The Real Champs
Fansided

5 reasons why Real Madrid can win the Champions League

By Kevin Parvizi

MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 18: Casemiro of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring his team's second goal with his teammate Vinicius Junior during the Liga match between Real Madrid CF and Sevilla FC at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on January 18, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 18: Casemiro of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring his team's second goal with his teammate Vinicius Junior during the Liga match between Real Madrid CF and Sevilla FC at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on January 18, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Real Madrid LW Eden Hazard
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 23: Eden Hazard of Real Madrid during the La Liga Santander match between Real Madrid v Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabeu on November 23, 2019 in Madrid Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images) /

A healthy Eden Hazard

Before Eden Hazard suffered a serious ankle injury against PSG in a Champions League group stage match in November, the former Chelsea star was simply untouchable. He was putting together a truly special month of November, linking up with Karim Benzema to such a devastating effect that Benzema was going toe-to-toe with Lionel Messi as La Liga’s best player.

While Real overtook FC Barcelona in the league table while Hazard was still out with his injury, there was a clear drop-off in attacking quality without the Belgian magician. Benzema wasn’t getting into as many goal-scoring positions and had to take on more of a creative burden, which hurt his goal-scoring output.

A healthy Hazard changes everything for Real Madrid. This is a player capable of starting counterattacks and carrying the load for an offense, weaving his way through defenders and unselfishly setting up others. Few players in world football – honestly, only Messi comes to mind as being better – can consistently take on defenders off the dribble like Hazard can.

With Isco playing his best football and Ferland Mendy improving the attack, Hazard will have plenty of talent to link up with.

According to WhoScored.com, Hazard is averaging 4.4 dribbles per game and 3.8 fouls drawn per game in La Liga. Those are mind-blowing stats and show exactly how valuable Hazard is on the ball. He can light up the stat sheet in the remaining months of the season and be one of the superstars of the Champions League knockout stages.

Home/Analysis