22nd December, 2012
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho was under renewed pressure on Saturday after his team lost 3-2 at Malaga, a defeat which left the champions 16 points behind leaders Barcelona.
The disappointment of the defeat was compounded by Mourinho’s controversial decision to drop goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas from the starting line-up.
It was the first time in 10 years that the Spanish World Cup winner had been axed with 25-year-old Antonio Adan called up to take the place of the benched veteran.
Isco put Malaga ahead in the 49th minute before Karim Benzema levelled in the 66th minute.
But substitute Roque Santa Cruz gave Malaga a two-goal breathing space with strikes in the 73rd and 76th minutes.
Benzema pulled one back eight minutes from time, but it was too late to prevent Malaga from clinching a first win over Real since 1983.