The topsy-turvy nature of Real Madrid's season continued on Thursday evening.Only a week on from a demolition job at Anfield, defeating Liverpool 5-2, they were humbled in the first leg of their Copa del Rey El Clasico with Barcelona.The final scoreline of 1-0 may not suggest they were too out of the game but the fact of the matter is that Barca were far the better team.Leading LaLiga by six points and now ahead in the tie, it is Xavi's men who are undoubtedly having the better season.Even if they are out of the Champions League and indeed the Europa League, few would have bet they'd be ahead of their famous rivals at any stage of the campaign last summer.Embroiled in financial trouble and a mess behind the scenes, few gave the Catalan giants any hope of achieving success this term. Yet, they have defied the doubters and made another statement on Thursday.