Real Madrid: Most valuable bench of the Spanish League

Real Madrid's bench is the most valuable in 'La Liga' (Spanish League) in more senses than one. No other team in the division makes more use of its benchwarmers, who have enjoyed 2495 minutes of action in total, an average of 89 a match. Second in the 'subs table' is Betis, with 2340 minutes (83 a game).

Khedira, Özil and Pepe at the bench

Sitting in the dugout next to Jose Mourinho must be a restless experience, because the Portuguese has rung the changes far more frequently this campaign. In his first two years in charge, the subs' average run-out totalled 70 minutes a match, far from the highest in the league. This figure has increased by 20 minutes a game, a sizeable difference that tells its own story.

Indeed, the Real Madrid manager has pulled players from the firing line before the restart in 13 of his side's 28 fixtures. In total, he has made 17 substitutions at half-time, a figure unmatched by any other club.

On most of these occasions, a slow start has required Mourinho to fish for a reaction. This was the case in the club's last league match, at home against Mallorca. With Real Madrid trailing 2-1 at the interval, the Portuguese drafted Benzema and Özil in for Morata and Arbeloa. The comeback did not take long to materialise, with 'Whites' taking just 13 minutes to open up a 4-2 lead. A similar scenario unfolded away at Deportivo. Khedira, Ronaldo and Özil were introduced in one fell swoop and a 1-0 deficit duly became a 2-1 victory.