Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane was left disappointed with their defending for Sunday's 2-2 draw with Villarreal.
Gareth Bale scored twice to save a point for Real Madrid, who came back from a goal down on two occasions.
The Welshman was also shown a red card at the end for Los Blancos, in what was a disappointing performance with few positives.
"We were playing well when they scored the second goal, but in the first 15 minutes we weren't," Zidane said after the match.
"But the team reacted well and we deserved more goals.
"We need to improve defensively because we know what we are capable of at the top of the field.
"We began without intensity and to begin strongly is always important."
Real Madrid have continued their worrying trend from pre-season of conceding goals and it cost them on this occasion, with Sergio Ramos partly to blame for the opening goal.
"These are things that happen in football," he said of the Ramos mistake, in which his attempt to bring the ball out from defence backfired.
"But I am content with the positive reaction of the team.
"Now we have to think about the next match."
