Ranking Real Madrid's Attacking Options on Their Goalscoring Threat
So we've arrived at another international break. For the fans of club football across the world, these weeks can be torturous. But they're also a good time to take stock.
For Real Madrid, November's international break probably arrives a good time. Still depleted by injury and fresh off a 3-2 loss to Sevilla, many of Rafa Benitez's players will welcome the time off ahead of the Clasico meeting with Barcelona.
Of course, it's been in attack where Real Madrid have suffered the most injury complications, with Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez all spending extended spells on the sidelines.
Consequently, nearly all of Benitez's attacking options have enjoyed playing time to some extent this season, and across the following slides, we've ranked them on their goalscoring threat.
8. Lucas Vazquez
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Rafa Benitez has already shown plenty of faith toward Lucas Vazquez this season, awarding the former academy star three starts and seven overall appearances amid Real Madrid's injury headaches.
Encouragingly, the 24-year-old has made some important contributions when given his chance, having provided four assists already this season while operating as a creative and hard-running wide man.
In a Real Madrid team packed with central scoring threats, Vazquez's ability to maintain width is an important option to have in reserve, but it's also why he's not a genuine goalscoring threat.
Essentially, Vazquez is an old-fashioned winger, a player who hugs the sideline rather than cutting inside; his primary asset being his ability to stretch defences with his running to set up chances for others.
In 34 loan appearances at Espanyol last season, he scored just three times and, according to WhoScored.com, took just 1.1 shots per game. Despite being one of the Catalan outfit's stars, scoring wasn't his forte, and that is unlikely to change at the Bernabeu.
7. Denis Cheryshev
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Unlike Vazquez, Denis Cheryshev has found playing time difficult to come by in 2015-16 at Real Madrid. Yet to start a game this season, the Russian has played only 56 minutes across four substitute appearances and looks a likely candidate to move elsewhere either in January or next summer.
However, as he showed on loan at Villarreal last season, Cheryshev can be a scoring threat.
Predominantly used as a left-winger at El Madrigal, the 24-year-old, unlike Vazquez, prefers to let his supporting full-back supply the width while he attacks the penalty area from the left.
Possessing a powerful left boot, Cheryshev will shoot far more often when given the chance (he took 2.5 per game last season, per WhoScored.com), and he scored seven goals in all competitions for Villarreal in 2014-15.
Under manager Marcelino Garcia Toral, the Yellow Submarine's style also suited the Russian nicely, with the team's preference for swift counter-attacking football in four-man waves allowing Cheryshev to regularly trail the play before attacking the back post to provide an option for the final pass.
6. Isco
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After a strong opening in front of goal to his Real Madrid career in 2013-14, Isco's scoring rate has dropped quite considerably in the current calendar year.
Since finding the back of the net three times in four games last December, the talented playmaker has scored just three more goals in his last 42 appearances for Los Blancos.
For Isco, 23, the primary reason behind the reduction of his scoring threat has been the addition of James Rodriguez, who has pushed the Spaniard into a sort of 12th-man existence in which he's used to plug holes in various positions depending upon injuries and rotation.
Consequently, Isco's minutes in 2015 have come spread across an array of positions—central midfield, attacking midfield and the wing—depriving him of rhythm and relegating his status to behind the team's four forward stars.
5. Jese
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So far in 2015-16, we've seen small glimpses of the explosive brilliance Jese showcased when bursting to prominence in early 2014.
Against Levante, the young forward produced a sumptuous finish in the second half to secure a 3-0 victory, while his goal against Las Palmas in another comfortable win was typical Jese in its rugged power.
Of course, glimpses will likely be what the 22-year-old is restricted to in the short-term future. Since returning from a serious knee injury that halted his remarkable arrival at Real Madrid, the academy product has made only nine starts in almost 12 months. And behind the club's superstar forwards, regular playing time will continue to be elusive.
Even so, however, Jese's potency in front of goal is greater than any other member of the supporting cast, with his footwork, force, direct nature and powerful shooting suggesting he's a star forward in the making.
4. James Rodriguez
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James Rodriguez has managed only 151 minutes of football this season for Real Madrid, but already he has three goals. According to WhoScored.com, his is the best scoring rate per 90 minutes in La Liga.
Frustratingly, injury has kept the Colombian sidelined for the bulk of the campaign thus far, curtailing the threat of Rafa Benitez's side by removing its most versatile attacking option and the man whose diverse skill set builds fluency within the system.
Indeed, the multi-dimensional threat Rodriguez has developed at the Bernabeu is extremely impressive, as we explained here at Bleacher Report in September:
"A potent scorer and sumptuous provider, Rodriguez has become a formidable weapon in Madrid because of the dual threat he poses. When space is limited, when the game becomes congested around the penalty area like it was on Saturday, it's the unpredictability of Rodriguez that unlocks the game for his team-mates.
On the edge of the box, he's equally as likely to thump a strike into the top corner as he is to dink a chip to a runner; from wide, he's equally likely to beat a man as he is to flash in a devilish cross; without the ball, he's equally likely to run in behind as he is to come and get it.
What he does is make defenders second-guess themselves—his dual threat the reason, the few predictable patterns to his game stirring doubt and confusion in those trying to stop him.
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In short, the 24-year-old has rapidly become a hit at the Bernabeu, and the only reasons why he sits fourth on this list are that he spends less time in the box and takes significantly fewer shots on goal than the three men ahead of him.
3. Gareth Bale
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Had this list been done last season, Gareth Bale would have been behind James Rodriguez for his scoring threat. Out on the right, the Welshman was so often peripheral to Los Blancos' play in 2014-15 under Carlo Ancelotti, the team's shift toward a more intricate method leaving him as an awkward fit last term.
But that will steadily change this season.
Already in 2015-16 under Rafa Benitez, it's been evident that the 26-year-old is a higher priority. Prior to his injury setbacks, the club's record signing had been far more involved in Real Madrid's system playing in a more central position, pushing forward to both score and create in a sort of roaming No. 10 role.
Additionally, Benitez has spoken this season of "improving the team's physicality," clearly wanting his Madrid to be defined by power more than precision. And that should suit Bale.
To date, injury complications have prevented us from witnessing how that evolution unfolds, but there's an obvious intent to construct a team that better caters for the Welshman's strengths, which should result in a more prolific Bale.
2. Karim Benzema
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Prior to injury, Karim Benzema had been in blistering form in front of goal this season.
With seven goals in eight starts, the Frenchman looked on track to shatter his personal best for a season at Real Madrid, and he also looked poised to reach the 25-goal target Rafa Benitez had set for him in the league.
For Benzema, 27, both of those outcomes are still distinctly possible, but a lengthy lay-off has certainly made the tasks more difficult.
Regardless, what's been most notable to the striker's form in 2015-16 has been his efficiency in front of goal and the way his game has been more focused, his role narrower and more specific.
Rather than operating primarily as a central fulcrum off which others thrive, Benzema's positioning and intent has been far more like a pure No. 9's, hence his increasing hit rate.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
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We all knew who was going to be No. 1 on this list.
And it doesn't really need explaining, does it?
