The first big blow for Lopetegui landed with the visit of Sevilla, when Madrid’s image became scratched and torn as they lost 3-0

The ‘Chumi case’, in reference to the Barça centre-back – whose development and realised potential will become clear in the future - brings us back, face to face, to the whole ‘Cheryshev question mark’.

Traditionalists may blanche at a new fixture system in LaLiga, but it is designed to help Spain's European competitors.