Real Madrid are without Eden Hazard today for the first leg of their Champions League Last 16 match against Manchester City at the Bernabeu, MySportDab reports.
Eden Hazard is injured and miss out of Real Madrid’s clash with Manchester City due to an ankle injury.
The Belgian only just recovered from a long injury problem and picked up the new injury problem during Saturday’s surprise defeat to Levante.
Hazard was making just his second appearance since November in the 1-0 defeat but sustained a fracture to the same ankle which has caused him troubles all season.
The 29-year-old will miss tonight’s meeting with City and Los Blancos Coach Zinedine Zidane is not sure whether Hazard will feature again this season.
Speaking after the loss against Levante, Zidane said: “He loves football and while I can’t tell you everything, I can see that he is unhappy.
“It’s important to be positive but, of course, it’s difficult. It’s a bad time, it is not easy and he will feel like that for a while.
“I do not know if he will need a surgery. It is not my area and I’m not sure if his season is over, but I hope not.”
Team News
MySportDab understands Hazard’s injury means Gareth Bale could return to the starting XI, having miss out over the weekend due to illness.
Isco could remain in the XI on the opposite flank, while Vinicius Junior and Lucas Vazquez are available options but youngster Rodrygo was not been included in the 19-man squad.
Karim Benzema is most likely lead the line, having scored 18 goals in all competitions so far this season, while Luka Jovic will might come on in the 2nd half.
Federico Valverde could return into midfield at the expense of Luka Modric but Casemiro and Toni Kroos are both expected to start.
Kick-off:- 9pm.
Real Madrid Predicted Line-up vs Manchester City (4-3-3): Courtois, Varane, Carvajal, Ramos, Casemiro, Mendy, Valverde, Bale, Isco, Kroos, Benzema.
