Real Madrid: Ranking the top 5 players at October break

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MADRID, SPAIN – OCTOBER 05: Karim Benzema of Real Madrid in action during the Liga match between Real Madrid CF and Granada CF at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 05, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) /

CF Karim Benzema

There are small sections of the Real Madrid fanbase who feel compelled to criticize Karim Benzema for not being a “true striker”, but when the man has six goals in seven league appearances, the only word that can properly sum up these detractions is “laughable”.

Benzema is in the midst of one of the finest seasons of his career. Not only is he scoring goals in bunches for a team that hasn’t had another player score goals in multiple La Liga games this season (both of Gareth Bale’s goals were against Villarreal), but he’s also been as active as usual in setting up his teammates.

The connection between Benzema and Eden Hazard will be particularly interesting to watch develop, as the two showed more signs of chemistry in Real’s impressive 4-2 win over Granada last Saturday.

Benzema has been eager to shoot and effective when shooting, and there’s an argument to be made that he has been the best player in La Liga this season. The other player in the argument? Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Odegaard, who has been even more of a chance-creation machine than parent club teammates Toni Kroos.

Whether he’s been the best or “only” in the top three of the Player of the Year race, Benzema has undoubtedly been a key cog in a Real Madrid side that has been the class of La Liga thus far.

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