Real Madrid’s defeat to Levante not their only loss as Eden Hazard was forced off due to injury.
Real Madrid were under pressure entering the Levante match as Barcelona had won earlier and overtaken them atop La Liga table. Not only did they drop all three points and fall behind their rivals but they lost Eden Hazard in the process.
The Belgian star was replaced by Vinicius Jr. in the 67th and was visibly limping. He stopped to talk a bit with Zinedine Zidane before making his way to the bench. After the match, Zidane was less than optimistic about his prognosis.
According to Diario AS, he said,
"“Bad feelings. It’s a blow to the area of his prior injury and it doesn’t look good. We’ll see what happens with him.”"
Hazard’s Real Madrid career has been rocky since he signed from Chelsea prior to the start of the season. He arrived a bit overweight and an injury kept him out until September.
He struggles initially to find his place on the team and just as his performances were improving, he suffered an ankle injury in the Champions League clash against PSG in November. That injury kept him out for around three months.
His latest setback could not have come at a worse time for him and the club.
The next week could make or break Real Madrid’s season. Their next match is against Manchester City in the Champions League followed by the Clasico against Barcelona.
With the league all but over, City are going to be fully focused for their this tie which could spell for a Madrid side who are struggling to score. Now they could face it without one of their best players.
In the Clasico, they will enter the game needing to win if they want to keep their league hopes alive. A win for Barcelona could put them out of reach and it could very well happen considering the Catalans success at the Santiago Bernabeu in recent history.
Hazard was the club’s marquee signing this season and it hasn’t gone at all how either side envisioned. Depending on how long he’ll be out, if at all, it will be a season to forget for the Belgian.