SD Eibar 1-2 Real Madrid: 5 Talking Points

#3 Is it time's up for Bale and Benzema?

Gareth Bale once again cut a frustrating figure

While you have Ronaldo firing at all cylinders again, his 'BBC' counterparts Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale have been running on fumes.

The Frenchman's abject run in front of goal - just four goals in 22 La Liga games - exhausted Zidane's patience who opted to bench him today while deploying a 4-4-2 line-up with Bale and Ronaldo leading the line.

But even if the gaffer tried to find a formula to make the famed attacking troika click again, the Welshman's poor run too this season has been another cause of worry for the team.

Plagued by the recurring knee injuries, Bale has seen his time at Real Madrid curtailed tremendously on account of the same.

And even if this season has been better on that count, he hasn't been able to translate that in front of goal while his attacking contributions of any sort for that matter, have dramatically deteriorated.

Despite operating from his favoured position in the far-wide which was a successful bailiwick during his time with the Spurs, Bale's struggles see no light of the day.

And it wouldn't be an exaggeration to suggest his time at Madrid is indeed approaching its end. Just like that of Benzema.

The all-European triumvirate once destroyed every team on its way, tearing defenses asunder with their feary partnership.

But those days are long gone, as Ronaldo is left to do most of the heavy-lifting again. His resurgence to form has once again thrown Bale and Benzema in the shadows, and maybe its time Los Blancos to cut their losses a bit and make new attacking reinforcements who'll complement the Portuguese in his endeavour.