Ronaldo leaves big hole in Real
Madrid struggle as others fail to step up since departure of their record goalscorer
MADRID: When Real Madrid sold Cristiano Ronaldo in July, fans and local media alike all asked the same question: how do you replace him?
Ronaldo was Real’s all-time top scorer, notching up 451 goals in 438 games in all competitions. He led the club to four Champions League titles from the last five available and was invariably the man who dug his side out of a hole with a goal from nothing just when they most needed a hero.
The message from inside the club, however, was that they did not need to make a ‘Galactico’ splash in the transfer market.
Gareth Bale, signed in 2013 for a then world-record £85.3 million from Tottenham following an extended public courting, had long been marked out by Real president Florentino Perez as the man to take over from Ronaldo.
It was also suggested that French forward Karim Benzema would be freed from the shackles many perceived the Portuguese had placed on him and finally be able to play as a central striker.
Then there was Marco Asensio. The 22-year-old is arguably the hottest prospect in Spanish football and he was earmarked for a place in the front three.
Things started well. Real enjoyed four wins and a draw from their first five La Liga games, with the trio netting eight of the 12 goals scored, while Roma were swatted aside in their Champions League group-stage opener. Bale looked the business, while Benzema threatened to become a goal-scoring machine.
However, following September’s 1-0 win over Espanyol, Real had five games without a win.
While youngster Asensio can be forgiven for having his ups and downs, Bale picked up one of the many injuries that have blighted his time in the Spanish capital and Benzema looked the shadow of a striker capable of leading the line for the European champions.
They have slipped to seventh in La Liga, behind newly-promoted Valladolid, and the pressure is mounting on new coach Julen Lopetegu. A defeat in Sunday’s Clasico would only intensify the storm clouds brewing over the Bernabeu.