Looking at Real Madrid's current performance I agree with you that we cannot favor Real Madrid in every match. Real Madrid is inconsistent this season but in La Liga their performance is not that bad. They are still consistent in the top ranking with only 2 defeats. But their performance is indeed inconsistent in UCL with 3 wins and 3 defeats. They are in 20th place in UCL and their position can be taken by any team in the ranking below them. The difference in points in the UCL standings is very thin with only 1 or 2 points. But if you look at Real Madrid's mentality I am sure they will qualify for the next round even through the playoffs. I think we have often seen Real Madrid make an extraordinary comeback like in the match against Valencia.
Real Madrid don't have much to do in the champions league and maybe that is why they are more focused on the champions league because they know they are to late to perform well in the champions league but things moght be a little different, because the last time they focused on winning the champions league they lost the two so it will be much better if they just focus on the la liga which they currently have a shot because if they want to chase the champions league with there performance then the only place they seems to have a shot is la liga so they should channel all energy there.
And they have more power which will only fit in the la liga and they picked up very late and that is why there winning is not assured in the champions league and they have been doing all they could even to survive in the champions league but looks that they have waited enough time already we did not even expect them to even still have survive this far.