Marco Asensio among the three massively under-performing Real Madrid players

Injuries to Gareth Bale, Marcelo and Isco have not helped matters but there is no doubt early season optimism under former Spain boss Julen Lopetegui has faded.

Here, we look at three players who have struggled to perform of late…

MARCO ASENSIO 

This was meant to be the 22-year-old’s key season.

There is no doubt the Majorcan will be a Los Blancos star and La Roja hero for years to come, but with Cristiano Ronaldo now a thing of the past at the Bernabeu, much was expected of Asensio.

He needed to hit the ground running this term and become the focal point in attack. Thus far, though, that has not been the story.

Despite having played over 100 games for Madrid (an incredible feat given his age), lack of experience is not an excuse which can be attributed to Asensio’s lethargic recent displays and below-par 2018-19 campaign, yielding just a solitary goal against Espanyol in La Liga, which was his first since February.

Playing to the left of an ineffective Karim Benzema in Moscow did not help matters in a 4-3-3 system while reverting to a 4-4-2 made no difference as he moved into a front two.

Asensio just couldn’t get into the game even though he drifted deep, moved into the channels and tried to get in the box, his rewards were futile.

He had a long-range shot palmed away by Igor Akinfeev but seems to be lacking that penetrative edge, something his team-mates are also guilty of. He more than most at Los Blancos represents the frustration which currently swirls around Lopetegui’s struggling side.

RAPHAEL VARANE

Toni Kroos’ shocking second minute blind pass was of course unexpected but the France World Cup winner was far from switched on as Everton loanee Nikola Vlasic beared down on goal, twisted him inside out, and fired CSKA Moscow into an early lead on Tuesday night.

He was clearly unsettled not playing with long-term lieutenant Sergio Ramos, who was rested by Lopetegui, but the four-time Champions League winner has generally endured a half-paced start to the campaign.

Real’s paucity in attack and lack of punch at the top of the pitch has unbalanced Madrid, piling more pressure on the defence to keep things tight in the process.

Frenchman Varane might have a slight hangover from an heroic summer for his country – in which he was a standout defender making more headed clearances (26) than any other player and second-most clearances altogether (39), however, he needs to quickly become more of an authoritarian voice at the back and regain the spark that made him one of Real’s standout performers during the second-half of last season as he again helped his team to European glory.

Indeed, with debutant Sergio Reguillon in the backline and Nacho coming back into the fold, 25-year-old Varane had a golden chance to execute his leadership skills but ultimately failed when it mattered most.

KARIM BENZEMA 

Initially, the experienced Frenchman seemed to have a new lease of life following the summer exit of Ronaldo. Four La Liga goals in the first three matches of the season ignited the new era, in tandem with Asensio and Bale in a front three, but six goalless outings have followed.

Staggeringly, the 30-year-old has managed only 13 shots during those matches but failed to hit the target on every single occasion.

Over 400 minutes without a goal has compounded a lack of form in which no assists have been contributed and he has failed to carry the burden of a side completely lacking a firm cutting edge.

Mariano Diaz has made a promising start to his second coming in a Real jersey and it will surely not be long until the former Lyon man is handed the reigns full-time.

Given Benzema’s last campaign under Zinedine Zidane was lacklustre and delivered just five league goals in 32 appearances, there is little evidence to suggest he can quickly turn things around in what is his tenth season at the Bernabeu.