Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo are neck and neck with goals scored in the 2018-19 season, with the former Real Madrid team mates tied on 17.
When Ronaldo departed from the Spanish capital for Juventus in the summer, Benzema was charged with replacing the Portuguese international's goals at the club, by previous manager Julen Lopetegui.
The French international struggled at the start of the season, with just four goals in his first 11 games of the season in La Liga and Champions League action.
However he has regained his form under new boss Santiago Solari, and his brace against Girona in the Copa del Rey in midweek lifted him up to sixth on the all time list of Real Madrid goal scorers, ahead of Hugo Sanchez.
Benzema's form is a significant improvement on last season, where he had just six goals at this stage of 2017-18, compared to Ronaldo, who had 20 by now, in his final season at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The former Lyon man – who has scored all 17 of his goals from inside the box – is only bested by Lionel Messi this season, with the Barcelona captain on 27 in all competitions.
