Eden Hazard returns for Real Eden Hazard

MADRID. – Eden Hazard’s return should prove timely ahead of a crucial week for Span­ish La Liga football giants Real Madrid, but fitting him into the team may not be a simple task for Zinedine Zidane.

Real play at Levante today at the start of an eight-day period that continues at home to Manchester City in the Champions League and finishes against Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu. Hazard made his first appearance since November 27 versus Celta Vigo last week­end and impressed, winning a penalty in the second half and offering hope he can regain sharpness quicker than when he returned from injury in September.

“We’re happy to have him back for what did during his 70 minutes – we know what he can give us,” said Zidane. “He played longer than expected because after three months out, we didn’t want to go overboard.

“He brought a lot of attacking intent, espe­cially for the second goal, so we’re delighted to have him with us again.”

But Hazard’s comeback also coincided with Madrid conceding twice in a league game for the first time since October, even if they did let in three in the Copa del Rey against Real Socie­dad two weeks ago. While he was out, the hope was Hazard would add some attacking flair to Madrid’s steely defence but there are con­cerns their tightness could be compromised by his inclusion. Madrid have surged to the top of La Liga due to a 15-match unbeaten run founded on seven goals conceded, rather than an abundance of creativity up front. Hazard is an automatic pick and it is no coincidence his return to the side comes just before the last-16 first leg against City and then the Clasico.

Yet Zidane will have to find a balance. He appeared to settle on Hazard’s best position being in a front two behind Karim Benzema in October but Madrid’s success in the Bel­gian’s absence has been in a 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 for­mation.“We’ve played with three up front all our lives, it doesn’t weaken us,” said Zidane last Saturday. In that system, Hazard could be played off the left, where he thrived for Chelsea. Zidane even tried a back three in pre-season but with little success.

Spanish La Liga Fixtures

Today: Celta de Vigo v Leganés (2pm); Bar­celona v Eibar (5pm); Real Sociedad v Valencia (7:30pm); Levante v Real Madrid (10pm).

Tomorrow: Osasuna v Granada (1pm); Depor­tivo Alavés v Athletic Club (3pm); Real Vallado­lid v Espanyol (5pm); Getafe v Sevilla (7:30pm); Atlético Madrid v Villarreal (10pm).-AFP

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