The French striker was remarkably quiet after a few weeks of electricity in front of goal
Zinedine Zidane has no plans to stop Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema as he has slowly vowed Eden Hazard back to full game fitness.
Benzema failed to record one shot on goal in a 2-0 win in Madrid over Celta Vigo in La Liga on Saturday and missed the target twice from good posts.
The 33-year-old has started 15 of Madrid’s 17 La Liga games this season and only goalkeepers Thibaut Courtois and Raphael Varane have played more minutes.
When asked at a post-match media conference whether Benzema, who has scored eight goals in La Liga, needed a break, after a slightly jaded display, Zidane disagreed.
“I don’t think he’s tired,” Zidane said. “I think he did well and I took it off so another player could play. We are in good spells. We are doing the right things and we have to keep going. us like this. “
Hazard came off the bench for another run out late in the second half against Celta as he stepped back from injury start to the season.
“We’re going to go gradually,” Zidane said. “Gradually, you have to get emotions back.”
“We have to take it slow and not push anything. It has to get back to its best and take it slow. That’s all there is to it.”
Madrid’s possession against Celta was at 41 per cent and was the lowest recorded in a win under Zidane at home in all competitions.
The Madrid head coach, however, was satisfied with the way he was able to manage the game against Celta.
“We played a whole game from start to finish,” Zidane explained.
“We controlled the game well, we had a good balance, when it came to pushing up and getting the ball back, we did everything well.
“You have to keep control when the competitive game has strong moments in the game, but the feelings are good, out of nine games we won six and three draws.”
Goals from Lucas Vazquez and Marco Asensio gave Madrid the win as the pair helped each other in the fourth duo to mix between them in one La Liga game this season.
Zidane said: “I am happy for Asensio. He was seriously injured and is now much better and getting better every time.
“Vazquez is very reliable, very involved and I’m happy for what he does. We played a really bad game. I’m happy for everyone.”