So far this season, Benzema has been accused of failing to lead the line and failing to support his team-mates, pretty damning assessments of his performances all things considered.
Unlike during his goal droughts of the past, Benzema has not been able to hide behind his tally of assists or the fact that he still a part of an effective strike force on this occasion.
The Frenchman has scored just two goals and provided just two more in 936 minutes of game time spread across 13 games in all competitions so far this campaign.
That means that the experienced striker directly contributes to a goal every 234 minutes and scores one every 468 minutes (every 5.2 games), figures that are simply not good enough for a starting striker in a team of Real's stature.
In the Madrid derby, Benzema played 75 minutes and failed to muster a single shot. It is possible that Zidane's system doesn't suit the player and that he is playing a role that doesn't suit his best talents.
In playing to Zidane's orders, Benzema is doing his compatriot some favour, running himself into the ground for the team, knowing that he will be jeered by the crowd in doing so.
Perhaps the problem is not Benzema. Perhaps the problem belongs to Real Madrid. A Real Madrid in which Cristiano Ronaldo has struggled just as much in front of goal in the league.
However, Ronaldo has managed six goals in the Champions League, though when you break them down, even that record isn't as impressive as it seems. The Portuguese scored a brace against minnors APOEL at the Bernabeu, before scoring another against a Dortmund side that are leaking goals for fun at the momnet (Though that tendency could be traced back to the defeat to Real), a penalty against Spurs on home soil and a scrappy goal in the reverse fixture in London when Real were already 3-0 down.
And that's without mentioning Gareth Bale, though perhaps that's for the best. The Welshman has played 718 minutes across nine games this term and has spent almost as much time injures as he has available. Despite that, the winger three goals and four assists to his name, a record that should embarrass his team-mates in attack.