Madrid (AFP)

Arrived with great fanfare at Real Madrid, Eden Hazard has not lived up to expectations this season. Returning from injury, the Belgian striker hopes to finally shine in the perilous round of 16 second leg of the Champions League on Friday against Manchester City (9:00 p.m.).

Real will need him. Beaten by City in their den at the Santiago-Bernabéu (2-1) in the round of 16 first leg at the end of February, Zinédine Zidane's men need a "comeback" to avoid an early elimination from the C1, a competition that Real have won three times under "ZZ" (2016-2018).

For Hazard too, this return match is a major issue. Absent due to an injury in the first leg, the 29-year-old striker has the opportunity "to sign the game he so badly needs to put an end to rumors and comments", summarizes the Madrid sports daily Marca.

Because so far, the Belgian international with 116 selections has struggled to justify the 100 million euros paid by Real to integrate it into its workforce last summer, from Chelsea.

He has only one goal and seven assists in 21 appearances, far from the statistics of his partner in attack Karim Benzema (26 goals in 46 matches).

"I describe myself more as a passer than a serial scorer," relativized the former Lille on the UEFA website. "I prefer the assist, although I also like to score great goals, at the last minute, goals that make you win."

- Serial injuries -

For his first year in Spain, Eden Hazard surely did not expect to live such a difficult season.

Unavailable for nearly three months following a blow to the right ankle against Paris SG in the Champions League in November (2-2), the Belgian again injured his ankle for his second match of resumed against Levante on February 22 and had to undergo surgery in early March.

The captain of the Red Devils took advantage of the football paralysis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic to get back in shape and thus play the end of the La Liga season, including a remarkable performance during the victory of Zidane's team against Eibar (3-1).

But a new injury against Espanyol Barcelona on June 28 has cast doubt on the former Chelsea playmaker's physical condition.

In the last nine La Liga matches, where Real have kept pace with hell and overtook FC Barcelona to snatch their 34th Spanish league title, Hazard has played only three.

"Eden has problems and we don't want to take any risks," Zidane said at the time. "This is his first year and he wants to help. When he cannot, he is not happy. We want it 100%", added the French technician, who spared the Belgian in the league in view of the deadlines in C1.

The Marca daily assures that Eden Hazard "no longer feels pain and can become a key part" of Real from Friday against City and that "no one will remember the little he has brought to the team so far" in the event of a long distance in the European Cup.

But to play the unprecedented final tournament of the Champions League in Lisbon (August 12-23), we must first reverse the situation against Manchester City of Pep Guardiola.

© 2020 AFP