Real Madrid may have succeeded in their ambition to assemble one of the most exciting attacking line-ups in world football, but their lack of defensive cover was cruelly exposed in their 4-1 thrashing at Sevilla on Sunday.

With Roberto Carlos injured and Michel Salgado suspended, coach Carlos Queiroz opted for an improvised defence, sending regular centre-backs Francisco Pavon and Raul Bravo out to the wings and drafting the inexperienced Ruben to partner Ivan Helguera in the middle.

The experiment backfired spectacularly as Real were torn to shreds at the back by a razor-sharp Sevilla attack which snatched three goals in the opening quarter of an hour.

Mozambique-born Queiroz was quick to accept some of the blame, but the root of the problem lies in the club's failure to heed warnings about the squad's defensive deficiencies.

Former coach Vicente del Bosque had repeated requests for defensive reinforcements turned down over the last two seasons, only to see Ronaldo and David Beckham added to an already formidable attacking line-up.

Queiroz, former assistant to Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, echoed del Bosque's requests when he was appointed in the summer.

The club did make an attempt to sign highly rated Argentine centre-back Gabriel Milito, but the deal fell through after concerns over the player's fitness.

A last-minute bid for Valencia defender Roberto Fabian Ayala also failed.

Real president Florentino Perez has said he only wishes to splurge on midfielders or forwards as part of his policy of building Real's image as the most glamorous club side in the world.

Perez told reporters on Sunday that lessons would have to be learnt from the Sevilla defeat.

He was right. Only, it may be the Real boss himself who has to do the learning.