Real Madrid can now set their sights on next season: there is no La Liga silverware this year.
Having been booted out of Copa del Rey, an uncertain Champions League trophy is now the only silverware Madrid can win this season.
They effectively blew their La Liga chances today after falling 0-1 to local rivals, Atletico Madrid at the Bernabeu.
It was the third consecutive La Liga Bernabeu derby won by Atletico. Angry Real fans called for club president Florentino Perez to resign
Diego Simeone’s visitors are now five points off leaders Barcelona, who have a game in hand, while Real are nine points below the champions. And that gap could widen if Barca beat Sevilla on Sunday.
Antoine Griezmann scored the only goal, early in the second half, when he steered Filipe Luis’ pass home.
Real, who were two points off Barca when Zinedine Zidane took over, had not lost in his first eight games as boss.