Striker struggles reinforcing Real’s Ronaldo reliance
Cristiano likely to be sole survivor of ‘BBC’ front line against Bayern
MADRID — Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo were once the untouchable trio, but only one of Real Madrid’s feted “BBC” can be sure of a place against Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
Ronaldo has dragged Real into the Champions League semifinals with, even by his standards, an astonishing goal glut that includes 22 in 12 games, and at least one in each of his last 11 matches in Europe.
“It’s impossible to completely stifle Ronaldo; we can only stop him as a team,” Bayern defender Jerome Boateng said on Monday.
“An attacker cannot be more complete than him — left foot, right foot, head, he controls everything and in front of the goal, he’s a machine.”
But while Ronaldo has enjoyed a fresh spurt in his new role of predatorial centerforward, his two partners have found their responsibilities reduced ahead of the first leg at Allianz Arena.
Bale’s decline began first. After returning from injury earlier this year, he was on the bench for both legs against Paris Saint-Germain and the first leg against Juventus.
The Welshman started the second leg, only to endure the humiliation of being withdrawn at halftime.
Benzema ‘blip’
Benzema’s fall has been more surprising, given the striker had been coach Zinedgolden ine Zidane’s preferred partner for Ronaldo. The Frenchman’s work rate is highly valued despite his lack of goals.
But Benzema’s link-up play has slackened, thrusting that dry patch — one goal in 10 games and only four in 24 — more clearly into view.
“He does suffer a little bit, when he misses chances he suffers but the solution is easy,” Zidane said of Benzema. “He has to keep working. It is just a little blip he is in.”
Bale and Benzema’s dips have coincided with Ronaldo’s run, a parallel that might not be entirely coincidental.
Ronaldo on a Real team centered on playing to his strengths is nothing new, but as the Portuguese has grown narrower in his scope, his teammates have had to sharpen their focus in providing service to him.
Zidane has often deployed a 4-4-2 formation in big games this season, with Lucas Vazquez and Marco Asensio preferred on the flanks for their defensive discipline and crossing ability.
Bale is not viewed as conscientious enough out wide while Benzema’s key selling point was his link-up play. When that broke down, his appeal diminished.
“I said to the pair of them the other day, they would both like to score more goals but everyone is working well,” said Zidane.
“It is always going to happen in a side like ours. There are players in good form and in the team and playing well.”
Even if playmaker Isco is selected, it means Real is likely to line up with one of its more modest-looking attacks for a crunch Champions League tie.
“I’m not worried,” Zidane said last week. “It’s true that in the last two games we have had chances and we have not taken them but now we are going to have a game on Wednesday away from home.
“We are going to try to score and what we have to do is to think positively and realize that this is football. Anything can happen, no matter who is playing on the pitch.”
It’s impossible to completely stifle Ronaldo; we can only stop him as a team.”
Jerome Boateng,