Real Madrid defender Marcelo admits his side can ill afford to drop points like they did against Levante at the weekend if they are to end Barcelona's reign as Primera Division champions.

After claiming big wins in their opening two fixtures, Madrid were brought crashing back to earth on Sunday when they were beaten 1-0 at Levante - a side they defeated 8-0 in the Copa del Rey last season.

That loss left Jose Mourinho's men three points behind joint leaders Valencia and Real Betis heading into Wednesday's trip to Racing Santander, and one point behind three-time defending champions Barca.

Madrid finished four points behind Barca last season after failing to win at the likes of Deportivo La Coruna, Osasuna, Almeria and Levante - two of which clubs were relegated - and Marcelo knows they need to do better in those sorts of games.

"Against these types of teams, like Levante, and at grounds like these we slip up too much,'' said the Brazil international.

"The worst thing is that these points are those which at the end of the season make the difference.''

"To lose games like the Levante one hurts a lot, because those are the ones we should be winning, although as we saw, anything can happen.''

Madrid looked in control against Levante before they lost midfielder Sami Khedira to a red card just before half-time, the German international being shown a second yellow card for shoving over an opponent during a multi-player fracas.

Marcelo said in AS: "The sending-off was key, but we need to learn from what happened. We have to know how to always win with 10 players because I'm sure that in other games we are going to finish with a man less.''

Now Madrid will be looking to get back on track against Santander, with Marcelo adding: "There's a lot of the season ahead of us and we need to analyse what we did badly and then think of the next game. We didn't beat Levante and it's very important to win in Santander.''

Racing have had a disappointing start to the campaign with just one point picked up from their opening three games.

On Sunday the Cantabrian side were thumped 4-0 at Atletico Madrid, the second time Racing have shipped four goals this season having gone down 4-3 at Valencia on the opening day.

The fixture list has not been the kindest to Racing so far, and it does not get any easier with the visit of Madrid.

Looking ahead to that match, Racing coach Hector Cuper admits it will not be easy but is not ruling out an upset.

"To beat them it's not enough to play like a good team, you need to play like a great team,'' he said.

"It's always possible to get the three points, because in life there are very few impossible things.''

Match

Hala Madrid !!!

game's on

I pray Madrid lose this game and everyone will know that "slowpoke Oh" is ordinary,

are u kidding me ? You go wait tire to prove that ordinariness. Mean while Ozil baggins don cup yellow

Bros i no need to wait that much again oooo, E don dey happen already Levante don teach them small lesson,

what will RMA be up to this time around

hmmmm. . . . . . . RM still laboring to get off the mark

Yeah, I pray they draw or lose, I want to hear that "special dull one" comments and excuses,

A good one from Santander!

Racing are taking the game to Real. I pray they keep this up.

amen!!!!!!!!

wahala dey ooo. . . . .its gradually slipping away. just as levante did, close madrid up and take the fight to them. . . last minutes wonders could still happen. Reyo, Ajax and espanyol would be studying this match and levante clips.

madrid beatable? YES!

by the way, Falcao is having his moments at Athletico Madrid. . . . his porto stints was no fluke

Correct Coolguyz, Infact over correct dey wori you self, This Madrid team is very beatable and yet they say dem don dey level with Barca now, Rubbish

na me vote that draw, and its looking most likely, sorry "hala Madrid"

i like madrid, but common, whasuptukwanu

Some people here need [b]Fergie tim[/b]e oh

GAME ON [img]http://2.s07.flagcounter.com/count/DymW/bg=ffffff/txt=ffffff/border=ffffff/columns=1/maxflags=1/viewers=3/labels=0/[/img]
[img]http://2.s08.flagcounter.com/count/hnp/bg=Ffffff/txt=ffffff/border=ffffff/columns=1/maxflags=1/viewers=3/labels=1.jpg[/img]

now i need hear Mourinho's press comments and see him blame which player now and referee(?). . . . his next point(s) will come against Rayo sha that looks like whipping team but Ajax next week and Espanyol after that would be a handful unless they get their acts right on time.

Carvalho wan do ika oh ~ God catch am, e for condemn Arbeloa manhood  

;d ;d ;d ;d ;d ;d ;d ;d ;d

5 points dropped in last 2 games now. . . .against (with due respect) expected weak teams. . . . not a good start to wrestle la liga from the in-form Barca. Now Barca can afford to lose a match as it stands now.

However, levante won away ooo. . . . .these teams too don dey shakara.

Great, Madrid don draw, Correct football fan CoolGuyz i beg make we move go Barca match now, Same level with Barca (dem no know anything!!!)

And dem go say La Liga na between 2 teams, Well i prefer to watch the least match for La Liga pass the 3rd and 4th team match for the so called "good" Premiership, La Liga Rocks, Simply the best!!

^^Can you honestly say that game was interesting to watch (regardless of d result).

At the the competitiveness in the league is very high unlike how people write off the league, You should understand what i mean, I am not trying to condem the premier league but La Liga is as interesting and competitive as the premier league, Lets not forget Man U has won 6 straight matches (including the community cup) but if it were Barca then everyone would say the league is not competitive, So to me La Liga is the best and very competitive.

Can someone tell me the system Real Madrid plays? I mean i dont understand their game. It looks like a modified kick and follow stuff.
They have individual talents but do not play as a team. Meanwhile inter has appointed Claudio Renieri as their new coach .
Source:http://mylatestfootballnews..com/