5 reasons why Real Madrid are struggling in Spain this season

Having just knocked Paris Saint-Germain out of this season's UEFA Champions League, sealing their eighth consecutive place in the competition's last-eight, you can excuse the lack of real celebration from the defending champions - as they eliminated one of the tournament's dark horses during the first round of knockout fixtures.

Why? It's due to their stuttering league form in Spain, where they surprisingly find themselves 15 points off leaders Barcelona and only a point ahead of fourth placed Valencia currently.

The pressure has continued to mount on Zinedine Zidane, who many have suggested must retain the Champions League crown to keep his job at the helm.

So with that in mind, here are five reasons why Los Blancos have struggled domestically, despite their resurgent form in Europe this term:

#5 Zidane's stubbornness

Zidane giving instructions during Real's most recent La Liga defeat

From their performances, it's clear to see that Real are not in "hunting mode" this season, which is partly due to Zidane's stubbornness. Having become the first team in modern history to win consecutive Champions League titles, whilst claiming five trophies along the way, you could understand complacency setting into Real's play upon occasion during the early weeks of the new campaign.

However, it's something that has remained constant throughout this far, as Zidane was unwilling to freshen up the squad by making new acquisitions and adding quality to an ever-improving side. What made this situation worse was the number of first-team departures during the summer window, meaning their level of squad depth became increasingly weaker.

Zidane's claims that his side were good enough to replicate last season's success were perhaps premature, as he could've easily signed two or three players to help invigorate new energy into the side. Instead, he stuck to his guns and has frustrated many with his decisions both on-and-off the pitch.

His persistence with Karim Benzema, in spite of the Frenchman's poor form this term, has also not helped his cause. It's clear that Zidane wants to get the frontline of BBC back firing once more together - but by doing so, it's restricting the amount of minutes that Marco Asensio, Lucas Vazquez and Dani Ceballos are playing, wasting their potential.

#4 Ronaldo, despite the stats, still underperforming

Ronaldo in action against Getafe last weekend

Many people would argue he cannot be considered out of form, due to the sheer number of goals he scores. Despite this, it's clear to see that Cristiano Ronaldo has been far from his best in recent months - predominantly during the first half of this campaign.

He's joint third with Celta Vigo's Iago Aspas for most league goals this season (16), but 12 of his goals have come since the start of 2018 and Ronaldo has developed a reputation for netting goals particularly when not at his best.

Many have suggested that as he ages, his physical attributes continue to diminish and as a result, defenders are finding it easier to isolate him out of possession. Perhaps this is part of his problem, though he's also transforming positions into a more complete forward as opposed to the winger blessed with blistering speed who tormented opponents in the past.

His overall contribution to the cause cannot be understated, though it'll be interesting to see just how long it takes before Ronaldo is fully at his best. The fact he's such an influential player and continues to deceive critics says it all, really.

#3 Porous backline

Ramos' rash nature in tackles, coupled with his risky defensive style, have hurt Real

Real Madrid's backline has, for all their quality, been out-of-sorts this season. Conceding goals during crucial moments in matches, they have conceded more than a goal per game and it's seriously hurting them, especially considering the fact they're struggling domestically.

Raphael Varane and in particular, Sergio Ramos, look vulnerable against quick attackers and the team appear almost lost when a dangerous counter-attack is on for their opposition.

Marcelo, for all his attacking brilliance, is quite frequently caught out of place and around 30% of goals conceded have stemmed from his flank. The ever-dependable Dani Carvajal was sidelined with a heart problem and despite Achraf Hakimi showing promise, the teenager is still too inconsistent for a regular starting spot.

In future, it appears clear that they must focus more defensively to avoid dropping points needlessly - especially when they struggle offensively against rigid opposition.

#2 Bale and Benzema both struggling

The attacking duo celebrating happier times, during their game against Deportivo Alaves

When two-thirds of the famous BBC trio are struggling, no wonder Real find themselves so far off the pace! Gareth Bale has made 27 appearances (across all competitions) this term, netting 11 and creating five more in the process - but is not a first-team regular in Zidane's current set-up. His persistent injury issues have severely affected his minutes in recent seasons.

As far as Benzema goes, the 31-year-old has been in poor form lately and statistics justify exactly that. He's created nine assists and scored only eight goals in 32 matches, which is disappointing for a player of his quality - despite being unlucky on a handful of occasions with promising opportunities squandered, hitting the post and narrow misses alike.

The supporters' lack of confidence in his ability has ultimately rubbed off on him, as he's often cautious when making decisions in the final third, whether that be passing or taking shots on goal now. As a result, speculation about his future continues to rumble.

#1 Flawed transfer policy

Just like the team, Florentino Perez (far right) has been criticised too...

Florentino Perez is set to remain Real Madrid's club president until 2021, at least. Given their domestic struggles, it's clear that he will need to act fast to buy top-quality players this summer, preparing for a massive squad overhaul.

Having won consecutive Champions League titles and eight trophies in three years, it's clear to see that their success has been hard-earned but equally, the core of their squad is slowly depleting.

By the end of this current campaign, six first-team regulars will be 30-years-old or older while their aforementioned squad depth is not as good as it previously used to be. The transfer policy has been frustrating and fairly conservative for a side like Real, given their financial power. It's clear they need to strengthen in a number of areas, namely defence, to maintain their status as one of Europe's best sides.