Real Madrid's fading title hopes were handed what could have been a knock-out blow on Saturday night after the stuttering champions slumped to defeat at Malaga to fall 16 points behind Primera Division leaders Barcelona.
Substitute Roque Santa Cruz struck twice in three second-half minutes to help fourth-placed Malaga heap the pressure on Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, who created a surprise by omitting captain Iker Casillas from his starting line-up.
Madrid dominated the first half but were unable to turn their possession into goals and were made to pay as Isco put Malaga ahead in the 48th minute.
An own goal from Sergio Sanchez drew Madrid level midway through the second half but Santa Cruz, who had been on the pitch less than 10 minutes, stunned the visitors by putting Malaga 3-1 ahead with a double strike in the 73rd and 76th minutes.
Benzema pulled another goal back with eight minutes remaining but Madrid could not find an equaliser as they slumped to a fourth league defeat of the season - twice as many as they suffered in winning the title last season.Even though Mourinho said last week it was "almost impossible" for his side to catch Barca following Madrid's disappointing home draw with Espanyol, the champions would not have wanted to give their title up without a fight.
And despite Barca moving further clear with a 3-1 win at Real Valladolid earlier this evening, Madrid looked in determined mood during the first half at La Rosaleda.
The unexpected omission of Casillas caused a stir before kick-off but his replacement Antonio Adan had little to do in the opening period as Madrid dominated.
Cristiano Ronaldo saw his early dipping swerving free-kick well saved by Malaga goalkeeper Willy Caballero before the Portugal international spurned a great chance in the 24th minute when he sliced an Angel Di Maria cross wide at the far post.
Di Maria then failed to make the most of a fine pass from Ronaldo as his lob over Caballero lacked pace and was cleared by a covering defender while Pepe saw a powerful header fly straight into the hands of Caballero as the first half finished goalless.
Madrid were soon made to rue not making the most of their first-half possession as Malaga took the lead just three minutes into the second half when Isco found the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the box.
That sparked a purple patch for Malaga which could have seen them put Madrid out of the contest.
Francisco Portillo was denied by Adan following a rapid breakaway before the ever-dangerous Joaquin and Javier Saviola fired efforts just wide of the far post.
Madrid weathered the storm, though, and were soon piling men forward in search of an equaliser with Benzema shooting wide and Ronaldo being denied by a crucial Martin Demichelis tackle.
Mourinho's men got back on terms in the 66th minute thanks to a stroke of good fortune when Benzema fired the ball into the foot of Sanchez eight yards out and saw it roll past Caballero.
That would have come as a big relief to the champions, but they were not on level terms for long as Manuel Pellegrini's Malaga restored their lead seven minutes later.
Adan blocked Joaquin's clever back-heel at the front post but the loose ball ran across the face of goal and Santa Cruz raced in to slam his shot into the unguarded net.
The Paraguay international was not finished there, either, and he made it 3-1 after latching onto a Joaquin pass and firing a first-time shot past Adan at his near post.
That left Madrid with too much to do and although Benzema volleyed in Ozil's low cross to reduce the arrears in the 82nd minute, the visitors were left nursing another defeat and the increasing realisation the title looks to be heading back to the Nou Camp.
