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Real Madrid vs. Shakhtar Donetsk: 5 players who can start with Rodrygo Goes, Gareth Bale injured

By Kevin Parvizi

Real Madrid, Gareth Bale, Rodrygo Goes (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP via Getty Images)
Real Madrid, Gareth Bale, Rodrygo Goes (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Real Madrid, Eden Hazard
Real Madrid, Eden Hazard (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images) /

AM Eden Hazard

Now let’s discuss the odds-on favorite of Madridistas to start on Wednesday afternoon at the Bernabeu. Eden Hazard is still searching for his first goal of the 2021-2022 campaign, though he surely would have netted this weekend at Elche if Mariano Diaz saw the Belgian running centrally into the penalty box.

While Hazard has not made a big impact in terms of his end product, Madridistas who have watched the No. 7 closely can see the positive traits are very much there. Hazard has been creating chances for teammates and making all the right moves off the ball in the attack. It’s just that he’s not nearly as impactful as Vinicius Junior, and it’s tough for Carlo Ancelotti to start Hazard when his lacking defensive contributions leave Los Blancos vulnerable.

That said, we have seen 343 minutes of Hazard in LaLiga and one Champions League start. He could very well get another 60-70 minutes at the Bernabeu this week, and he could very well contribute to a goal against Shakhtar.

Defensive stability will be crucial if Hazard starts, but with Toni Kroos and Ferland Mendy back to 100 percent, Real Madrid stand a much better chance of providing the necessary spine for Hazard to roam free.

Hazard does not have many more chances to make an impression at the Bernabeu, but the fans are very much rooting for the 100 million euro man to turn it around. It’s hard to see Ancelotti NOT giving Hazard a chance.

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