With Real Madrid trailing La Liga leaders Barcelona by 13 points, Jose Mourinho admits that the title race is virtually over, even in December.
While Barcelona kept up their prolific form with their 15th win in 16 games by beating second-place Atletico Madrid 4-1, Mourinho's stuttering Real could only draw 2-2 against lowly Espanyol.
"The league is now impossible," said Mourinho. "It is the first time that I have been in a situation like this where my team are a long way off their objectives.
"Thirteen points is too big a gap to overcome but what we have to do is go out and play each game. We shouldn't be thinking about who is first, second or third.
“We have to be stronger. I don't want to make a drama out of it, I will treat it as another stage of my life."