Real Madrid fans were worried that Julen Lopetegui’s side would struggle to score goals this season after Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure to Juventus, but Karim Benzema has exceeded expectations as part of a new-look attack.
When the five-time FIFA Ballon d’Or winner left for Italy, Los Blancos supporters expected President Florentino Pérez to bring in a Galáctico forward to replace him – Harry Kane, Neymar or Eden Hazard, amongst others, were linked with moves to the Santiago Bernabéu.
Instead, the only forward signed this summer was Mariano Díaz, who returned to the Spanish capital after a successful season at Lyon. It is clear, then, that Lopetegui trusts Benzema, with Borja Mayoral loaned out to Levante.
He has started the season well: it began on August 15th, when he netted inside half an hour in the UEFA Super Cup final against Atlético Madrid, before Real eventually went on to lose 4-2 after extra-time.
He then featured against Getafe during La Liga’s opening weekend as Dani Carvajal and Gareth Bale sealed a 2-0 win, and scored two braces in as many matches, against Girona and Leganés, in comfortable victories. Thanks to Karim, Real now sit in second place in La Liga, behind Barcelona on goal difference.
His stellar display against Leganés meant that he has played all 360 minutes of Real’s four competitive fixtures so far this season – previously, he never played four full matches in a row since signing from Lyon back in July 2009.
With four league goals so far, he is only one behind his total in 32 appearances last season; it can be argued that, along with Bale, he has benefited from Ronaldo’s departure.
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The Portuguese forward was a left-sided attacker but, as the team’s protagonist, was regularly the furthest forward. As a result, Benz was often called upon to play in an unconventional striker’s role: he dropped deep, acting as a link between the midfield and Ronaldo and Bale in a counter-attacking outfit, which meant he saw his chances in front of goal limited.
But, it was a role that he was very effective in. Real’s success under Zinedine Zidane is well documented, and he was a big part of it – he sits joint-fourth highest on the UEFA Champions League assist table with 24, making 114 in the white of Real in all competitions.
Perhaps, later in his career, he has the credentials to play as a creative midfielder but he is more than capable of playing as a traditional number nine for the time being, as he has proven this season.
Without Ronaldo and with Marco Asensio alongside him, he has been able to convert back to a more rudimentary style. He scored 24 league goals in 27 appearances in the 2015-16 season so, it seems fair to expect similar numbers this time around.
His ability to score different types of goals makes him dangerous: against Atlético, he headed home Bale’s cross at the back post. Then, against Girona, he scored a penalty before once again converting from a Bale pass to seal the win.
In Real’s last outing, against Leganés, he scored another header before completing a flowing team move with a tidy finish on the hour. At 30 years of age, there is no sign of him beginning to decline yet.
His electrifying form this season has provided a timely reminder of his powers in front of goal as if Los Blancos fans needed reminding – he is quickly approaching Hugo Sánchez and Ferenc Puskás’ totals to become one of the club’s top five goalscorers.
It seems, then, the worries about Real’s proficiency in front of goal without Ronaldo were unfounded all along. If his form continues, Florentino Pérez’s choice to not bring in a big-money forward will be justified.