With Sergio Ramos' renewal looking increasingly unlikely, Real Madrid fell again in LaLiga Santander on Saturday while their captain was watching on from the stands.
Los Blancos' record without their captain gives Zinedine Zidane cause for concern, and they have already lost five of the games he has missed this season, of eight losses in all.
That statistic shows just how important Ramos is to this Real Madrid team, and it should highlight to the club's higher ups just how much they need him to stay.
Both of the Champions League group stage defeats came without Ramos on the pitch. Without the Spaniard, Eder Militao and Raphael Varane were exposed at the back.
Then there was the Copa del Rey defeat to Alcoyano, when Zidane played his plan B and they failed to see off the Segunda B side.
The other two losses without Ramos came in LaLiga Santander, against Alaves and on Saturday against Levante.
Zidane's worst season
This season is the Frenchman's worst to date on the bench at Real Madrid. The side have already suffered eight defeats, which is one off their worst figure of nine over a complete season in 2017/18.
Those nine losses came from 62 games, while this season they've already lost eight from 28, and have won just 15.
ronnie_luv
512
not just mbappe and Haaland, but equal focus should be put on Available young, strong defenders available to buy First, Ronaldo went, now we have lost the lethality in front of the goal. When Ramos retires, we will be conceding easily to even weak teams. "BIG PLAYERS leave BIG PROBLEMS when they leave"
muhammad9963
481
madrid without ramos be like
SH3012
247
Ronaldo Left,Real Madrid suffer Ramos Leave,Real Madrid Die I will still not leave,I better suffer together with Real Madrid.💓💪
SH3012
141
A Lion was born in Real Madrid,his reign is almost over, Real Madrid needs to give birth to another Lion to lead the kingdom.🔥💓🦁