Improving Hazard show good news for Real Madrid
As Real take on Galatasaray in Group A, the winger has everything to play for
MADRID: Eden Hazard is beginning to show glimpses of his best form and it cannot come soon enough for Real Madrid. They play at home to Galatasaray in the Champions League on Wednesday, when victory would put them within touching distance of qualification from Group A.
Hazard has endured a disjointed and disappointing start in Spain, where expectations soared following his long-awaited 100million euro move from Chelsea in June. A week later, 50,000 fans streamed into the Santiago Bernabeu to see Hazard wear the shirt while some even ran to the entrances to grab a better seat.
As supporters left, Hazard was giving his first press conference underneath the stadium, telling a packed auditorium he wanted to be a galactico. But the grand opening fizzled, in part due to events off the pitch, a combination of bad luck and personal circumstances that have spared the 28-year-old harsher critique from fans and journalists alike.
On the day before Madrid’s first game of the season away at Celta Vigo, Hazard pulled a muscle in his thigh in training and had to withdraw from the squad.
He sat out three matches before making his first start against PSG, but looked off the pace and it was a night to forget as Madrid were thrashed 3-0.
Hazard was left on the bench against Osasuna amid reports he was overweight and then scored his first goal against Granada, a delightful looping finish that promised finally to unleash the Belgian’s best.
“We know the quality of player we have and we know he is going to deliver,” said Zinedine Zidane in September. “Everyone expects a lot from him and he knows that. But we support him and as the games go by I am sure he is going to be the player we want him to be in this Real Madrid team.”
But the international break checked Hazard’s momentum and he missed Madrid’s first match back, a 1-0 loss away at Mallorca, due to the birth of his fourth child.
In the three games since, he has appeared in bursts, delivering exhilarating moments like the glorious flick inside against Galatasaray and a run in behind to win the penalty against Leganes. Yet there have been disappointments too. Hazard’s most impressive showing so far was arguably against Real Betis last weekend, when Madrid failed to score but he had his exuberance back, not to mention the change of pace that at times has appeared worryingly absent. Madrid’s goalless draw against Betis shows why Hazard’s crescendo must find its climax, and quickly, if Zidane’s team are to avoid the same problems up front that proved their undoing last season.
Few doubt Hazard will soon rediscover his peak, certainly not Zidane, who insists goals are all he needs.
ATALANTA VS CITY
MILAN: Gian Piero Gasperini warned that psychology will be key as Italian newcomers Atalanta look to avoid another huge defeat at the hands of Champions League rivals Manchester City in Milan on Wednesday.
The Premier League champs can seal their ticket to the knockout rounds with a win over Atalanta, who have lost all three Group C games.
Man City are top of their group with maximum nine points and 10 goals scored, with the Bergamo side bottom after conceding 11 goals and scoring just two.
Five of those came last time out, when an 11-minute Raheem Sterling hat-trick helped City to a 5-1 win in Manchester.
“The psychological aspect will be fundamental,” said Gasperini. “It’s a tight turnaround, but we’ll prepare as best we can.”
BAYERN WARNED
MUNICH: Bayern Munich’s stars have been told to knuckle down under interim coach Hansi Flick ahead of their Champions League clash with Olympiakos following Niko Kovac’s sacking.
Former Bayern and West Germany defender Andreas Brehme says the Bayern squad “let Kovac down” with a series of lacklustre recent performances that led to the coach’s dismissal, while the club’s director of sport Hasan Salihamidzic has demanded more effort from his off-form players.
Group B leaders Bayern host bottom side Olympiakos with a fourth straight Champions League win in their sights after beating the Greek side 3-2 in Athens a fortnight ago.
However, all is not well with the Bavarian giants, who dismissed Kovac on Sunday. Saturday’s 5-1 drubbing at Eintracht Frankfurt did it for Kovac, who never enjoyed the full confidence of the club.
Meanwhile, Ajax coach Erik ten Hag ruled himself out of the running to take over as Bayern Munich coach for the time being, saying he would be staying at the Dutch champions until at least the end of the current season.