Real Madrid's big money stars left behind the rain of the capital on Sunday for the balmy south seeking to go top of the Spanish Primera Liga, only to find the sky fall in on them as Seville whipped them 4-1.
Real, missing injured Brazilian talisman Roberto Carlos and also the suspended Michael Salgado, found themselves 3-0 down after only 14 minutes and went in at the break 4-0 behind and with their tails firmly between their legs.
Ivan Helguera put through his own
net after just seven minutes to set the tone for the evening and Dario Silva made it 2-0 just two minutes later.
Dani Alves added the third after 14 minutes and Francisco Casquero made it four to leave Real coach Carlos Queiroz and his unhappy band stony faced.
Helguera bundled the ball in past keeper Iker Casillas under pressure from Ruben for the first before Reyes fed Silva for the second to leave Real on the ropes.
Alves ensured they stayed there with his sucker punch in firing past the exposed Casillas as the keeper came out before Casquero provided the coup de grace.
Real fought on gamely as befitted a
side with Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and Luis Figo all present, but had only a sole consolation
in Ronaldo's ninth league goal of the
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season on 54 minutes.
"It was a very hot atmosphere out there. It wasn't our day," Real skipper Raul told Spanish radio.
Real Madris coach Carlos Queiroz said the game was over after 14 minutes, by which time his men were three goals down.
"What happened in the first half just was unreal.
"But we recovered a little self respect in the second," the former Manchester United assistant boss argued after Ronaldo pulled back a consolation goal to remain league top scorer with nine.
"There aren't many explanations. Seville started off really strongly. We didn't."
Real president Florentino Perez said the collapse at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium was "an accident."
"There will be some debate," he noted regarding Real's lamentable defence which was missing Roberto Carlos, injured, and the suspended Michel Salgado.
"Letting in three goals in a few minutes just isn't normal.
"But you learn from your mistakes."
That could be music to the ears of 21-year-old rookie Ruben Gonzalez Rocha, who started in defence but whom Queiroz dragged off after only 26 minutes, sending on Santiago Solari in
his place.
A momentous performance by the hosts was slightly tarnished by late dismissals for Real's Guti and Seville's Dario Silva while 12 other players were booked.
Fellow Spanish title hopefuls Valencia slid to a surprise 2-1 home reverse against Racing Santander as they likewise failed to close a two-point gap on leaers Deportivo La Coruna.
Depor had Saturday bounced back from their 8-3 Champions League midweek mauling by Monaco with a come-from-behind 2-1 home success over Real Sociedad which took them top of the pile.
They expected to stay there for barely 24 hours but the embarrassing slip-ups by Real and Valencia left Javier Irureta's side out in front with 25 points from 11 games.
Valencia suffered their first home loss of the campaign at the Estadio Mestalla when Rodolfo Bodipo hit them with an opportunist brace either side of a stunning backheel goal by Ruben Baraja.
Barcelona edged gingerly past Real Betis 2-1 with Mexican defender Rafael Marquez notching the winner eight minutes from time with Dutch veteran Patrick Kluivert also on the scoresheet to break his league duck.
But he could hardly miss after Pedro Contreras spooned a loose ball straight
to him two yards out.
Fernando's goal for Betis early in the second half had threatened to snatch a point before Marquez's late winner with a thumping header from a left-wing corner.
But if the three points keep Frank Rijkaard's side in the hunt despite an inconsistent start Barca will be hoping that Brazilian playmaker Ronaldinho can make a swift recovery from a right leg injury suffered in a 14th-minute clash with visiting defender Luis Fernandez.
Barca doctor Lluis Til said Ronaldinho, who could be out of action for two to three weeks, had tried to play on at first but came off to have the injury iced "because carrying on would have been risky."
Til added Ronaldinho's participation next week in World Cup qualifiers against Peru and Uruguay was doubtful.
"If he's injured there's no point in him playing," said Til. "But it's not our decision, he added, suggesting Brazil will want to have their say.
Barcelona now stand fourth but trail Deportivo by six points.
In other Sunday games, a goal from Alvaro Novo nine minutes after the restart handed Atletico Madrid a 1-0 home win over Villarreal to put Atletico level on points with Barcelona in the top five.