Why are La Liga's top forwards struggling to score goals this season?

#3 Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)

Karim Benzema is yet to get going this season

Goals in La Liga: 1

It is safe to say that Karim Benzema has reached a crossroads in his career at Real Madrid. Ever since his explosive 2015/16 season when he scored 24 goals in the league, he has regressed and now looks a shadow of his former self.

Last season saw Benzema's contributions decline and this season has only seen his stock fall further than ever before, even sparking a debate between television pundit Gary Lineker and manager Zinedine Zidane.

Is it me or is Benzema a tad overrated? A goal every other game in a team as strong as Real Madrid is nada especial. Decent not great.

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) October 17, 2017

"It bothers me when people talk badly about my players. For me, Benzema is the best. For me, a striker doesn’t only need to score goals. Karim has everything, not only the goals." - Zidane

Except that Benzema isn't performing well in other aspects of the game either. As the centre-forward, he is expected to take more shots on goal.

Of course, Cristiano Ronaldo's role has evolved into that of a strike partner than a wide forward and it has affected Benzema's ability to find space in the box. Teammates prefer to find Ronaldo who always seems to find the better position.

Benzema's injury early in the season may have hampered his form but this has been a theme since the 2016/17 season. The number of shots he has on goal has reduced drastically and with whatever chances he does get to take shots on goal, his conversion rate has been deplorable.

Karim Benzema's shot chart La Liga (Image courtesy of Squawka)

There was a time when Benzema's name used to be the first name on the scoresheet for Real Madrid before the game opened up and allowed Ronaldo to do his thing. Sadly, those days are few and far between now.

The Frenchman's lack of drive should also be questioned. While Ronaldo is doing everything in his power to get involved, Benzema cuts a disinterested figure at times - highlighted by his non-commital attitude to counter-attacks while everyone else is busting a lung to get up field.

If injuries are hampering his form, perhaps he should recover completely before Zidane starts him more often. But with a lack of squad depth, that looks unlikely.

3 - Players with the most big chances missed/scored in La Liga this season:W. Ben Yedder 8/2KARIM BENZEMA 7/1Christian Stuani 7/5Doubts. pic.twitter.com/VaLzcLMqnZ

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) November 5, 2017