Hazard’s new injury fell like a jug of cold water in Real Madrid. All the course waiting for him to appear in the final stretch of the Champions League and lo and behold, after 15 minutes against Elche in his eleventh comeback, he falls again, now for a month. It already looks like a curse. Doctors blame it on his psychological torment, which only gets worse with each relapse. At Chelsea he was a healthy player, with very few days off, and the same with Belgium. “It is inexplicable, something is happening,” says Zidane, who awaits him like May water to accompany Benzema. No other attacker is convincing you.
So Madrid is advancing in fits and starts in this Champions League hanging from a Benzema without company above, although with the backing of three major media. But tonight Casemiro will be missing. Knowing that he would be missing tonight was what led Zidane to rehearse with three centrals against Elche. Thus the reappeared Sergio, lacking Casemiro’s shield, would have a more relieved task. But against Elche it went wrong and it is difficult to know if he will dare to repeat it. As it is difficult to know who will accompany Benzema upstairs. Several concerns on the eve of the match, in exchange for a reassuring trick: the 0-1 in the first leg.
There Atalanta was an unknown team and more as a result of staying with ten. Today it will come out with nothing to lose. It is no longer the great surprise of Europe, as last year, the coexistence has created wear, it is verified in the cases of Papu Gómez and Ilicic, but he has left to go fourth in Serie A. Madrid returns to account for LaLiga, but its first obligation is to make a Champions League at least decent, and beating this tie could amount to that. LaLiga will be seen. Atlético is closer, but Barça is in the middle, free from the Champions League, and which has reduced its disadvantage from 9 points and two games to only 4. And he has Messi.
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