Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Real Madrid: Five Talking Points

#5 An off day for Bale and Benzema

With zero shots on target, Benzema had a tough day in office

Barely three games into the post-Cristiano Ronaldo era, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema had already done enough to soothe the frayed nerves and suggest the Portuguese won't be missed after all. The Welshman had scored in all three games before this, while his French counterpart had bagged a brace in each of the last two outings. But both fired a blank today and marked an off-day in front of the net.

Benzema was starved of service and his efforts from a distance were easily dealt with by Simon. His only real opportunity of the night was when the ball fell to him after Asensio fluffed in a one-on-one, but lashed a shot into the stands. Bale tried to work his magic from the flanks, but it won't until the second half that he truly came to life. The Welsh wizard may not have worked his magic today, but was directly involved in the equaliser when he laid a brilliant cross from the byline for Isco to head home.

So that's a goal or an assist in all four league games for him now. Not a bad start by any means. Bale and Benzema will obviously start firing again, but Real Madrid need those goals more in tough games like this. Today is a timely reminder of the same.