Ed’s up and at ‘em DEBUT WIN FOR HAZARD
EDEN HAZARD made his long-awaited Real Madrid debut as Karim Benzema’s double eased the pressure on Zinedine Zidane.
The Belgian playmaker had been forced to sit on the sidelines after picking up a thigh injury following his summer switch from Chelsea.
But he came off the bench on the hour as Zidane was given some respite, despite suffering a second-half scare against Levante.
Real boss Zidane said: “We’re managing players who aren’t ready yet and we have managed Hazard.
“He’s going to be better off when he’s training more.”
Real had been cruising at the break thanks to Benzema scoring a header and slotting home following a James Rodriguez pass.
It was one-way traffic as Real, who were without the banned Gareth Bale, then saw Casemiro
Real Madrid 3 Levante 2
net. Benzema and Lucas Vazquez also hit the woodwork while Vinicius Junior had a goal chalked off for offside after good work ork f rom Hazard d
(right).
But the hosts, who had drawn their previous two games, have not t kept a clean sheet eet since April 28 and looked fragile again at the back. It was no surprise to see ATLETICO MADRID’S unbeaten La Liga start came to an end at the hands of Real Sociedad last night.
Diego Simeone’s side came a cropper thanks to quickire second-half goals from Martin Odegaard and Borja Mayoral score against his parent club and then Gonzalo Melero set up a tense ending w with a header that bea beat Chelsea loanee Th Thibaut Courtois at h his near post.
Real should have been comfortable but they almost blew b a three- goal lead le in La Liga for the first time since 1946, but Ruben Vezo’s header in injury time was turned away by Courtois.
Real Sociedad 2 Atletico Madrid 0
Nacho Monreal. Odegaard pounced after 58 minutes and three minutes later ex-arsenal defender Monreal found the net.
Atletico, without the injured Alvaro Morata, struggled with Diego Costa and Joao Felix unable to make an impact.