"Something is wrong when Vinicius and Reguilon are Real Madrid's only threats" Real Madrid vs Barcelona Analysis from Jose Felix Diaz

Real Madrid have repeated the screenplay from last year. Twelve months later, the team, this time led by Santiago Solari, is left with just the Champions League as the only argument for not saying goodbye to the season on 1 March. The back-to-back games against Barcelona have seen the Copa del Rey and LaLiga Santander disappear, and what is worse is the leaving an image of total impotence, never transmitting the sense that they would be able to dominate the Catalans, especially in front of goal.

If in the semi-final on Wednesday, Solari's side saved face despite the disappointing result, that was not the case on Saturday as Madrid conveyed the sense that they could not deal with a side that has turned the Santiago Bernabeu into their second home. The final minutes of the game on Saturday night was further evidence of Los Blancos' impotence as senseless crosses were thrown into the box with the hope that one might work; instead, the Barcelona defenders simply had some heading practice.

When Barcelona win two games in your stadium in the space of four days, and you are Real Madrid, something is wrong. Los Blancos have a clear footballing problem as they are bleeding in the middle of the pitch. It is true that they have struggled to score, but in few games have they dominated the ball with their feet. Luka Modric brings will and desire, but his teammates in the middle, Toni Kroos and Casemiro, those who made Madrid's midfield one of the best in Europe, are unable to impose their rhythm on the game, at least when they face Barcelona. And that's without forgetting the defensive holes and forgetfulness that are usually repeated in each game, which makes the opposition's job that much easier.

All of the good football that Solari's side displays comes from two newcomers: Sergio Reguilon and Vinicius Junior. Just as what happened in the Copa del Rey, they tried their best to turn things in Madrid's favour, but their runs, dribbles and crosses were not effective, or their teammates did not know how to make the most of the good intensions of the starting eleven's two youngest players. Clearly something is wrong when Vinicius and Reguilon - an 18 and 22-year-old - are the only real threats for Real Madrid.

Reguilon and Vinicius can be the future of Real Madrid, but it seems like there is not much of an argument that a team who must fight for everything only has the Champions League as a viable option with three months of the season to go. Solari brought Gareth Bale into the starting line-up on Saturday, hoping he would use his frustration in a positive way, but the Welshman did little to nothing as he made his histrionics at Levante look all the more ridiculous. The whistles that Bale received when he was substituted is a clear warning of intent from the Bernabeu crowd.

Solari is running out of bullets. Four weeks ago, the Argentine transmitted a sense of power with the team's situation, but time has weakened his proposals and he no longer seems to be getting the same response from his players. His joker card to stay alive will be used on Tuesday. Ajax await, and they will be well aware that they are visiting a damaged team and with little dominance of the ball, at least when they play Barcelona, as shown in the Bernabeu in a match that was the only chance of Madrid staying alive in LaLiga Santander.