88% of Real Madrid fans want to see Benzema start on the bench
This was the finding of an AS.com poll conducted ahead of Madrid's LaLiga clash at home to Real Sociedad.
Karim Benzema's credit with the Santiago Bernabeu faithful has hit a particular low point. This was the finding of a survey conducted by AS.Com as 88% of online participants voted in favour of Zidane opting to have the French striker on the bench as Real Madrid face Real Sociedad at the Bernabeu tomorrow (kick-off 20:45 CET). Over 20.000 votes were cast in the survey and the result was conclusive.
Singled out
The 29 year old striker (along with Keylor Navas) were singled out by fans as being the guilty partys as Madrid lost recently to Sevilla 2-1 at the Sánchez Pizjuán in LaLiga. Three days later the French forward contrived to miss an excellent chance with the goal at his mercy as Madrid fell again, this time at home to Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey quarter final first leg.
Barren spell
Real Madrid fans want to see other forwards get their chance against Real Sociedad and Benzema's recent goal tally does little to help his cause. The Lyon born player has only found the back of the net on one occasion in the past seven LaLiga games (he was on target in Madrid's comfortable 5-0 win over Granada) but is still Zidane preferred striking choice over alternatives such as Morata or Mariano.
Ahead of the Copa del Rey game in Vigo, Zidane yet again came to Benzema's defence: "It's impossible for Karim to do everything perfect throughout the duration of a game".