Ronaldo and Bale poor, defence shaky - are Rafa's Real Madrid any better than Ancelotti's?

Benitez suffered his first defeat since taking over as coach of Los Blancos in the summer and his side's dismal display at Sevilla begs the question: has he really improved them?

The honeymoon period is over. If Rafa Benitez thought things had been difficult up until now, he is in for a shock after his Real Madrid side suffered their first defeat in his tenure, losing 3-2 at Sevilla on Sunday. And despite the good work so far, is there really any evidence to suggest this team is better than the one coached by Carlo Ancelotti?
In 14 games prior to this one, Madrid had conceded only four goals. But the warning signs were there for all to see in a fortuitous 1-0 win at home to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday. The trip to Sevilla would present another tough test, but this was one they were unable to pass.
Things started well. Madrid looked energetic enough and took the lead through Sergio Ramos' acrobatic effort from a corner. It was a superb strike but it came at a price: the Madrid captain was injured in the process and couldn't continue.
Now missing their defensive lynchpin and also their in-form goalkeeper Keylor Navas, Real looked very vulnerable all of a sudden and Ciro Immobile levelled from a tight angle after Real's defenders allowed the ball to bounce in the six-yard box from a corner. Benitez will not have been amused.

In the second half, it was the home team with the initiative. With Gareth Bale looking lost on his return to the team as a central striker and Cristiano Ronaldo subdued out wide, Madrid showed they are still missing the influence of Karim Benzema as a focal point in attack and their midfield and defence were overrun by an intense Sevilla side.
Nacho struggled in the absence of the injured Marcelo and on the opposite flank, Danilo was tormented by the excellent Yevhen Konoplyanka. Sevilla threatened every time they went forward and it was no surprise when Ever Banega beat Kiko Casilla to make it 2-1 with little over an hour gone.
That was the first time Madrid had been behind in the Benitez era, which was into its 15th game. So this was a big test of how Real would react. The answer, however, was not well.
Instead, Fernando Llorente headed home from an unmarked position to make it 3-1 and it could have been worse for a Madrid side that looked like conceding every time Sevilla entered their area. 

James Rodriguez, who should probably have been on from the outset, pulled one back in added time with a superb strike. But it counted for nothing and Madrid are now three points behind Barcelona after the Catalans beat Villarreal 3-0 at Camp Nou earlier on Sunday.
"We needed more control when the result was against us," Benitez said afterwards.
He was right. Behind in the game, Madrid lost their composure and did not look like a team expected to be able to compete for both La Liga and the Champions League.
The defeat also comes at a delicate time - before an international break and with the Clasico just around the corner on November 21.

"Now we are going to recover our players," Benitez added. "A game like the Clasico is always different and I hope the team reacts after this defeat."
How they do so will have a big bearing on their season because defeat at home to Barca in two weeks will see Madrid six points off the pace in the Primera Division.
If that happens, all of the good work early on in his reign will count for little. And at this point, there is nothing to prove that this team is any upgrade at all on the one coached by Ancelotti last season.