Real Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui has insisted that Karim Benzema can end the 2018-19 campaign as the top scorer in La Liga.

Benzema only managed five league goals for the Spanish giants last season, but has already registered four times in three appearances at the start of the 2018-19 campaign.

The Frenchman netted a brace in Madrid's 4-1 win over Leganes on Saturday night, and Lopetegui has said that the centre-forward can pick up the Pichichi Trophy for the top goalscorer in La Liga this term.

"Why can't he be Pichichi? Why can't he end up with 30 or 40 goals? The most important thing is the team. The goals come from the work of the whole team and someone has the honour, proximity and quality of scoring them," Lopetegui told reporters.

Los Blancos have won all three of their league matches at the start of the new season.