5 Real Madrid stars that have been disappointing this season

#4 Karim Benzema

As expected, Benzema has been poor

Only the most optimistic of Madrid fans ever thought that the Frenchman was an adequate replacement for Ronaldo's goals.

Benzema is a striker who in his 10 years at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, has only had 2 20+ goal seasons. For a striker playing as the arrowhead of a team that creates so many chances, this is an abysmal return.

He started brightly in Lopetegui's first few games but reverted true to type as the season wore on. Missing easy chances, playing a peripheral role especially in the big matches, an inability to play in others these are just a few of what Benzema has served up this season.

His status as Real's 2nd leading goalscorer this season with 5 goals in 20 appearances tells its own story; that of a team struggling badly. With the 30-year-old as its arrowhead, the other attacking players will need to step up as he does not look capable of delivering what Madrid needs.