Why 25 Goals Is a Realistic Aim for Real Madrid's Karim Benzema in 2015-16

So it's five from five then: Rafa Benitez will be pleased. 

"I told him that the target is 20-25 goals and he is on the right track," the Real Madrid manager said last week after his side's 2-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao. The man he was talking about: Karim Benzema.

That evening, it had been Benzema's brace that had seen Real Madrid past Athletic at the San Mames in the first genuine test of the season for Benitez's men. Though the goals weren't exactly vintage from the Frenchman—one came after a dreadful defensive error, the other a tap-in—they were vitally important and continued a strong opening to the season from Madrid's No. 9. 

After missing the league opener against Sporting Gijon, Benzema has five goals in five league appearances, Malaga the only side to deny him thus far. In the league, no one has more, not even Cristiano Ronaldo. And with his strike against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, Benzema's overall record reads six in seven. 

It's a rapid start. And one we probably didn't see coming. 

During the summer, while the persistent speculation over his future in the Spanish capital always felt overblown, there was a certain sense of doubt over his role, his fit in a changing Real Madrid team. Some felt he'd be squeezed out, and it was easy to understand why. 

Rafa Benitez was coming with his characteristic 4-2-3-1 shape, places in attack limited, the competition fierce. To be accommodated were an evolving Ronaldo, a dissatisfied Gareth Bale and an impressive James Rodriguez, and behind them was a supporting cast of Isco, Jese, Lucas Vazquez and Denis Cheryshev—the latter two what you'd call distinctly "Benitez" players due to their work rate.

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Thus, it was possible to envisage an attacking setup in which Benzema might be an awkward fit, one spearheaded by Ronaldo who'd be fed by others. But that hasn't come to fruition; Benitez has stuck with Benzema and the results to date speak for themselves. 

"Benzema is a great player. He is a different number nine," the Real Madrid boss said of the Frenchman. "He and Cristiano have become a very good pairing."

Benitez is clearly of the belief that the presence of the man linked with Arsenal all summer is not only a potent threat himself, but beneficial to those around him. And it's hard to disagree. 

Though he's the least heralded of the BBC trio, Benzema is an ideal companion for the likes of Ronaldo and Bale. Unselfish, creative, not at all shot-hungry, a sort of central fulcrum, the Frenchman neatly complements those around him rather than competes.

Ronaldo in particular works off him, Bale will too with increasing frequency now that he's playing centrally, and Rodriguez will tell you the presence of Benzema is vitally important for him to be able to do things like this.

Such traits, of course, have long been evident, but changes in management always give rise to questions: Will he start? Will he fit? Will he thrive?

Those questions have been answered now, though; Benzema's place is assured. And the 25-goal target looks realistic. 

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Indeed, though he's only ever passed 20 in a league season once, the 27-year-old has never been made a priority at the Bernabeu. Either in competition for the No. 9 berth or stuck in an auxiliary role, the former Lyon star has never previously had a public target set for him, a challenge put before him from a platform of unconditional support. 

Essentially, his job description for much of his Bernabeu tenure has been something like: score and create when you can, but there are others trying to do the same, don't get in the way. 

Not anymore. 

While Ronaldo's supremacy remains unquestioned, Benzema is no longer an unfashionable sidekick. With a specific target set for him, with his manager's backing, with goals already justifying the faith, the Frenchman looks poised for his best season yet, one in which he is a priority and not a taken-for-granted afterthought. 

Right now, it's five from five. The target is another 20 away. 

Few at this point will be backing against him to hit it.