Real Madrid literally have a glaring problem. Their forwards are firing blanks, a fact made all the more evident by Kylian Mbappe's recent dip in form.

Three games without a goal is a reality many strikers face. However, it's more concerning in the Frenchman's case, as he had been scoring in almost every match this season. Blanking against Liverpool, Rayo Vallecano and Elche isn't necessarily a blight on his season, but it does highlight the fact that those around him aren't performing to the required standard. Even Karim Benzema himself alluded to this.

To begin with, three of the Real Madrid attackers are yet to celebrate a goal with December fast approaching. This is the case for Rodrygo, Endrick and Gonzalo. While it's true that none of them are regular starters, there are mitigating circumstances. Especially for the former Flamengo player, who has already featured in 14 different matches. We have to go back to March 4th to find his last goal (against Atletico, in the Champions League). Since then, he's gone 30 matches without finding the net. That's far too long when you're wearing such a prestigious shirt.

Rodrygo se lamenta de ocasion fallida en el Real Madrid-Barcelona de Liga

Endrick's situation is more understandable, as he's only played 14 minutes due to injury and the fact that he's not in Xabi Alonso's plans. The 1st of April, in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final, was the last time he celebrated a goal.

There's not much to fault Gonzalo for either. Of the ten appearances he's made for the first team this season, he received the most minutes in the recent match against Elche, playing for half an hour. In added time, he came within millimetres of tapping in what would have been the winning goal.

Gonzalo se lamenta de un gol fallado en el Elche-Real Madrid

Vinicius under scrutiny

The goalscoring form of Vinicius is more questionable. Despite Xabi substituting or benching him more often than he'd like, the numbers don't support his complaints about the coach: he's now gone seven games without scoring since his double against Villarreal on October 4th. With a total of five goals in 17 matches this season, reaching twenty, as he's done in the previous four seasons, will be difficult.

Brahim has also gone seven games without a goal. The man from Malaga is another who's resigned to making more appearances as an impact substitute (10) than as a starter (4). Against Kairat Almaty, back on September 30th, he rounded off the 0-5 win in added time and celebrated for the last time.

Vinicius se lamenta de una accion fallida en el Rayo Vallecano-Real Madrid

Franco Mastantuono is currently injured, although he'd already gone six appearances without scoring when his pubalgia was detected. In fact, the goal he scored in the 1-4 win against Levante (September 23rd) was his only one in his new era as a Real Madrid player.

If it hadn't been for Bellingham, who has carried the team in the goalscoring department since opening his tally against Juventus, the current doubts surrounding Xabi Alonso's project could have had even greater consequences.

F. Mastantuono

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