Over the past decade, Real Madrid have experienced some incredible highs with silverware streaming into the club on a regular basis. However, sufficient investment, marquee players and big name managers have been unable to prevent some humiliating defeats from occurring during this period.
In fact, far too regularly, the biggest club in European football were destroyed by not only minnows but some of their biggest rivals as well.
The club have blossomed into the continent’s most supreme club once again, however, they must make sure history doesn't repeat itself, and they don't suffer another humiliating ordeal this season by allowing either Atletico or Barcelona to topple them once more.
On that note, take a look at Madrid’s five most humiliating defeats in the past decade.
#5 Liverpool 4-0 Real Madrid, Champions League 2008/2009
Managed by former Tottenham Hotspur manager, Juande Ramos, Madrid travelled to Anfield in March 2009 hoping to overturn a 1-0 defeat suffered on home soil in their Champions League last sixteen first leg.
But the travelling Real Madrid supporters could in no way have predicted the shambolic performance they were about to witness as Ramos' side utterly capitulated before their very eyes.
Former Atletico Madrid forward Fernando Torres was truly a thorn in Madrid's side as he destroyed the central-defensive pairing of Sergio Ramos and Pepe under the Anfield lights. Rarely in his entire career did Fabio Cannavaro suffer the humiliation that was forced upon him by Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.
Gerrard himself scored a brace while Torres and Andrea Dossena added to the misery of Los Blancos’ loyal supporters. So bad were Real Madrid that Javier Mascherano almost scored a goal – only to be denied by Iker Casillas.
#4 Real Madrid 2-6 Barcelona, La Liga 2008/2009
When Barcelona travelled to Real Madrid in Pep Guardiola's first El Clasico away from the Nou Camp, the club were in search of their first La Liga title in three years. Gonzalo Higuain nodded Madrid into the lead and it looked like plain sailing for the hosts.
However, Madrid allowed Barcelona into the game, within six minutes, Guardiola's side were back level as Thierry Henry broke free before slotting his shot past Casillas. Two minutes later Carles Puyol headed Barcelona into the lead before Lionel Messi capitalised on Lassana Diarra's mistake in the 35th minute to make it 1-3.
Ten minutes into the second-half, Ramos' headed goal gave Madridistas hope. Henry once again made sure he took that hope away as he broke free to double the away side's advantage. Gerard Pique and Lionel Messi then added to Madrid's humiliation on a night still not forgotten by many.
#3 Alcorcon 4-0 Real Madrid, Copa del Rey 2009/2010
In case you had forgotten, 2009 wasn't the year of many inspiring victories from Los Blancos as the club suffered many humiliating defeats during that year. But everything was expected to change when Manuel Pellegrini became the third manager in six months at the Bernabeu.
Along with Pellegrini, Madrid paid a stunning €140 million for Galactico pairing, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, from Manchester United and AC Milan respectively.
In October 2009, with intense pressure on the shoulders of Pellegrini, they suffered the embarrassment of losing 4-0 to lower league side Alcorcon in the Copa del Rey. It wasn't the defeat, but the manner of the defeat which saw Pellegrini's head being called for just two months into his tenure.
Madrid crashed out despite winning the second leg and Pellegrini was sacked at the end of the season.
#2 Atletico Madrid 4-0 Real Madrid, La Liga 2014/2015
La Liga leaders Real Madrid suffered their heaviest defeat in over four years as reigning champions Atletico Madrid overpowered them in a scintillating derby in February 2015. Diego Simeone's side sought revenge on the team who undeservedly denied Atletico their first Champions League title the previous May.
Goals from midfielders Tiago and Saul Niguez gave Atletico the advantage at half time. The second-half saw strikers Antoine Griezmann and Mario Mandzukic seal Real's heaviest defeat in four-and-a-half-years.
Madrid looked nothing like the team that were tipped to be favourites for the La Liga title under Carlo Ancelotti as their city rivals hampered any potential title charge, and Luis Enrique's side took control of the title race – before winning the treble at the end of the season.
Ancelotti never won the supporters back and was controversially sacked by the club in June 2015.
#1 Barcelona 5-0 Real Madrid, La Liga 2010/2011
For many Madridistas, the 5-0 defeat to Barcelona in 2010 was undeniably the most embarrassing, humiliating, and unforgivable performance in the glorified Madrid outfit's recent history.
The entire world tuned in to watch what many considered the two greatest managers in world football – Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho – do battle at the biggest clubs in the world. What occurred could only be described as complete and utter carnage from a Madrid perspective. The football on display from Barcelona on that night in November 2010 could be considered some of the greatest ever witnessed in club football.
La Masia graduates Xavi and Iniesta combined to give Barcelona the lead before Pedro doubled the home side's advantage before half-time. David Villa made it 3-0 with a typical Barcelona goal.
Moments later, Villa made it 4-0 before Jefferson made it 5-0 to seal the humiliation for not only Mourinho but the 110000 on-looking Real Madrid fans.
