Real Madrid’s preseason woes have cast a shadow over their attacking depth, and fans are growing restless. Without Cristiano Ronaldo, who has yet to return from an extended break, the team’s frontline looks toothless. Supporters who follow football with the same energy they give to Live Cricket Bangladesh are witnessing an unusual drought: after three friendlies, Madrid’s forwards—Benzema and Bale—have failed to score a single goal.

During the high-stakes match against Barcelona, Gareth Bale was nearly invisible. He touched the ball only 12 times—the fewest of any Real Madrid player on the pitch. Once known for his explosive power and pace, Bale now averages one goal every 215 minutes, a steep drop from his earlier rate of 125. In contrast, Ronaldo scores every 98 minutes. Benzema, Madrid’s other central forward, has also seen a decline. Once a reliable presence in the box, he now needs 170 minutes per goal and has shown signs of sluggishness. Against Manchester City, he failed to meet a Modrić through-ball, and in the Barcelona game, he selfishly went for goal instead of passing to Asensio in a promising counterattack.

With only eight days left until Madrid face Manchester United for their first title match of the season, fans are asking: without Ronaldo, can a Bale-Benzema duo really get the job done? Judging by their current form, the answer isn’t optimistic. The club is missing the cutting edge that Ronaldo once delivered so consistently. It’s no surprise that Monaco’s rising star Kylian Mbappé has become Zidane’s top transfer target. With Morata sold—after netting 20 goals last season—Madrid has yet to reinforce its attack.

Despite Zidane’s public confidence in the current squad, preseason has revealed glaring weaknesses. All four goals across three matches came from midfielders—Casemiro, Kovacic, Asensio, and Óscar Rodríguez. That statistic alone underscores the poor form of the front line. While Bale was expected to step up, he’s yet to justify that faith. Across three matches, he’s taken just three shots and scored none. The silence around the goalposts has been deafening.

Zidane previously praised Bale for completing a full preseason for the first time, suggesting it would be a breakout year. But so far, the Welshman’s impact has been underwhelming. With Ronaldo absent and Mbappé still only a possibility, Madrid’s need for a new spark is more urgent than ever.

For fans around the world—especially those who keep up with both global football and Live Cricket Bangladesh—this Real Madrid squad doesn’t yet look ready for silverware. Unless something changes fast, their season might begin with more questions than answers.