Real Madrid: 3 players who must step up with Marcelo out for the season

LW Eden Hazard

Judging by his performances in 2019-2020 with Marcelo on the pitch, Eden Hazard seems to play at another level when the Brazilian left back is starting. Look no further than what Hazard did in his first game in La Liga’s return against Eibar, dominating play. Marcelo scored in that match, and Hazard had a breakaway assist for captain Sergio Ramos.

Without Marcelo, Hazard needs to step up creatively. Marcelo does such a wonderful job of not only getting into the box and wreaking havoc with his dribbling, but putting the ball into the box with precise crosses or incisive layoffs.

Hazard and Ferland Mendy have shown good chemistry, but the difference is that Marcelo has that extra sense of where to put the ball in the attacking third that comes with being a world-class 32-year-old who is among the best players at the position in history.

So Hazard, in an attacking sense, has to step up, too. He has his own injury questions to keep answering, and fans were disappointed with his last outing against Espanyol. Hazard can change the narrative again with a strong close to the 2019-2020 season.

Remember, the superstar Belgian is averaging 3.4 dribbles completed per game and 3.1 fouls drawn per game. He is by far the team’s most dynamic player, but that has still only translated to the fifth-most key passes per game, fewer than Marcelo.