Zidane hopeful of Hazard return for visit of Liverpool
Eden Hazard is still yet to find his feet in LaLiga but could return to the Real Madrid side against Premier League opposition in midweek.
Zinedine Zidane is waiting to learn if Eden Hazard will be fit to return for Real Madrid against Liverpool on Tuesday.
Madrid face a huge week in their season with the home leg of their Champions League quarter-final before a Clásico with Barcelona in LaLiga.
But head coach Zidane is hoping his side will receive a boost ahead of the first meeting with the Reds.
Disastrous spell for Hazard in Madrid
Hazard returned from injury shortly before the international break but then missed the European tie against Atalanta with a damaged hip flexor and was unable to go away with Belgium.
Red Devils boss Roberto Martinez could not even guarantee the €100million winger would make Euro 2020, although he was "very positive".
Hazard might be back in action as soon as Tuesday, with Madrid also looking to again bring Federico Valverde into the fold.
Zidane optimistic on return of players
"Hopefully we can get Valverde and Hazard back," Zidane said on Saturday. "We will see tomorrow and the day after.
"Today it was not possible but I hope that on Tuesday they can be with us."
Hazard scored six goals against Liverpool in 16 games while with Chelsea.
But he has made just 36 appearances and 29 starts for Madrid since his signing in June 2019, scoring only four times and providing five assists from 38 chances created.
Madrid win comfortably against Eibar
Hazard certainly was not missed as Los Blancos swept aside Eibar 2-0 at a stormy Estadio Alfredo di Stefano.
Marco Asensio and Karim Benzema scored in either half, while the Spain forward also hit the crossbar, opposing goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic made six saves and three of Madrid's four offsides saw goals disallowed.
"The first half, in general, was complete, with good feelings," Zidane said. "It's what I told the players.
"Then, with the storm, there were 20 difficult minutes to start the second. We have to recover well because we have a week with important games in the Champions League and the league. They will be entertaining.
"We must continue like this. There was a difficult moment in the season and now we have to take advantage of the current one, which is good."
Atlético and Barcelona in title race with Madrid
Ahead of league leaders Atlético Madrid and fellow challengers Barca playing this weekend, Madrid moved up to second, three points off the summit.
That promising position means Zidane will prioritise neither domestic action nor their European exploits.
"We do not look at that," he said. "We are in the day-to-day. We are thinking about today's game, which we did very well.
"We are not going to think about one competition or the other; we are alive in both. Now you have to enjoy the moment. We have done nothing - we have to continue."
Courtois stands tall
Thibaut Courtois, required to make four saves against Eibar but only really tested by an awkward Lucas Vázquez backpass, added: "We've fought all season to get to April, where everything is played for.
"Winning today put pressure on Atlético and Barcelona. In April, everything is played for and everything is decided; hopefully we will keep winning."