The bigger they come the harder they fall. After 1011 days as Champions League holders and 13-times winners Real Madrid crashed out of the competition losing 4-1 on the night to Ajax and 5-3 on aggregate.
It was a humiliation. Gareth Bale watched it unfold from the bench and was helpless to change it when he came on as a first-half substitute. Thibaut Courtois was as culpable as anyone letting in the fourth from a direct free-kick.
Things started well enough. Rafael Varane headed Lucas Vazquez' cross on to the cross bar after just four minutes and the Bernabeu believed Madrid had simply slipped into Champions League gear. They had not and the wheels were about to come off.
<<Print>>