The French influence is pushing Carlo Ancelotti to rethink decisions and may compel Real Madrid to reshape its squad this summer.
Real Madrid drifted a step further from the title race this Sunday after another draw and another day where the goal bucket stayed stubbornly empty. Karim Benzema remains the central focal point of the attack, his quality as a killer instinct still undeniable, yet the system shift employed this Sunday has highlighted the need for an offensive spark that can sustain the team through the late stretch of the season. The shift has yielded some improvement, but it has not yet produced the consistent firepower required to close the campaign on a high note.
The arrangement with Rodrygo playing just behind the striker has paid dividends. For a long time, the team needed a different look that would reduce overreliance on Vinícius Jr. and give opponents something new to contend with. Santos’ alumnus has been one of Madrid’s standout performers in the first half, constantly appearing in dangerous spaces, linking up play, and adding texture to the attack, which has made Madrid harder to read and harder to defend.
Yet Benzema hasn’t found his usual touch. His finishing sharpness seems to have dipped, and the absence of a reliable, clinical finish has left the forward line looking uneven. Ancelotti might consider testing Álvaro on a more regular basis against Espanyol to explore how Madrid performs without the Frenchman on the pitch. Kroos, while not hitting peak form this season, remains a quiet beacon in midfield, yet his club form has been uneven, hindering the team’s rhythm when a true anchor is needed. The German’s season has been solid overall, but lingering effects from illness after the World Cup for clubs have dampened his pace and impact.
Many voices have tied these struggles to a broader planning debate, and the case for adding a striker in the summer has been raised repeatedly. The discussion was framed differently at the outset: a new forward would serve as insurance if Benzema were sidelined, not because his level had fallen drastically. No one doubted Benzema’s status as the team’s talisman and number nine, yet the reality now is that the production and influence of Madrid’s centerpiece have dropped more sharply than expected, catching the club off guard as the season unfolds.
That reality forces Real Madrid to recalibrate their short-, medium-, and long-term strategy. The club must give Álvaro opportunities to prove himself and ensure Benzema receives support and protection so that the striker returns to peak condition for crucial cup ties and the Champions League. If Benzema continues at this dip in form, Madrid may need to explore the market in the upcoming window, seeking either a direct replacement or a flexible forward who can share the burden and maintain the team’s attacking profile. The possibility of a mid-season renewal for Benzema also becomes a live discussion if his current trajectory alters the club’s long-term plans, even for a player who has recently collected the Ballon d’Or and remains a symbol for the club’s offensive ethos.
Finding a striker in the current market who can match Real Madrid’s standards is a demanding task. Beyond the top-tier names like Haaland or Mbappé, there are few who can guarantee the same level of goal production within Madrid’s system. This reality means the evaluation of Benzema’s form becomes a barometer for the club’s future shopping strategy. If the rest of the season confirms a decline in Benzema’s output, Madrid could conclude that a signing is not a luxury but a necessity. Conversely, if Benzema regains form and the team finds balance, the market considerations might shift toward supplementary options rather than a direct replacement. The consistency of Benzema’s output will, in the end, shape Florentino Pérez’s board’s confidence in pursuing or bypassing a winter or summer addition to the forward line.
In the end, the direction Real Madrid takes will reflect a broader shift toward optimizing the squad around a high-caliber striker who can deliver at the most decisive moments. The club’s decision-making will hinge on the delicate balance between preserving the core identity of the team and embracing pragmatic changes that promise a more balanced and potent attack in the near future. The coming weeks will reveal whether Madrid believes a striker upgrade is essential or whether internal adjustments and tactical refinements will suffice to compete for major trophies in the season’s final chapters.