose Luis Mendilibar.

Ramos was not noticeably out of sorts, but perhaps allegations he failed to list the correct medication after the Uefa Champions League final in 2017, proved enough of a distraction for his teammates.

Solari, meanwhile, must now rally Real ahead of Tuesday's Champions League game against Roma, which is likely to decide the winner of Group G.

___________

Read more:

Real Madrid deny allegations Sergio Ramos breached anti-doping rules

Enigmatic Real Betis adding some healthy unpredictability to La Liga

Santiago Solari backs Gareth Bale to find his form for Real Madrid

___________

They started well enough and Gareth Bale looked in the mood when he swivelled and sent a stunning shot into the top corner from 25 yards, only to be ruled offside.

Karim Benzema went close, his finish cleared off the line by Jose Cote, but after surviving the early pressure, Eibar grew in confidence.

Kike made the woodwork shake with a drive from 25 yards, with replays showing the dipping shot had been diverted by an excellent finger-tip save from Thibaut Courtois.

Madrid's goalkeeper came to their rescue again in the 16th minute, denying Enrich from Cucurella's cross, but this time Escalante was on hand to bundle in the rebound ahead of the stumbling Dani Ceballos.

Referee Juan Martinez consulted the Video Assistant Referee but the delay only earned a repeat of home fans' cheers.

Solari gave his first half time team talk with his team behind, but their situation deteriorated in the second half.

Toni Kroos' misjudged and misdirected crossfield pass exposed the unfortunate recipient Alvaro Odriozola. Cucurella pounced, pushing Odriozola off the ball and delivering for Enrich to score.

Odriozola was forced off injured and five minutes later it was three, this time Varane was at fault, allowing Kike to nip in and convert another whipped Cucurella cross.