GettyImagesCristiano Ronaldo has expressed some unhappiness during his time at Real

Iker Casillas controversially revealed that he would gladly give up the chase on Barcelona in La Liga if it meant Los Blancos claiming La Decima, their tenth European Cup, this season - and on Wednesday night's Copa del Rey showing at Celta Vigo you would think Madrid are happy to let their domestic cup hopes go, too.

- Benzema injury leaves Real light up top

Goals from Mario Bermejo and Cristian Bustos had Paco Herrera's men 2-0 up, and deservedly so, at Bailados in the first leg of the fifth round before Cristiano Ronaldo scored what could be a crucial late away goal, to give Madrid every chance of progressing when the sides meet again at the Santiago Bernabeu after the winter break. In fact, despite Celta's top-drawer performance and Madrid's now far-too-common lacklustre showing on their travels, Jose Mourinho's men will probably be favourites to progress to the last eight and a probable date with Valencia.

Many have criticised the cup's two-legged policy, and perhaps rightly so. Not only for adding more games into what is already a cramped fixture schedule for a lot of teams, but for helping the bigger teams progress to that mouth-watering final. Wednesday night's clash in Galicia was a perfect case in point. Vigo played their hearts out, went for the game from the off and secured a memorable victory against one of Spain's footballing giants, yet it may all count for nothing when the sides meet in the second leg if Los Blancos romp to victory. Of course both sides know the score before kick-off, and both will probably have approached the game differently if played over one leg, but the current two-legged affair certainly suits the big guns. Let's not even get started on the fact the second leg isn't until after the winter break.

"They [Celta] deserved to win the match," said Mourinho, "but I still think we are favourites to win the tie and I'd like to think that we will go through. There is no great drama, everything is still to be played for and we know they are a good team. I'd rather lose here today than to do it in the league because we can do something about this". While the two-legged format certainly suits Mourinho and Madrid in this instance, the scoreline from Galicia will continue to worry Madridistas - not just for the Copa del Rey but also for La Liga and the two-legged Champions League knockout stages. Los Blancos did not field their strongest eleven, but they did field a strong side, and were outplayed by their hosts, who also rested a couple of players.

The worrying thing is that being out-performed away from the Bernabeu is not a rarity for Madrid this season. Los Blancos have already lost three times on their travels in La Liga, compared to just once all season last term, have won one and lost one away from home in the domestic cup and have won just once from three Champions League group matches on foreign soil. It is not the form of champions, in any of the competitions, and it is form that is seemingly not being improved anytime soon. Madrid's travel sickness seems to be set in for the season.

It's a two-way thing. Madrid, both home and away, are clearly not performing to their high standards set last season. They have their own problems to deal with, namely in defence and defending set-pieces, with clashes in the dressing room not helping team morale, and with injuries also not helping matters. This in turn boosts the opposition. Unlike last season, teams are not setting up with the sole purpose to thwart Madrid and limit them. Teams are not playing for a draw, to park the bus and to nick a point against a dominant Blancos team. This season teams have seen Madrid's weaknesses hurt them week-in, week-out, and they're ready to take advantage. They're ready to go out and compete against Mourinho's men, and they're confident they can get three points, not just the one they would have been delighted with last season.

Credit to Celta, then, and others who have put Madrid to the sword. The Galicians certainly went for it on Wednesday night - whether they would have used the same attacking tactics in the league is another matter - and they got their rewards. Built on a strong defence, Celta's attackers were given relatively free license to attack Madrid's brittle and injury-hit back line. Iago Aspas had a field day, setting-up no fewer than three chances for the on-loan Park Chu-Young, while Krohn-Dehli was equally, if not more, penetrating for the hosts throughout. After Bermejo fired the hosts ahead 1-0 looked to be a fair result and Bustos's stunning second would hardly have flattered Vigo.

How important could Ronaldo's late consolation be, though? The Portuguese had a tough night all-in-all against the Celta defence, and his emotions almost spilled over - he was fortunate not to see red following a late challenge with a yellow card already to his name - but kept plugging away and his reward could be crucial in Madrid's hopes of silverware this season... and Mourinho's fading hopes of remaining at the Bernabeu beyond this campaign. Xabi Alonso's ball was brilliant and Ronaldo's finish was sweet. They were the two best Madrid players on the pitch, aided by the introductions of Mesut Ozil and Kaka. At 2-0 Celta would have fancied their chances of progression - their counter attacking set-up would have suited the second leg down to a tee - but Ronaldo's goal swings the momentum back to Los Blancos. An away goal, too - Madrid only needs to win 1-0 in the return fixture to go through, but we all know how dangerous playing for that kind of result can be.

At the moment, Madrid's defence is simply not good enough to see the side go out and play for a 1-0 victory in the second leg - not that Florentino Perez, or indeed Madridistas, will want their side to adopt such a strategy, whether or not it fires them through to the last eight. Alvaro Arbeloa, playing at left-back, and Raphael Varane, playing right-back, had problems throughout the 90 minutes at Bailados and Madrid will be hoping Fabio Coentrao makes a quick return from injury - he is now back in training - and that Marcelo's return is not too far away. Arbeloa in particular had a night to forget, summed up when he left Bermejo unmarked at the back post to drill in Vigo's opener. Varane was left in a two-on-one position for the cross and Ricardo Carvalho, continuing his run in Madrid's cup team, put his hand up for offside when he didn't have a club where the rest of his defence was. The goal pretty much summed up Madrid's defensive problems all season. At least they did not concede from a set-piece though, despite a few scares from corner kicks.

Marcelo's absence has been huge. Not just for the balance of Madrid's defence, but also for the attacking options his provides. I've said before that the Brazilian is not the best defensively, but he will add more stability to the Blancos back line on his return, and he will also add plenty more punch to Madrid's attack with his link-up play with Ronaldo on the left. It will also mean square pegs being put in square holes, so the saying goes. No Arbeloa at left-back, no Varane at right-back, injuries permitting. Marcelo is due to return to training in January and should be fit for a return to first team action at the end of that month, all being well. His return will almost be like a new signing for Madrid this season.

On the subject of injuries, another downer from the trip to Viga was an injury to Karim Benzema. The wet Galician conditions made life a bit difficult for players under foot and the Frenchman was one casualty from the slippy surface when he suffered an injury to his right ankle just after the half hour mark. It means Madrid are likely to be without him and Gonzalo Higuain for the home clash against Espanyol on Sunday. Mourinho put Jose Callejon in to a central attacking role in Benzema's absence on Wednesday night, leaving Ronaldo out wide. It's likely Mou will revert to Cristiano leading the way on Sunday, however. With all respect to Espanyol, their visit to the Bernabeu is probably just what the doctor ordered after Wednesday, and before Madrid's final game of the year at Malaga the following week.

Follow Nicholas on Twitter @nicholasrigg

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