The BBC are the gatekeepers at the Bernabéu

Goals at the Bernabéu tend to come from either Cristiano, Benzema or Bale (who is still recovering from his soleus injury). The BBC have been behind 32 of the 35 goals Real Madrid have clocked up in the six home games since the last Clásico. With the formidable trio responsible for 91% of the team’s goals, only three other players have chipped in the scoring stakes since November’s humiliating defeat to Barcelona: Danilo (against Rayo), Lucas Vázquez (Real Sociedad) and Kovacic (Malmo).

This dependency becomes even more stark when compared with the team’s run at home up to and including the aforementioned Clásico. Back then Los Blancos had notched up 17 goals (in eight games), ten of which were stuck away by the BBC – in other words 59%. That relatively low tally resulted in five of the 18 points on offer being dropped (drawing against Malaga and losing to Barca).

The drubbing at the hands of Luis Enrique’s men spurred Cristiano, Benzema and Bale on, and since then the three have increased their goal-scoring contribution at home for Real Madrid from 59% to 62% of the team’s total tally for the season. This has resulted in the team winning their last six league fixtures at the Bernabéu.

On the back of the Clásico, 58% of the team’s away goals continue to come from the BBC (seven of Madrid’s twelve goals) and that drop off in firepower has cost them seven points (losing to Villarreal and drawing with Valencia and Betis) and left them third in the title race.