Zinedine Zidane dropped Gareth Bale and endured his first defeat since returning to Real Madrid as his side were deservedly beaten 2-1 by a resurgent Valencia on Wednesday.
Instead, Valencia surged to a convincing victory, Goncalo Guedes and Ezequiel Garay scoring in each half to leave Marcelino's team within a point of La Liga's top four. Karim Benzema headed in a late consolation in injury-time.
"We lacked a bit of spark up front," Zidane said. "I am not going to criticise my players. They have tried and we played a good team. But losing always hurts."
After a miserable start to the season, Valencia could yet enjoy a barnstorming finish.
Champions League qualification is now within touching distance while a Copa del Rey final against Barcelona and Europa League last 16 tie against Villarreal still await.
"The game played out how we hoped," said Marcelino. "It was a complete performance." For Zidane, after two opening victories, this was perhaps something of a reality check, even if Madrid's reappointed coach has insisted he is under no illusions regarding the task ahead.
They now trail leaders Barcelona by 13 points, the exact same margin they were behind the Catalans under Zidane at this stage last season.
This was reminiscent too of the limp displays that have undone Madrid in recent months, blunt in the final third, overly-generous in defence and bereft of either snap or spark in midfield.
Bale had started each of Zidane's first two games, offering hope there might yet be a future for him in the new era, but his relegation to the bench suggests the Frenchman's old doubts may linger.
Zidane's press conference on Tuesday had been littered with questions about players' futures but Raphael Varane and Marcelo both started in defence, as did Keylor Navas, restored in goal ahead of Zidane's son Luca and the injured Thibaut Courtois. Valencia were far superior in the first half and the only surprise was that it took 35 minutes for them to score.
Navas punched a corner to the edge of the box where Guedes bounced the ball off Carlos Soler, stopped it and curled between the goalkeeper's right hand and the near post.
Valencia unleashed a series of efforts in search of a second. Kevin Gameiro headed wide, Geoffrey Kondogbia half-volleyed over and Rodrigo's bending shot whistled inches past the post.
Madrid had barely featured as Bale came on for Marco Asensio in the 64th minute, along with Isco, who replaced the quiet Toni Kroos.
Bale might have had an equaliser shortly after had it not been for Dani Parejo's sliding block and then the he sent a sumptous pass to the far post, but it was cleared away from the waiting Benzema.
Valencia should have wrapped it up with 15 minutes left as five sprawled forward on the break but Rodrigo miscontrolled while his cutback was flicked by Soler, harmlessly into the hands of Navas.
If Madrid were more threatening they might have capitalised but there was no counter and instead victory was secured when Garay headed in Parejo's cross with seven minutes left.
Sergio Ramos had a late penalty taken off him, ruled out by VAR, before Benzema nodded in a consolation in added time. It was too little too late.
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