Will Eden Hazard play for Real Madrid at Liverpool in the second leg?

Real Madrid left winger Eden Hazard suffered multiple injuries in the 2019-2020 season and only featured in 22 La Liga and Champions League matches as a first-year Madridistas. This season, the No. 7 may play in even fewer matches, as injuries have restricted him to just 12 appearances in both competitions. He’s never played a full 90 either.

There’s been optimism surrounding Hazard coming out of the international break, though, after his most recent injury aggravation in a 16-minute substitute appearance against Elche on March 13. Hazard has been training and getting closer to playing, but Los Blancos wisely decided not to risk him against Liverpool for the first leg.

Better yet, Los Blancos have avoided rushing Hazard back again this weekend for a high-stakes La Liga tilt. Hazard is not listed in the official squad for Los Merengues vs. Barcelona.

But since Hazard seems to be nearing a return, Madridistas are wondering if the Belgian will be available for the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinals at Anfield. This match will take place on Wednesday night, so there will be four days in between El Clasico and the second leg.

That said, don’t expect Real Madrid to have Eden Hazard in their squad for the second leg either.

Real Madrid reportedly won’t play Eden Hazard against Liverpool, though he could return at Getafe

According to a report from Sergio Quirante on DirectoGol, the left winger will not play against Liverpool this Wednesday. Instead, Los Merengues are planning on having the 30-year-old back in the squad for the following La Liga context next weekend against Getafe, which will take place on Sunday night at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.

Honestly, that seems like the best course of action for Real Madrid with Hazard. It’s often seemed like he gets injured immediately after he returns, caught in a vicious cycle where he is re-injured constantly. The muscular issues are robbing us of watching one of the world’s best players, and I wonder if some fans, especially those who did not watch him frequently at Chelsea, have forgotten what he is capable of.

Vinicius Junior was a breakout star in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, cooly scoring twice. And he’s been in good form on that left-hand side of the Madrid attack for weeks. He is the future, of course. But Hazard still has something to give to Real, perhaps even for the remainder of the 2020-2021 season.

It may be tempting for some to want to see Hazard in the second leg, but Real won the first leg handily without him. And they are already prepared to play a fourth straight Clasico without the 100 million euro signing. They have not lost their last three and are coming off back-to-back, head-to-head wins over Barcelona.

La Liga’s Matchday 31 seems like the new target date for Hazard. Things could be fluid with this injury so we must check for more updates, but Getafe could be a chance for him to come in off the bench. Of course, knowing how physical Jose Bordalas’ men are, it might be possible for Real to sit him out next weekend, too.

But the point remains. Hazard won’t be playing in the second leg against Liverpool at Anfield. This is the Vinicius Junior show now.