Benzema, 30, was unable to prevent Real going down to a dismal defeat at the Bernabeu, which leaves them 14 points behind their fierce rivals.

The striker himself has bagged just five goals this season - and he has hit the post (six) more than times than he’s scored.

For Madrid-based sport newspaper Marca, enough is enough.

They published an article today declaring Benzema is ‘not good enough’ for Real Madrid.

They add that the club are “crying out for a more incisive striker”.

Marca state Benzema has “always had a problem”, accuse Real Madrid of carrying him and add that he is “not a nuisance for defenders”.

And the Frenchman’s poor form in front of goal could mean Real move to strengthen their striking options in January.

Boss Zinedine Zidane made the surprising decision to play Mateo Kovacic in place of Isco in Saturday's El Clasico to strengthen the midfield.

But after a strong first half display his side were repeatedly ripped apart on the counterattack by Barca.

"I know tomorrow I'm going to be hammered for this but I'm here to make decisions and I have no regrets," Zidane said

Benzema hit the post and Cristiano Ronaldo was denied by Marc-Andre ter Stegen in a bright first half display but Luis Suarez put Barca in front 10 minutes into the second half after arriving unchallenged in the box to finish off a counterattack.

Lionel Messi struck the second goal from the penalty spot after Dani Carvajal used his arm to stop Paulinho's header going in, while substitute Aleix Vidal grabbed the third goal in injury time.

"The game would have been different if we'd scored in the first half. We didn't, and that's football," Zidane added.

"We didn't even play that badly, which is why this hurts so much. I can't be happy with how we lost but I still support my players, what they've done until now is brilliant. But today we feel devastated."