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Benzema’s slow start to the season proves Ancelotti’s rotation methods are dangerous
Real Madrid enjoyed a dream 2021/22 campaign as they won the La Liga title, the UEFA Champions League and the Spanish Supercup.
The likes of Vinicius Junior, David Alaba and Luka Modric enjoyed brilliant seasons, but one man who stood apart at a whole new level was Karim Benzema.
The 34-year-old superstar enjoyed a stunning campaign, finishing with a tally of 44 goals and 15 assists from 46 matches in all competitions. He scored important goals all throughout the campaign, often dragging Real Madrid over the line almost single-handedly.
So, it should not come as a surprise that Benzema is currently the popular choice to win the Ballon d’Or 2022.
While Benzema’s 2021/22 season was on a completely different level, things have not started all too well for the 34-year-old in the new campaign.
Slow start for Benzema in 2022/23
The numbers will tell us that Benzema already has three goal involvements (two goals, one assist) from three matches in all competitions in the new season. However, he has looked well below his best in all of those games, and one of the goals has come from the penalty spot.
In his two matches in La Liga this season, Benzema has missed as many as six big chances according to stats procured from Sofascore. That is the highest number by any player in the competition after two matchdays.
Having scored just once from 12 shots, the French international’s goal conversion rate stands at a lowly 8.33%. In comparison, Benzema had missed 18 big chances throughout the last La Liga season (32 matches), while his goal conversion rate stood at 21%.
Is the lack of rotation by Ancelotti the issue?
While it is too early in the season to set the alarm bells ringing, it is evident that Benzema is not performing at his optimum levels. He had some fitness problems which prohibited the striker from participating fully in the pre-season, and it could take time for him to regain his rhythm.
However, the underlying cause for the said fitness problems and the resulting slow start to the new campaign could very well be the lack of rest and rotation provided to him by manager Carlo Ancelotti last season.
Of Real Madrid’s 38 La Liga matches, Benzema played 32, with only one of those appearances coming off the bench. On top of that, he started 12 out of their 13 Champions League matches beginning from the group stage to the finals while also featuring twice in the Spanish Supercup.
When not playing for Real Madrid, Benzema was away representing France during the international break. Indeed, between September last year and this summer, he played in ten of Les Bleus’ 13 games.
While he has done brilliantly to stay as fit as he is, this amount of relentless game-time might be having an adverse effect on Benzema’s performances.
Imprudence not to sign a new striker
During Ancelotti’s first spell in charge, the Italian did not rotate his players during the 2013/14 campaign.
And while that season brought them the coveted La Decima, Real Madrid would go on to suffer several injury problems in the next term, which helped Barcelona to beat them to the La Liga title.
Ancelotti has insisted that he will rotate his troops more regular this season, especially with the World Cup set to be played midway through the season.
However, at this point, Real Madrid have no backup for Benzema in the No. 9 role and banking on him in every game could end up taking a toll on the Frenchman, in turn affecting the club’s trophy ambitions.
Also, Benzema will soon be turning 35 years old. So it would only make sense for the club to use him more judiciously. And hence, not signing a new striker before the transfer window could prove to be an imprudent move.
Following their narrow 1-0 win over Villarreal in La Liga, Real Madrid are in action tonight in the UEFA Champions League as they take on AS Roma in Matchday two of the league phase.
The Spanish capital giants kicked off their European campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu. They will now be eager to make it two in two in the competition tonight at Stadio Olimpico.
Things will be anything but easy though considering the solid start that the Giallorossi have made under Gian Piero Gasperini, stitching together a seven-game unbeaten run, although they have only one win in their last four matches.
Roma’s first Champions League of the game against Fenerbahce also ended in a 1-1 draw last month. Nonetheless, buoyed by their home support, the Serie A bigwigs will fancy their chances, especially against a Real Madrid side that has yet to find its best version.
Los Blancos go into the game with four absentees: Eder Militao, Raul Asencio, Rodrygo Goes, and Ferland Mendy, with the Frenchman being not registered in the competition.
Vinicius Jr. will be available for the game as his impending suspension for a red card against Villarreal will only be applicable in La Liga. Meanwhile, Dean Huijsen is back in the squad after missing Saturday’s game due to a suspension.
Here’s how Jose Mourinho could set his Real Madrid team up as he returns to Stadio Olimpico to face his former employers.
Defence
Thibaut Courtois remains an undisputed starter in goal and one of Real Madrid’s most important players on the pitch. Having secured his second clean sheet of the season over the weekend, the Belgian ace will hope to add another on tonight.
Meanwhile, in defence, Dean Huijsen, back after serving his suspension, is expected to feature from the get-go. He will partner up with summer signing Ibrahima Konate, meaning Antonio Rudiger will drop to the bench against his former club.
There is likely to be a change at left-back as well with Marc Cucurella set to replace Alvaro Carreras, who started the league game against Villarreal.
On the right side of the defence, Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to hold on to his place ahead of Denzel Dumfries.
Midfield
Jose Mourinho has yet to figure out his best double pivot pairing in the middle of the park for Real Madrid.
For now, though, the Portuguese tactician is expected to continue keeping faith in the pairing of Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni, despite the pair failing to provide the necessary control and creativity from the central areas.
Bernardo Silva could finally make an appearance off the bench after having seemingly disappeared from the manager’s plans in recent games.
As for the attacking midfield slot, there is simply no looking past Jude Bellingham, who has been Real Madrid’s best player so far this season under Mourinho.
Attack
Vinicius Jr. was benched by Jose Mourinho against Villarreal. The Brazilian came on in the second half for what turned out to be an eventful cameo capped off with a disallowed goal and a red card.
Seeing as he will be unavailable for at least two games in La Liga, Mourinho is expected to use him as a starter against Roma tonight. That, however, means Yan Diomande will drop out of the lineup immediately after scoring his first goal for Real Madrid.
On the right side of the attack, Arda Guler has impressed heavily and will hold on to his place, with his vision and creativity set to be extremely crucial.
Kylian Mbappe will make his 100th Champions League appearance, starting as Real Madrid’s centre-forward.
