Ronaldo videobombs team-mate after this Real Madrid wonder

Under new coach Rafa Benitez, Real are looking to improve on a disappointing 2014-15 season when they failed to win any major silverware, starting on Sunday against Gijon. Marcelo’s effort saved Benitez and his teammates from further punishment from the crowd. If another league campaign passes them by, he can expect an increasingly rocky ride.

As a conclusion, it’s nearly safe to say that if Benzema leaves soon, that will be the end of Real Madrid’s aspirations to life a trophy this season – they will be left with a big void at the front, which will be nearly impossible to fill.

The main domestic challenge for Real and Benitez this term will be preventing historic rivals Barcelona winning a sixth La Liga title in eight years.

Perhaps he knows that with scoring troika of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karmin Benzema, his side is free to score goals and all his side needs to do is to reduce the number of goals they conceded.

As Bale wheeled away in delight, closely followed by team-mates Luka Modric and Dani Carvajal, Ronaldo reacted as if Madrid had conceded rather than scored. While Ancelotti has always been more about fitting tactics around stars, Benitez will surely require his squad to occupy more defined roles.

The Galatasaray boss also fielded 20-year-old former Real Madrid midfielder Jose Rodriguez in the match at Bernabeu.

Concerns remain over the form of Gareth Bale, who was jeered by sections of the Santiago Bernabeu crowd in the Galatasaray match after a subdued performance. Here is what Bale needs to do.

He said: “I’ve placed a lot of trust in him and Benzema has sufficient resources to operate in all types of attack with any attacker”.

Below are Real Madrid’s top five preseason goals.

In his first outing for Real Madrid during the preseason, it took James no longer than ten minutes to get his name on the scoresheet, converting a sublime free-kick from distance.