LIVELY HAZARD ON WAY BACK TO FORM FOR REAL BUT NEEDS MORE CONFIDENCE

VITORIA-GASTEIZ: Eden Hazard reminded Real Madrid of his class in Saturday’s 4-1 win at Alaves and was backed by his team mates and coach to rediscover his old self after a disappointing first two seasons since his club record move from Chelsea.

Making only his fifth start of the campaign after three spells out with injuries or illness, Hazard notched Madrid’s third goal before halftime, expertly controlling a Toni Kroos pass before producing a confident finish.

He also dovetailed well with Karim Benzema, laying on a subtle backheel pass to the Frenchman for the visitors’ second goal.

The forward was taken off midway through the second half, indicating he is yet to return to full fitness after a first season blighted by two serious ankle injuries and a stop-start second campaign.

The Belgian still has a lot to do to justify his 100-million-euro move to Real and rediscover the form he showed with Chelsea, but Benzema believes he is on the right path.

“At Chelsea he was a certain type of player and now he has to write a new history at Real Madrid,” said Benzema.

“I think he is doing well, he’s so much better than before, he is working hard and he had a superb game today. We need to see the best version of Hazard.”

PSG thrash Montpellier to open three-point lead

PARIS: Paris St Germain scored three goals in a four-minute blitz in the second half as they demolished 10-man Montpellier 4-0 on Friday to go three points clear at the top of Ligue 1. Kylian Mbappe bagged a double for his first goals of the year with Neymar and Mauro Icardi also finding the back of the net after Montpellier keeper Jonas Omlin was sent off early in the opening half.

The win put PSG, who welcomed coach Mauricio Pochettino back on the bench after a week of isolation following a positive COVID-19 test, on 45 points from 21 games.