Zidane knows how to get by without the 'BBC'

The trio have seen their influence fade much quicker than any fan would have predicted, having contributed just 34% of Real's goals during the first 12 games of this season, compared to 77% last term.

That figure is largely down to injuries to Bale and Benzema and Ronaldo's lengthy suspension, but it does beg the question: How long does the 'BBC' have left?

This time last year no Real fan would have predicted such a fall from grace for one of football's most feared strike forces.

First created in 2013, following the arrival of Gareth Bale, the 'BBC' had just one objective: to score goals, and that they did.

The 'BBC' broke record after record, but nowadays their power is fading. Teams do not fear them as much and due to Bale's recurring injury problems, it is rare that they even play together any more. In fact, the 'BBC' has not played together in over five months.

This has provided Zidane with something of a slection headache, with the aforementioned source reporting that it is the first time that he has had to go without his star trio for the first 12 games of a season.

In the 2013/14 season, Benzema, Bale and Ronaldo scored 64.5% of Real's goals in their first 12 games, a figure which rose to 76.1% and 77.7% in 2014/15 and 2015/16 respectively.

Last season (32.3%) and this season (34%) are the trio's least productve starts to a season. Though their failures have given Zidane the chance to hand the likes of Marco Asensio and Isco more regular first team football, chances that those two have grasped with both hands.

Zidane is no stranger to surviving without his star trio, but there is no doubt that he would rather have them all available.