Benzema’s League

Perhaps the differentiating element of Madrid in this League compared to the previous one is the enlistment of Vinicius and Asensio in the white artillery ranks. Can be. In 26 games, between the Brazilian and the Balearic they have scored 12 more goals than in the whole of last season, in which only Benzema reached ten in all competitions as a whole. But one more year, Karim is the decisive piece of Ancelotti’s puzzleas was already the case with Zidane. He is the top scorer in the League, the team’s can-opener and a wealth of points for the leader, who thanks to the goals of the 9 provisionally takes six points to his immediate pursuer.

Benzema has played 23 of Madrid’s 26 games in this League and has added 1,888 in the championship, 84% of the possible ones. Score a goal every 99 minutes. His goals are golden. Only six of the 19 that he has marked have been facing the gallery. The French striker’s other 13 goals have contributed to changing the game at that time (in six games he has opened the scoring and in three others he has been the first Real Madrid player to score) or to add points. Without Benzema’s goals, Madrid would have 15 points less, struggling to maintain its position in the Champions League. In that fictitious league without Karim, Ancelotti’s men would be fourth, fighting with Barça to maintain the ‘Champions zone’, with one point less than Betis and Atlético and ten less than Sevilla, who would occupy the lead. But Benzema makes these previous lines just an exercise in football-fiction…

The front he opened the scoring against Alavés (at Mendizorroza), Mallorca, Valencia (at the Bernabéu), the derby against Atlético and the two clashes against Athletic (at San Mamés, where he left with applause, scoring the double for the 1-2 madridista). He scored the first goal for Madrid, to tie the match at that time against Celta (he made the Olívicos 1-1, 2-2 and the final 5-2) and Sevilla. He also against Espanyol, although the goal in Cornellà-El Prat was sterile. And in Mestalla he scored the goal that culminated the comeback (1-2) against Bordalás’ men. In addition, against Rayo Vallecano at the Bernabéu he scored 2-0 which, later, with Falcao’s goal, was vital to retain the victory.

The Benzema’s only goals in this League that did not change the course of the match at that time nor did they give Madrid any revenue were 0-3 against Alavés in Vitoria (1-4 final), 5-1 against Mallorca (6-1), the aforementioned 2-1 against Espanyol, the final 4-1 against Valencia at the Bernabéu and 3 -0 also definitive to Alavés the previous day in the white coliseum.