‘Sorpasso’ by surprise

The balance of minutes played by Eden Hazard in the last four weeks is 129′. Those little more than two hours correspond to the two games he played with Belgium in the national team break, against Wales and the Netherlands. With Madrid he is unprecedented in the last five games. Not even the absence of Benzema has made him a hole in the team. The 31-year-old Belgian was called to take on the tasks of ‘9’ when the Frenchman was absent, but Rodrygo convinced Ancelotti and the Brazilian has consolidated himself in the eleven (he has started six in a row). Eden has not been able to collect even the ‘crumb’ of the changes, which in recent games has gone to Mariano. Carletto He has given preference to the Hispanic-Dominican, to whom he has conceded minutes (albeit testimonial) in three of the last five games. A ‘sorpasso’ by surprise.

The season painted with hope for Hazard. Ancelotti considered using him as a center forward when Benzema was absent. A new arrangement in the face of Vinicius’ immobility on the left wing. The plans were rushed at the Champions League premiere in Glasgow due to Benzema’s injury. Hazard left for an hour, scored against Celtic and started (his only appearance in the starting eleven this season) against Mallorca. But when Carletto removed the Belgian and repositioned Rodrygo in the center, the player from São Paulo responded and scored the goal that gave Madrid peace of mind. Since then, Rodrygo has been a starter in all the games, whether it was on the right, in the center or as a second point with Benzema. Hazard has spent 450 minutes on the bench.

Ancelotti referred to his situation after the game against Getafe: “He is training very well and will have his chance very soon”. With the qualification for the Champions League round of 16 practically resolved (Madrid needs a point to qualify and will be first mathematically if they beat Shakhtar), the Warsaw game could be that opportunity for Hazard that his coach talks about.