Despite boasting eight Ballon d'Or nominees in their ranks, the Spanish giants have under-performed across the board in 2018-19

Getty Images1Marco Asensio

With Cristiano Ronaldo out of the picture, 2018-19 should have presented the perfect opportunity for Asensio to step up and become a star at the Bernabeu. 

The 22-year-old, however, has so far failed to fulfil that promise, netting just once in La Liga during a series of underwhelming showings. 

Saturday's defeat against Eibar marked a new nadir for Asensio, who was hauled off for Vinicius Junior after 74 ineffectual minutes and with his side trailing by three.

AdvertisementGetty Images2Gareth Bale

Who could forget Bale's stunning overhead kick that set Real Madrid on the way to victory over Liverpool and a third straight Champions League title last May? Unfortunately for the Welshman, Madrid fans have short memories. 

After a bright start to the season, Bale is now struggling terribly to take command of Real's Ronaldo-less attack, having failed to score in La Liga since September 1.  

Just like Madrid, Bale has been more impressive in the Champions League but he was attacked by both the supporters and the press for his lack of goals, leadership and – most damningly of all – defensive effort after Saturday's horror show at Eibar.

Getty Images3Karim Benzema

Karim Benzema has been far from the prime culprit for Madrid's malaise this season. 

Always a ferocious competitor, the Frenchman has stepped up his efforts to lead the Merengue attack following the loss of Ronaldo to Juventus and has been sporadically excellent. 

At a club like Madrid, however, a scoring rate of nine goals in 18 games – with six of those coming in three blowout wins over the less than formidable Girona, Leganes and Viktoria Plzen – is simply not good enough.

He simply hasn't stepped up when Real have needed him most, as underlined by his costly failure to take an excellent chance to open the scoring in the embarrassing loss at Eibar.

Getty Images4Dani Carvajal

Like fellow full-back Marcelo, Carvajal's season has been severely affected by injury. 

The Spain international returned for a cameo off the bench against Eibar after almost two months inactive due to a calf injury and could do nothing to change the course of a humbling defeat. 

Madrid fans must now hope his fitness worries are behind him and he can regain the form that made him a cornerstone of those three Champions League wins.