Real Madrid at Manchester City: Eden Hazard is ready to deliver
Real Madrid can receive a major boost from Eden Hazard in the second leg of their Champions League with Manchester City.
Down but certainly not out, Real Madrid will face Manchester City in the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16 on the evening of Aug. 7. They will do so at a 2-1 deficit and will have to travel to the Etihad Stadium, needing at least two goals to earn a spot in the quarterfinals.
But Los Blancos have a few advantages that may even outweigh the scoreline. They’ve played so much better since football’s return, looking like a more confident and complete team than the one that lost to City in March. Real never lost a single one of their 11 La Liga fixtures en route to a comfortable title triumph over Barcelona.
There’s one more advantage that has developed over the past several months, and that is a healthy Eden Hazard.
More from The Real Champs
- Manchester City hold talks over Real Madrid target
- Real Madrid player confirms he is playing with a fracture
- Real Madrid superstar rejected Premier League clubs confirmed
- Spaniard ready to join Real Madrid instead of Liverpool
- PSG want €100 million Real Madrid player to replace Kylian Mbappe
The Belgian left winger was a standout in Real’s first La Liga match in the return, bossing Eibar and assisting for Sergio Ramos. But his play trailed off as ankle issues plagued him again, with the pain stemming from a November injury against PSG.
Before his injury against PSG, Hazard looked every bit of the game-changing 100 million euro signing he was meant to be. Hazard even cut through PSG, standing out as an untouchable dribbler and hard-working playmaker on that left-hand side.
Real Madrid are indisputably a better team with a healthy Hazard. From late October to late November, Hazard, per WhoScored.com, had a jaw-dropping 30 dribbles completed and 19 fouls drawn in a span of four La Liga games. That’s an average of over seven dribbles per game and nearly five fouls drawn per game!
When he’s fresh, Hazard shows that kind of form. He had three key passes, two dribbles completed, and two fouls drawn against Celta Vigo in his first game back from his first injury. And then he had an assist with three fouls drawn and two dribbles completed against Eibar in his first game back from the second injury; he was even better a few days later with another assist in a 3-0 win over Valencia.
Hazard has experience dealing with Pep Guardiola and Manchester City from his days as the Premier League’s best player. The Etihad Stadium is nothing new to Hazard. Nor is the pressure of competing at the highest level in European football.
The FIFA 20 cover star spoke candidly in an interview with France Football about how the 2019-2020 season has been his worst professionally. Hazard wants to succeed at Real Madrid badly. He wants to prove he can be an elite player for the club, and you can see that in how hard he’s worked from multiple ankle injuries.
Next. 3 reasons Real Madrid's defense can be even better next season. dark
Against Manchester City, his class will show. His determination will be present. And he will deliver a stunning performance at the Etihad.