Eden Hazard’s expected workload for Real Madrid against Elche
Real Madrid will face Elche next week in La Liga, and Madridistas can expect Eden Hazard to make his return from injury.
Eden Hazard has been training with Real Madrid since suffering an injury in the first half of the loss to Deportivo Alaves. He could have played as a substitute against Granada, but Zinedine Zidane wisely decided not to risk the player in such a tough, physical game.
Los Blancos were flying high with Hazard in the lineup, as he helped lead them to two victories over Inter Milan, a comeback against Borussia Monchengladbach, and four goals against Huesca. But Real have also been great without Hazard recently, winning six straight games during the Belgian’s latest injury spell. So you can only imagine how good they’ll be with him back.
According to a report from MARCA’s Juan Ignacio Garcia-Ochoa, Zidane’s goal is to gradually ease Hazard back into the squad, which makes sense given the injury history and how well the team is playing. And now, Hazard has an extra week to rest with his teammates before next week’s match against mid-table side Elche. Usually, Real have been playing every three to four games.
Per MARCA, Hazard is expected to get about 30 minutes off the bench against Elche, which sounds like the perfect amount of time to settle in. He could have received some playing time against Granada, but the extra rest will help. Plus, Elche shouldn’t be as tough of an opponent, though they will be enough of a challenge that Hazard can really test himself in his first game back from injury.
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Madridistas will hope Hazard is able to avoid any more significant injuries, because they know this team is capable of going the distance in all competitions with a healthy Hazard. Despite all the issues this season, Real Madrid have the potential to win everything, but their success at the highest level of the Champions League depends on Hazard being the superstar player that he is.
Slowly easing him back is best long-term, and all eyes will be on Hazard’s touches and movements at Elche next week.