Real Madrid vs Malaga: 5 key talking points

#3 Real Madrid have problems up front and it's time to face them

While they may have scored, neither Ronaldo nor Benzema were really convincing

Karim Benzema netted what is possibly the easiest goal he will score in his career when he nudged the ball into the back of the net after Ronaldo's header rebounded off the crossbar.

In the 29th minute, however, Benzema missed a sitter. Carvajal played a peach of a through ball to find Benzema in space inside the box. The Frenchman had to go across the goalkeeper but finishing that chance off is something you've come to expect of a striker who plays for Real Madrid. Well, he botched it and it perfectly summed up Benzema's season so far.

No matter how much Gareth Bale gets hounded for his lack of fitness, Real Madrid are simply not as good without him on the pitch. Lucas Vasquez is a committed and tireless worker. But on a night where he had plenty to work with, his final balls lacked gravely in terms of quality and gave hardly anything for Benzema and Ronaldo to work with in the centre.

Yet another issue that needs to be sorted out is finding the right combination in midfield. Isco drifted in and out of the game with fits of the spectacular and the mediocre thrown in tandem. Kroos was found being casual as he handed Malaga their first goal but teleported to the other side of the spectrum within 3 minutes as he delivered a spectacular ball for Casemiro to head home.