Real Madrid: 5 biggest questions as attack sputters vs. Osasuna

What was the source of Eden Hazard’s anonymity?

Marco Asensio had a rough day at the office in the starting XI, but he wasn’t the only Real Madrid attacker who flopped against Osasuna. Eden Hazard can be forgiven since he has been dealing with injuries and was only a substitute, but he was somehow even more anonymous than Asensio on Matchday 11. And, well, that takes some doing.

Hazard started the 2021-2022 season brightly with his quick passing and chance-creation, but the trail has gone cold for the Belgian. He has clearly been usurped by Vinicius in the lineup on the left-hand side, and because the free role eats into the team’s defensive stability, Hazard is not drawing starts elsewhere.

In order to play his way back, Hazard must make use of every single minute off the bench he can get. He did not do that against Osasuna, even as Real Madrid desperately needed the shifty attacking midfielder to weave his way through the defense. Aside from one nifty dribble that did not even penetrate the penalty box, Hazard did nothing with the ball at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Hazard never seemed comfortable in this match, and what was more startling was seeing how infrequently his teammates looked to pick him out. Toni Kroos and Vinicius Junior were the main facilitators in the attack, sometimes bringing in Karim Benzema. Meanwhile, Hazard was floating around on the periphery, not even making the little touches to help free up space.

He needs to be more assertive himself, but there are signs that he does not fit what everyone else is trying to do anyway. How Hazard plays in the next match after this could be telling.