The Real Champs
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Zidane’s Real Madrid looking like Benitez’s Madrid

By Aakanksha Sharma

MADRID, SPAIN - JUNE 01: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Rafael Benitez (R) greets Zinedine Zidane head coach of the Real Madrid second team before his official unveiling as the new Real Madrid manager at Valdebebas training ground on June 1, 2015 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Real Madrid via Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - JUNE 01: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Rafael Benitez (R) greets Zinedine Zidane head coach of the Real Madrid second team before his official unveiling as the new Real Madrid manager at Valdebebas training ground on June 1, 2015 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Real Madrid via Getty Images) /
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No Real Madrid fan would want to accept this, but the team’s performances so far in this season have looked more and more like the Real Madrid under Rafael Benitez. Here’s why.

Let me begin by saying that this article is not just a comparison of statistics or full-blown heat maps of the teams under Zidane and Benitez.

This will focus on what a fan sees and feels when his beloved Royal Whites take the field. And that fan is not happy, quite anxious rather, from what he has seen of Los Blancos this season.

(Photo by Power Sport Images/Getty Images)
(Photo by Power Sport Images/Getty Images) /

Consistent Goal-scorer drought

More than a goal drought, Madrid is experiencing what I call a goal-scorer drought at the moment. There are no clear or consistent front three, which means there are no assured channels to pass the ball to when the team is desperately seeking goals. Below is a list of the top 4 goal-scorers so far this season, across all competitions:

Cristiano Ronaldo 7 22%
Marco Asensio 5 16%
Gareth Bale 3  9%
Isco 3  9%

Real Madrid’s top 4 goal-scorers contribute 56% of their total goals. And their goals to games played ratio is an average 2.13.

A comparison with Manchester City is telling, especially when they have played arguably the more competitive teams in the Premier League than Real Madrid have in La Liga.

Looking back at the first half of the 2015/16 season under Benitez, the BBC were still relevant. In fact, Benzema saved the day for Madrid in quite a few matches during that spell. However, a goal/games comparison is not relevant there due to outliers like the 10-2 drubbing of Rayo Vallecano and a few other high scoring matches.

Real Madrid was far better on pure goal-scoring statistics under Benitez, a supposedly dogged and defensive coach, and that in itself should be a major cause for concern.

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