5 players Real Madrid can’t lose to injury in 2020

Real Madrid CF Karim Benzema

While Karim Benzema receives his share of unfair criticism from Real Madrid fans, as Thibaut Courtois once did, most fans understand Benzema’s importance to Los Blancos. Even his critics will admit that, too, as they are mostly frustrated with the team’s recent lack of goals. (Eden Hazard and Marco Asensio’s returns will help.)

There is no doubt that Benzema is the best striker on the Real Madrid roster, even if he isn’t a striker in every sense of the word. Benzema is so effective at creating for others with his slick dribbling, movement, and quality passing. He’s not as adept at scoring, but he was great at finishing in 2018-2019 and in the first half of 2019-2020. Again, Hazard’s return will be huge for the forward.

Luka Jovic’s injury only increases Benzema’s importance, too. Behind Benzema, there is only Mariano Diaz. Fans love Mariano and are still relishing his fairytale goal off the bench to seal a 2-0 win in March’s Clasico, but they know he is no full-time solution.

Benzema was one of the top three players in the first half of the 2019-2020 La Liga season. He can get back to that level as soon as football resumes. And if he were to go down with an injury, Real Madrid would have even more serious issues up front. He is the team’s leader in both goals and assists, which speaks volumes.