Real Madrid: 5 stars and 2 flops from an eventful January

Star: CF Karim Benzema

Karim Benzema could’ve been further up this list having added five more goals to his season’s tally in January. However, January also featured Benzema’s worst performance in a while against Getafe in the shock defeat that we started the New Year with. Benzema quickly bounced back from that off-game to score a brace against Valencia in his next one.

He was instrumental in El Clasico in the Supercopa semifinal. He did everything right in creating the first goal for Vinicius Junior and then scored one of his own with his deadly instincts inside the box. He could have scored the winner but Valverde reached the ball before the Frenchman and dispatched it. I am sure he wouldn’t mind it especially because Valverde himself was in search of his light-bulb moment of the season.

Benzema continued his scoring exploits in the final as well when he dispatched a penalty perfectly beating the goalkeeper with his shot power and accuracy. In his last game of the month against Elche, Benzema was unlucky to have missed his first penalty in a Real Madrid shirt, and then he was at the receiving end of many passes, some of which he controlled brilliantly but couldn’t find the finish. His January accounts for four goals and one assist in five games across all competitions. That is still one goal contribution in each game, not his best but he was certainly a star for Los Blancos in January.

Flop: CF Luka Jovic

When you are a struggling youngster in Real Madrid all you can hope for is chances coming your way. And, Luka Jovic had two opportunities in January, a start in the Copa del Rey last 16 stages and one in the month’s last game against Elche when Karim Benzema walked off after experiencing some discomfort which seems to be a problem with his left hamstring.

And, it is safe to say that Luka Jovic made nothing out of these opportunities. I think he had more than decent time to make a mark and yet, there was nothing productive from the Serbian. I am not even including Mariano Diaz in the conversation because I don’t really think he is a Real Madrid player but, Jovic was one that fans had expectations from. The way it is going right now, I think the best bet would be to look for a club elsewhere.

Previously, Jovic impressed us with his performances in big games against Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid. But, once again he crashed on what should have been his springboard to better days. He was lethargic in transitions, took bad positions to allow himself be a passing outlet, and offered no threat. In the league match, I had to hunt for him in the crowd and I never found him other than some good dribbling near the by-line that produced nothing meaningful. What a frustrating player to watch and definitely a flop this month.