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Real Madrid: Is Karim Benzema’s Time Coming to an End?

By Ahmed Genina

Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema (2nd R) celebrates a goal with teammates during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and Athletic Club Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on October 23, 2016. / AFP / CURTO DE LA TORRE (Photo credit should read CURTO DE LA TORRE/AFP/Getty Images)
Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema (2nd R) celebrates a goal with teammates during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and Athletic Club Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on October 23, 2016. / AFP / CURTO DE LA TORRE (Photo credit should read CURTO DE LA TORRE/AFP/Getty Images) /
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LAS PALMAS, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 24: UD Karim Benzema (L) celebrates with his team mate Gareth Bale after scoring his team's second goal of Real Madrid CF during the La Liga match between UD Las Palmas and Real Madrid CF on September 24, 2016 in Las Palmas, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
LAS PALMAS, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 24: UD Karim Benzema (L) celebrates with his team mate Gareth Bale after scoring his team’s second goal of Real Madrid CF during the La Liga match between UD Las Palmas and Real Madrid CF on September 24, 2016 in Las Palmas, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) /

The Team Player

The team play is what made the relationship between Karim and the Real Madrid fans more friendly. That theme became very obvious midway in Carlo Ancelotti’s first season, and the relationship was at its best when the “BBC” started ticking.

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So what changed when the BBC became a thing? Benzema didn’t change, he was only in good form. What changed however, is the fans’ perception of the Frenchman’s duties. He’s not the man who gets the spotlight anymore.

Rather, he is the man flying under the radar, playing between Ronaldo and Bale. He drops back to allow a passing outlet to midfielders and drag center backs.

He also exchanges positions with his teammates at the front line to confuse the opposition backline and allow Bale and Ronaldo more chances on goal.

What about now? Has Benzema changed? Or have the fans reverted to their old idea of what a Real Madrid striker should be?

Neither.

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