How much longer will we have to put up with Benzema in the starting XI?

How much longer will we have to put up with Karim Benzema in the starting XI? This is a question Real Madrid supporters have been asking themselves for some time now. It is possible that a youngster like Mariano would be leading the Pichichi race right now if he received the same opportunities Benzema is given. In any case, with each and every game that goes by, the case for Alvaro Morata to start couldn't be more obvious. It is clear as day.

Real Madrid did not have it as easy [against Alaves] as the score indicates. True, the 1-0 was down to a Keylor Navas mistake, which he later amended by avoiding Alaves from making it 2-2 at the start of the second half. And it wasn't so easy for him because it took Zinedine ZIdane far too long to send Benzema to the showers and sub Morata in. Before that, Cristiano Ronaldo may have missed a penalty, but he can be forgiven for anything. His hat-trick serves as a reminder to all of those that thought he was struggling in front of goal.

Gareth Bale too should have been substituted alongside Benzema. The only contribution the Welshman had all game was earning the penalty which Cristiano Ronaldo duly scored. For the most part, there are players like Lucas Vazquez who offer a lot more to the team at that stage of the match. Bale, though not as exasperating as Benzema, is everyday further away from being a future Ballon d'Or winner or player worth 100 million euros. Although this might not be entirely his fault, because the coach and the team have to bring out the best in his abilities.

At the end of the day, Real Madrid are still league leaders. But I fear that against Legia Warsaw and Leganes Zidane will keep the same players in until they find themselves, which is something Real can't afford to do against Atletico Madrid at the Estadio Vicente Calderon.