Can we start to panic yet?

Two defeats from Madrid's opening four La Liga matches. Just four points from a possible 12. Talisman Cristiano Ronaldo "sad" for professional reasons. The club's worst start to a league campaign in a decade. Barcelona leading the way at the top of the table and already eight points clear of Los Blancos.

We're only four games in, and in just about any other league in the world there'd be no need to panic. But this isn't any other league in the world. La Liga has been a two-horse race in recent campaigns, a two-horse race by a distance. It'll probably be the same this season. An eight-point gap chalked up by the Catalans could be crucial, even decisive, at any point of the season.

The panic button may not have been pushed just yet at the Santiago Bernabeu, but it's certainly within striking distance.

The 1-0 defeat against Sevilla at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán on Saturday night was just like Madrid's other three La Liga matches so far this term -- poor, as far as Mourinho and his men are concerned.

Los Blancos have been a country mile away from their performances that ultimately saw them reclaim the La Liga crown last season. They've been below-par in all four of their matches. Lacklustre and unimaginative at home against Valencia in the season opener, poor in the defeat against Getafe, and still not looking anything like they did last season despite picking up a 3-0 win over Granada, a side, with all respect, who'll be struggling against relegation this season.

The only positive, I suppose, is that Mourinho is well aware of his side's failings, Super Copa success aside, early in the season. No excuses from "The Special One" -- just a realisation that things need to improve if Madrid are going to retain their title.

"The opposition went for every ball with the perfect amount of aggression as when they had the ball they wanted to play and think fast," he said of Sevilla after the match. "We only have done that against Barcelona. Yesterday, when we spoke we only about what you wanted to talk about, I wanted to do football and my team. At this time my team isn’t up to scratch but, but I'm the coach and the responsibility is mine."

He continued: "I worry about my team and that since the start of the official season we have only played well in the Super Cup, a little bit against Valencia and a little bit against Granada. That is my concern rather than points. At this moment I have no team."

We're all worrying at the moment, Jose.

Michel's Sevilla side looked fresher, seemed more determined and had more desire to win. They had a game plan they stuck to rigidly from the first minute to the last. Push Madrid, pressure them non-stop. Flood the centre of the park, and the defence, to stop key men playing. Put the boot in to rile them and make them uncomfortable. Job done.

Ronaldo's problems aside, there seems to be no collective focus and direction within Mourinho's team at the moment. Something highlighted when Angel di Maria, who had a stinker, failed to track Piotr Trochowski after 69 seconds and the Polish midfielder smashed home what turned out to be the decisive goal.

Saturday's defeat could be put down to fatigue. All of Madrid's starting eleven had been on international duty. Some had travelled as far as South America for their matches and perhaps that showed with di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain being worryingly off-form. Both lashed out in frustration and were lucky to stay on the pitch. Di Maria was at fault for Sevilla's goal, while Higuain missed a couple of good chances.

But Los Blancos worked post-international matches superbly last season, picking up maximum points from the four matches that followed international breaks. One of which was a very tricky trip to Valencia, which they won 3-2 last November. The same excuse could be used by Barcelona, too, but Tito Vilanova's men were emphatic 4-1 winners at Getafe - a side who've already beaten Madrid this season and who edged out Barca 1-0 last term.

The table makes for worrying reading for Madridistas at the moment. While being mid-table after just four games certainly isn't the end of the world, the eight-point gap between them and Barca, who lead the way, definitely is. Already Madrid has a mini mountain to climb. In a league where every single point is important, every single point is now vital for Los Blancos.

In Rayo Vallecano away and Deportivo at home, Madrid has two very winnable matches, on paper, at least to come - though that could have been said, of course, against Getafe last month. Win them they must, and with two good performances, because after that is a huge trip to the Camp Nou for their first league clash with Barcelona. Going on the basis that both Madrid and Barca will pick up maximum points from their next two matches, the October 7 meeting could be pivotal in the race for La Liga, even at this stage of the campaign.

On a lighter note, Los Blancos certainly won't be a rush to wear their new all-green third kit in a hurry. It was the first time Madrid pulled on the kit, and it didn't bring them much luck. We all remember Manchester United's excuse when they got beat at Southampton back in the 1990's wearing their new grey kit. It clashed with the crowd and the players couldn't make each other out, said United. Maybe Madrid's new kit clashed with the green of the pitch? No? Thought not.

Next up, the small matter of a Champions League opener with English Premier League champions Manchester City. Another easy one, then.

Follow me on Twitter @nicholasrigg

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