Real Madrid 5 bookings in 202 La Liga matches

"Benzema is a great lad. He doesn't even pick up cards", voices at the Bernabéu exclaimed to defend the forward's innocence after news of 'Valbuena-gate' broke. And the stats show that, at least in disciplinary terms, they couldn't have been more right. The 'Los Blancos' number 9's conduct on the pitch is exemplary: indeed, he is one of the cleanest players to have ever represented the club.

The French striker has only been shown five yellow cards in 202 La Liga appearances and has never been sent off. These are numbers that his strike partners, particularly Cristiano Ronaldo, can only dream of. The Portuguese star has been booked 28 times and racked up four red cards, while Bale, in four fewer years than Benzema, has already compiled more cautions (six). There is also no comparison with his Barça counterparts: in the period since Benzema moved to La Liga, in 2009, Messi has had his name taken 20 times, while Neymar has collected 16 bookings in three years and Luis Suárez seven in a season and a half.

Benzema has repeatedly stated in interviews that he is completely in the zone during games, only thinking about the match and blocking out both the atmosphere and the referee. This explains why he rarely has those rushes of blood to the head that lead players to launch into lunging tackles or to square up to opponents, and hardly ever protests or complains.

Perversely, though, this virtue has also worked against Benzema as it has given rise to the popular misconception of the former Lyon marksman as being lazy or not caring enough. Nevertheless, the 28-year-old remains proud of his whiter-than-white disciplinary rap sheet, which is virtually unique in Spanish football.