Ronaldo remaining optimistic despite Real's 16-point deficit

Barely 24 hours after Real's disaster at the Estadio de Balaidos, Ronaldo took it upon himself to post a message of hope that suggests he still retains faith in his Real team-mates.

"No matter how long the storm, the sun always shines again between the coulds", the Portuguese told his followers on Intagram.

Real currently sit some 16 points behind La Liga leaders and arch-rivals Barcelona, though they do have a game in hand.

That game leaves 'Los Blancos' with next to no hope of retaining their domestic title, though manager Zinedane Zidane is refusing to cower.

Following a trophy-laden 2016/17 season, the current campaign has been one to forget.

The one saving grace for the club could be the Champions League, though a tough tie against PSG next month could put the final nail in the coffin for Real's season.

Meanwhile, the club's fans are left wondering what on earth happened to a side that became the Spanish and European Champions just seven months ago.

8 January 2018