Real’s Hazard at risk for City clash after latest injury

Real Madrid's French coach Zinedine Zidane (L) talks to Real Madrid's Belgian forward Eden Hazard. (Photo by JOSE JORDAN / AFP)


Eden Hazard came off injured during Real Madrid’s La Liga match away at Levante on Saturday, four days before their crunch Champions League clash with Manchester City.

Hazard was substituted in the second half in Valencia after he had been limping for a few minutes on the pitch.

He was then pictured with an ice pack on his right ankle, sparking fears of yet another layoff.

The Belgium forward now appears to be unlikely to face City, whom Madrid face at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg of the last 16.

Since joining Real Madrid from Chelsea last summer, Hazard has endured a stop-start season in Spain.

He injured his hamstring the day before Madrid’s opening fixture in August and then broke his foot in November.

Hazard made his first start in almost three months against Celta Vigo last weekend and started again at Levante, with a view to regaining sharpness before the City showdown.