Sporting Win Shows Karim Benzema's Real Madrid Super-Sub Role Could Continue

Real Madrid made it 30 competitive matches without defeat under Zinedine Zidane on Tuesday night, a run stretching back to early April last season.

The latest victory was attained in the UEFA Champions League, as they beat Sporting CP 2-1 thanks to a late Karim Benzema goal, after Raphael Varane had earlier put his side in front from close range.

While striker Benzema made a big impact with his run into the box from deep to glance home a header, it would have been an irritation to the Frenchman to see his name listed only among the substitutes once again.

However, with Madrid picking up important wins in successive games through an altered approach from Zidane, he may need to get used to it; the super-sub role may well be his for the upcoming period of matches.

Benzema: Winner or Loser?

Real Madrid have been set up in a clear 4-2-3-1 for some time now, since the likes of Casemiro and Luka Modric were out injured, but the past two games—Atletico Madrid and Sporting—have seen far more structured versions of the same system. Lucas Vazquez and Gareth Bale manned the flanks, with Isco as a true No. 10 behind a lone striker, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Naturally, whatever formation or roles Zidane picks for his team to operate with, Ronaldo is never going to be left out of the side—that means a problem for Benzema in the current setup.

The Portuguese star is a forward, not a winger, and though it doesn't mean he has to play from the centre, it does mean he needs to be freed from the defensive responsibilities which come with playing wide in the way that Lucas and Bale are currently doing.

Thus, Ronaldo is the striker, while Benzema is the sub.

Zidane made the move to bring on his No. 9 with 25 minutes to play against Sporting, but he came on for Isco and immediately took up the same role, in the same areas; playing behind the forward, looking to get on the ball between the lines and then joining from deep into the box.

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It's obviously a different way of playing the role to Isco, a playmaker in a pure sense, but Benzema's natural inclination to break into the area whenever possible also gives a different dynamic to Real's attack. It was from one such run from deep that the winning goal came three minutes before the end.

However, beyond the three points he has helped his side pick up, what's next for Benzema?

Injuries will inevitably mean things change again before too long, but Los Blancos have El Clasico, a group-topping European game against Borussia Dortmund and the FIFA Club World Cup coming up—all key matches where Zidane will want his strongest XI.

It's possible that Benzema doesn't quite come into that right now, not because of poor form over the entire season so far, but because of the change in system and because Ronaldo can only be the forward in it—at least to keep the team balanced and effective in all areas.

If the France international wants a starting berth in a 4-2-3-1, it's Isco he'll have to replace, and the Spaniard had his best game of the season in the derby at Atleti.

Kovacic: Enormous, Again

The forward line tends to win the plaudits at Madrid, especially since the usual midfield triumvirate has been so split up of late thanks to injury.

With Casemiro, Modric and now Toni Kroos all suffering injuries one after another, though, it has been Mateo Kovacic who has been both consistently available and consistently superb.

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The Champions League win over Sporting was no exception. The Croatian was immense in battling to win back possession in front of his own defenders. He was also possessed of the awareness, timing, aggression and determination to lead the charge out of his own defensive third, either by passing through the lines or suddenly surging forward and dribbling past three or four green shirts.

His combative style merges wonderfully with an attacking instinct to make him a top performer in both halves of the pitch. Real should be extremely grateful that he has found form and confidence so quickly this season.

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Per WhoScored.com, Kovacic's numbers against Sporting were of the highest order. Nobody made more tackles than him, only centre-back Sergio Ramos (89) made more passes than him (86) and his 95 per cent pass-completion rate was head and shoulders above anyone else on the pitch. Add in the fact he had over 100 touches of the ball and his influence on the team is plain to see.

Zidane: Choices Ahead

It wasn't a perfect performance by Los Blancos by any means, but they took the win on merit and head into the final game knowing a win will see them top the group ahead of Dortmund.

Ultimately, that's all that will matter to Zidane, and confidence must be high in his side given their unbeaten status this season and top spot in La Liga.

Even so, he has decisions to make which will impact on how long that lasts for, and Tuesday's game gave further evidence of his upcoming conundrums.

• Despite an excellent derby display by Nacho, Ramos was back in the team in midweek. It took less than one half of football to see the captain's best and worst traits, with last-ditch tackles offset by shambolic passes on the edge of his own box. Varane has been a towering presence in the past two games; can the duo finally find consistency as a pairing?
• Casemiro isn't yet back to full fitness, but while he played a big part of the team's revival last term, will he have to bide his time again? Real aren't using a sitting midfielder, instead a double pivot, and Kovacic's form makes him undroppable at this point.
• Wingers Bale and Lucas combine driving power with work rate defensively, but the Spaniard wasn't particularly good against Sporting, and Bale went off injured. Per Goal, Zidane admits the Welshman could be a doubt for the Clasico on December 3.
• Marco Asensio came on in Bale's place, but the difference in his movement and on-the-ball work right now, compared to the start of the season, is enormous. It showcases just how much of a factor confidence is: A young player making waves knew no bounds, but a couple of months out of the side and he's again somewhat unsure of himself, playing safely, not forward-thinking. Patience will be required with the Spaniard.
• James Rodriguez was left unused on the bench once more; he has played 29 minutes of the last 450 available for Real Madrid, spanning an entire month. Prepare your January transfer rumours now.