Hazard return poses conundrum for Real as Clasico, City loom

Eden Hazard’s return should prove timely ahead of a crucial week for Real Madrid, but fitting him into the team may not be a simple task for Zinedine Zidane.

Real play at Levante on Saturday at the start of an eight-day period that continues at home to Manchester City in the Champions League and finishes against Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Hazard made his first appearance since Nov.27 versus Celta Vigo last weekend and impressed, winning a penalty in the second half and offering hope he can regain sharpness quicker than when he returned from injury in September.

“We’re happy to have him back for what did during his 70 minutes — we know what he can give us,” said Zidane.

“He played longer than expected because after three months out, we didn’t want to go overboard.

But Hazard’s comeback also coincided with Madrid conceding twice in a league game for the first time since October, even if they did let in three in the Copa del Rey against Real Sociedad two weeks ago.

While he was out, the hope was Hazard would add some attacking flair to Madrid’s steely defence but there are concerns their tightness could be compromised by his inclusion. Madrid have surged to the top of La Liga due to a 15-match unbeaten run founded on seven goals conceded, rather than an abundance of creativity up front.

Hazard is an automatic pick and it is no coincidence his return to the side comes just before the last-16 first leg against City and then the Clasico.

Yet Zidane will have to find a balance. He appeared to settle on Hazard’s best position being in a front two behind Karim Benzema in October but Madrid’s success in the Belgian’s absence has been in a 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 formation.

In that system, Hazard could be played off the left, where he thrived for Chelsea. Zidane even tried a back three in pre-season but with little success.

Zidane’s plans for City and Barca will be particularly interesting given he has previously viewed Gareth Bale as too much of a liability defensively against elite opponents.

Barcelona will warm up for the Clasico at home to Eibar on Saturday before facing a trip to Napoli in the Champions League three days later.

Despite a turbulent few weeks on and off the pitch, Quique Setien’s team have managed to restrict Madrid’s lead at the top to just one point and have three consecutive victories in the league.

Eibar sit 16th, their last win coming against Atletico Madrid last month. Atletico play at home to Villarreal on Sunday, when they will aim to consolidate their place in the top four, before Getafe and Sevilla play each other in Madrid on Sunday.

Agence France-Presse


Spanish League fixtures (times GMT)
On Saturday: Celta Vigo vs Leganes (1200), Barcelona vs Eibar (1500), Real Sociedad vs Valencia (1730), Levante vs Real Madrid (2000)
On Sunday: Osasuna vs Granada (1100), Alaves vs Athletic Bilbao (1300), Real Valladolid vs Espanyol (1500), Getafe vs Sevilla (1730), Atletico Madrid vs Villarreal (2000).