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

#4 Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

Cristiano Ronaldo has the worst conversion rate among goalscorers in Europe

Goals in La Liga: 1

The two players to have taken the most shots on goal in La Liga are the usual suspects. Lionel Messi is top of the list with 69 shots followed by Ronaldo with 48.

But where Messi has scored 12 times, Ronaldo has found the back of the net just once - a sole winner against mid-table side Getafe.

How a goal scoring machine in seasons past and three-time Pichichi winner has only managed to score just one goal in La Liga is almost beyond comprehension. A man who has averaged more than 35 league goals a season since his move to Real Madrid has only scored once in seven games (630 minutes).

One cannot fault him for a lack of effort, though. No matter what formation Zidane employs, it is to ensure Ronaldo is as close as goal as possible - be it a 4-3-1-2 or 4-4-2 (alongside Benzema) or a 4-3-3 (up front in Benzema's absence).

But no matter what Ronaldo has done, he has been denied by the goalkeeper, the woodwork, and some very good defending to keep him quiet.

Ronaldo has had 13 shots on target and 11 shots blocked. He has also been unlucky to hit the bar or post on a number of occasions.

Cristiano Ronaldo's shot chart in La Liga (Image courtesy of Squawka)

While he has absolutely no problems scoring in the Champions League (6 goals in 4 appearances), it took him 28 shots to net his first (and so far only) La Liga goal of the season. Nobody else in Europe had taken as many shots without scoring.

He has attempted shots with his right foot, his left foot, and his head. He has made the right runs in behind the defence, he's switched wings on occasion to exploit defensive weaknesses, and he has even moved out wide to facilitate attacks. He actually has more assists (2) than goals in the league so far.

Ronaldo maybe FIFA's 'Best' Player in the world but he is no longer a force to reckon with when he's standing over a free-kick. His poor conversion rate from set-pieces where he either hits the wall or misses the target altogether has seen goalkeepers gain confidence.

The goals will come, though. It is only a matter of time.

"We believe that he will make a difference. He is not doing it now by scoring in the league, but he is in the Champions League and he also does other things. He is helpful to the team and in the end he will make a difference." - Zidane