Some areas of Real Madrid‘s squad look a little weak to challenge effectively on three fronts, as the club try to wrestle La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League back from arch-rivals Barcelona.

Perhaps the most crucial position they could do with more support in is the No. 9 spot.

Karim Benzema is a brilliant striker and if he stays fit and firing for the whole season then there might not be a problem.

But the French international suffered a knee injury toward the back end of last season and had a thigh injury at the start of this year, which kept him out of the club’s first game.

Madrid could have done with Benzema as they stumbled to a 0-0 draw against Sporting Gijon, but he returned for the next match and so did the goals.

Benzema struck against Real Betis as Madrid ran out 5-0 winners at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Rafa Benitez fully appreciates that the squad could do with another striker. According to Marca, he asked for one but was denied by the board.

The manager had suggested signing a new forward, since he’s concerned about a lack of backup for the front line. The club’s directors, however, think that the team has enough goals in it, and that the current dry spell in front of goal is only temporary. Real argue that Benitez has the world’s most lethal striker, Cristiano Ronaldo, at his disposal, as well as his eventual replacement as the team’s star player, Gareth Bale. And let’s not forget Benzema, who averages in the region of 20-30 goals a season.

Meanwhile AS said that if Rafa could choose between a forward and midfielder he would opt to sign the forward. Marco Ruiz wrote:

“He wants to have a different tactical option at his disposal. That would come from a striker who is comfortable in the area but possesses the movement of a forward. Carlo Ancelotti deployed Chicharito in that role towards the end of last season.”

Then, two days after the article was published, Madrid swooped for Mateo Kovacic.

The Croatian midfielder, signed from Inter Milan, is a hot prospect and could end up being a key Los Blancos player for years to come.

But most don’t expect him to have too much of an impact this season with Luka Modric and Toni Kroos the preferred central-midfield options.

As Ruiz mentioned, last season Madrid had Javier Hernandez, who proved to be extremely useful.

It was the Mexican who popped up with the late goal to send Atletico Madrid crashing out of the Champions League with Los Blancos progressing to the semi-finals.

Benzema is now the only out-and-out striker Madrid have, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Jese other options.

But Jese looks far more comfortable playing in wide areas at the moment, while Ronaldo is reportedly not willing to budge from his position on the left.

According to Sport, Ronaldo does not like the idea of Gareth Bale coming over to “his” left flank, while Ronaldo is pushed up top. Alejandro Alcaraz wrote:

Ronaldo is not impressed with all the tactical attention being placed on Bale and suspects that eventually he may end up on ‘his’ left side, while the Portuguese is moved up top.

…

Cristiano is not ready to step aside for Bale and feels the plan to recycle his position is a strategy from the club to leave the left forward position free for the Welshman. But that is not why he wants to stay on the left; it is because that is where he feels most comfortable and where he has had a lot of success for Madrid. As a striker, he does not feel as comfortable and does not want to play there.

All of which makes the idea that Arsenal could buy Benzema more ridiculous.

Meanwhile, with Fabio Coentrao being sold, Marcelo is the only recognised left-back at Benitez’s disposal.

Nacho can fill in for him, while playing one of Dani Carvajal or Danilo out of position is also an option, albeit not something a club like Madrid should need to do.

Madrid have a strong side, but if they get unlucky with injuries, their uneven squad may prove to be a problem.

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