Eden Hazard back for Real Madrid: Could he play against former team Chelsea?
The 32-year-old was back on the pitch against Real Valladolid and notched an assist ahead of a trip to Stamford Bridge.
For the first time in 203 days, Eden Hazard took to the pitch for Real Madrid.
The Belgian forward was signed in 2019 for a fee reported to be worth around €100 million, but he has failed to impress in the Spanish capital.
Hazard had not made a first team appearance since last September but made a second half cameo in Sunday’s comfortable win over Real Valladolid. The 32-year-old claimed an assist in the 6-0 win and there is renewed hope that he could be introduced back into head coach Carlo Ancelotti’s plans.
Speaking after the game, Ancelotti said: “Eden has trained during the break. He has played very little, but he has done well, and has given an assist. By training well, he will have opportunities.”
Now in his fourth season for the Spanish champions, Hazard has made just 74 appearances in all competitions and scored seven goals.
Could Eden Hazard feature against Chelsea?
Last month’s El Clasico defeat ended any lingering hopes of a little title charge and Madrid are a goal down to Barcelona at the midway point in their Copa Del Rey tie. The team’s focus for the remainder of the season will be the Champions League, where they have been drawn against Hazard’s former side in the quarter-finals.
Hazard shot to global recognition at Chelsea and established himself as one of the most exciting forwards in the world. He will be desperate to make a successful return to Stamford Bridge, but will he be selected?
Despite not getting onto the pitch in either leg, Hazard was named in the squad for Madrid’s recent tie with Liverpool. Given that tensions between he and Ancelotti appear to be thawing we can assume that he will be in the squad for the Chelsea tie, and could even get some game time.
Real Madrid have just two more games before the first leg against Chelsea so Hazard has limited time to impress before the Champions League fixtures.