Real Madrid's draw at Real Sociedad highlights over-reliance on Karim Benzema and need to sign a goalscorer

Karim Benzema is the sole survivor of Real Madrid's 'BBC' attacking trident – and Los Blancos' reliance upon the French forward is already a concern in 2020-21.

Since Cristiano Ronaldo's departure in 2018, Madrid have found goals much more difficult to come by and with Gareth Bale now gone as well, Benzema is the last man standing from that fabled front three.

Once considered to be the weak link, Benzema was at his brilliant best last season as Zinedine Zidane's side claimed LaLiga, but Sunday's 0-0 draw at Real Sociedad highlighted the need for another goalscorer.

Madrid dominated the possession at Anoeta, but rarely looked like scoring and conceded the two best chances of the night to their rivals – an Alexander Isak shot superbly saved by Thibaut Courtois and an Ander Barrenetxea volley which flew just wide.

Benzema was off target on a couple of occasions and also saw an effort blocked, but the Frenchman endured one of his more forgettable evenings and Madrid's attack lacked a spark.

That was perhaps understandable given the lack of a proper pre-season, plus the fact that first-choice attackers Eden Hazard and Marco Asensio both missed out through injury.

But it is also a concern for Madrid's aspirations of claiming back-to-back LaLiga titles for the first time since 2008 and may be difficult to address in a transfer window which is unlikely to feature any major signings.

Real have limited funds available due to Covid-19, despite a number of big sales this summer, and Los Blancos are understood to be saving their money for one or two big transfers in 2021.

Forwards Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland will be top of their list, but how the club could do with an attacker of that calibre now to lift the load and help Benzema.

Against Real Sociedad, Zidane sent on youngsters Marvin and Sergio Arribas for their debuts, but ignored strikers Luka Jovic and Borja Mayoral despite the need for a goal.

"It's difficult because if you put on another striker, you have to change the shape and we didn't want to do that," Zidane said afterwards.

That was in line with his view last season, when Benzema played all but 14% of the total minutes in LaLiga and probably benefited more than anyone from the break during lockdown.

Madrid hit a relatively low 70 league goals in 2019-20, a minor improvement on their 63 from 2018-19. In the three previous seasons, with Ronaldo still at the club, Los Blancos scored 99, 106 and 110..

Zidane has said "anything can happen" until the transfer window closes on October 5 and former Paris Saint-Germain forward Edinson Cavani has reportedly been offered to Madrid on a two-year deal.

The Uruguayan is available for free, but Madrid would have to pay his wages of around €7 million per season. Any move would also only be likely to materialise if Jovic and Mariano (neither of whom seem to have the trust of their coach) leave the club this window.

And while such a signing would only be a short-term solution, it may boost Madrid's hopes of retaining their title until the club targets more high-profile players next summer.

Zidane would still have to play him, though...