Can Eden Hazard build on this season debut?
It was a joy to see Eden Hazard back on the pitch for Real Madrid. Whether it is Thibaut Courtois or Sergio Ramos, Ferland Mendy or Toni Kroos, Casemiro or Marco Asensio, there are so many players on Real Madrid who have important roles this season. But I can say with a degree of certainty that no single player carries the destiny of this team in their hands more than Belgian winger Eden Hazard.
If Real are to secure La Liga again and go further in the Champions League than a first or second round knockout stage exit, then they need Hazard to be healthy and successful.
On Tuesday night at the Borussia-Park, Hazard made his first appearance of 2020-2021 off the bench. And while he missed a sitter, his presence was felt in the chance-creation and heightened quality of attacks. Real Madrid looked like an actual, fluid, competent attacking machine with their one true superstar on the pitch. And he was a big reason why they turned the tide and, well, tied.
Hazard could play this weekend against Huesca, but the bigger challenge for Real Madrid will be next week’s Champions League fixture against Romelu Lukaku’s Inter Milan.
If Real are to beat Inter, they need Hazard out there, showing off all of his talent. This was an encouraging performance off the bench, and we need to see him build on it.