Eden Hazard hopes Nations League form for Belgium can spark revival in Real Madrid career

Forward, whose time at Bernabeu has been hampered by injury, will line up against Wales on Saturday

Eden Hazard (R) of Belgium in action during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Belgium and Poland in Brussels, Belgium, 08 June 2022. EPA / STEPHANIE LECOCQ

On the evening of Real Madrid’s arrival back in the Spanish capital parading the club’s 14th European Cup, Eden Hazard took the microphone that was being passed around as the heroes of the victory over Liverpool celebrated at the city’s Cibeles fountain. It was a surprising gesture. Hazard was not, by any stretch of the imagination, one of the campaign’s heroes.

Far from it. The most expensive purchase in Madrid’s current squad, the man at the top of the club’s salary scale, played a mere eight minutes in the rollercoaster ride through comeback after comeback that was his team’s journey to Paris last month.

He sat on the bench through the 1-0 win over Liverpool. He contributed a mere seven starts to the club’s Liga triumph, and no goals. His last assist in the league was on the first day of the season.

What Hazard wanted at Cibeles was not to steal other players’ deserved limelight, but to make an apologetic promise. “Madridistas,” Hazard told the crowd. “I have been here for three seasons with lots of injuries and things. Next year, I will be giving everything for you.”

Evidence that may not be an empty promise reached Madrid supporters on Wednesday evening, through highlights from Belgium’s 6-1 Uefa Nations League thumping of Poland in Brussels.

Hazard was in his county’s line-up at kick-off, the first time he had started a match for anybody since January, and the sternest test yet of the calf problem that has troubled him for the best part of two years, and for which he underwent surgery in March.

Less than five minutes into the game, a neat backheel from Hazard, following a gently-paced slalom, set up Michy Batshuayi, whose ‘goal’ was ruled out for a narrow offside. After Poland had taken the lead, Hazard’s disguised pass to Kevin de Bruyne put Belgium on course for a victory given its emphatic margin by late goals.

Belgium 6 Poland 1 - in pictures

Kevin De Bruyne begins to celebrate after scoring for Belgium against Poland the Nations League match in Brussels, Belgium, June 8 2022. EPA

Eden Hazard crosses the ball during the Nations League match between Belgium and Poland. EPA

Belgium forward Lois Openda clips the ball over Poland goalkeeper Bartlomiej Dragowski. EPA

Lois Openda celebrates after scoring for Belgium against Poland. AP

Lois Openda celebrates with teammates after scoring against Poland. AP

Leander Dendoncker and Toby Alderweireld celebrate Belgium's fifth gaol against Poland. EPA

Leander Dendoncker, left, celebrates after scoring against Poland. AP

Kevin De Bruyne, left, and Poland's Jan Bednarek fight for the ball. AP

Belgium players celebrate their third goal, scored by Leandro Trossard. AP

Poland's Damian Szymanski, right, and Belgium's Youri Tielemans fight for the ball. AP

Belgium's Axel Witsel shoots to scores Bellgium's first goal against Poland. AFP

Axel Witsel, second left, celebrates with Belgium teammates after scoring against Poland. AP

Poland's Robert Lewandowski scores against Belgium. AP

Robert Lewandowski celebrates with Robert Gumny after scoring for Poland against Belgium. AFP

Hazard, wearing the captain’s armband, was delighted with his impact on a necessary win for Belgium, beaten 4-0 last week by the Netherlands “I’m obviously not at 100 per cent,” said Hazard, “but at the moment, things are coming together. I’d say I’m at 80 per cent, so there’s a good margin of progress yet. And I’m going to be the player I used to be.”

That player was a great entertainer for whom Madrid staked over €100m to prise him from Chelsea in the summer of 2019. They had bought a footballer who for periods of his seven years in London was the most watchable individual in the Premier League. And tough, too.

Part of Hazard’s skill in mastering English football was to ride so many heavy tackles and weather constant bruises.

His fragile stop-start Madrid career has been quite the opposite, a fractured foot adding to various muscle problems to curtail his influence. He now has two Liga titles, but across those two seasons, he contributed just one Liga goal.

He has his first Champions League gold medal, thanks to the Paris triumph, but knows that the player who secured the victory, Vinicius Junior, now has ownership of the position, on the left of Madrid’s front three, that Hazard had been signed to fill.

A run of Hazard starts for Belgium would be welcomed by Carlo Ancelotti, the Madrid head coach and by madridistas, even if they have sometimes been sceptical about Hazard’s turning out for his national team while missing games with injury for his club.

Liverpool 0 Real Madrid 1 - player ratings

LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 6. The Brazilian had little to do but got into a muddle for the disallowed goal. Some of his expeditions out of his area verged on erratic. AFP

Trent Alexander-Arnold - 6. The 23-year-old had a few good moments but was not as influential as usual. If he had checked over his shoulder, it might have been possible to stop the winning goal. Getty

Ibrahima Konate - 8. This was the Frenchman’s best performance in a red shirt. He was strong in the tackle and quick to snuff out danger. His one questionable moment was before the disallowed goal and he was saved by VAR. AP

Virgil van Dijk - 7. The Dutchman was powerful and composed and tried to spark attacks when on the ball. He was rarely in trouble but got dragged a little wide before the goal. AP

Andrew Robertson - 6. The Scot tried to get forward but his crossing was erratic. His link-up play on the left with Diaz did not work as well as usual. AP

Jordan Henderson - 7. The captain worked effectively in midfield and tried to move the ball quickly when in possession. He was withdrawn for Keita in the 77th minute as Liverpool chased a goal. EPA

Fabinho - 6. The Brazilian stamped his authority on the midfield early on and ensured his team were on top for most of the game. He did not contribute much going forward. AFP

Thiago Alcantara - 6. The 31-year-old was an injury worry before the game and did not look quite right even though his passing was neat. He was replaced by Firmino with 13 minutes to go. Reuters

Mohamed Salah - 7. The Egyptian was marginalised in the first half but threatened after the break. Some of his shots lacked precision but he was unlucky to be foiled by the brilliance of Courtois. Getty

Sadio Mane - 7. The Senegalese hit the post and caused Real some alarm. He was the victim of some rugged defending. EPA

Luis Diaz - 5. The Colombian had an off night and lost his contest with Carvajal. Jota came on for him in the 65th minute. Getty

SUBS: Diogo Jota (Diaz 65') - 6. The Portuguese was an upgrade on Diaz but was unable to beat Courtois. He was swamped by a blanket defence. Getty

Naby Keita (Henderson 77') - 5. He showed for the ball but never looked like turning the match Liverpool’s way. AP

Roberto Firmino (Thiago 77') - 6. The Brazilian produced some clever touches but they were not enough to change the course of the game. Getty

REAL MADRID RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois - 10. One of the great Champions League final performances, the Belgian produced save after save, including six from Salah alone, to guide Real Madrid to victory. Getty

Dani Carvajal - 8. Had the unenviable task of marking Diaz but stood firm, won his battle with the Colombian, and played a key role in Madrid's clean sheet. AP

Eder Militao - 8. Won 100 per cent of his aerial duels and both attempted tackles while also making three successful interceptions, the Brazilian was a rock amid relentless Liverpool attacks. AP

David Alaba - 8. The Austrian was superb alongside Militao, winning four out of five ground duels, making four successful tackles, three interceptions, and three blocked shots. What an incredible free transfer Alaba has turned out to be. Reuters

Ferland Mendy - 8. Had his hands full defensively against Salah but the Frenchman was excellent on the ball, achieving a 97 per cent passing accuracy and won 100 per cent of his one-on-one duels. AP

Luka Modric - 7. Played a key role in the build-up to the goal and celebrated the Champions League triumph by announcing he had signed a new contract. A fifth European Cup for the ageless Croatian. Reuters

Casemiro - 9. Superb from the Brazilian who delivered a vintage defensive midfield display, winning 5/5 aerial duels, 8/11 ground duels, and four tackles, as well as six ball recoveries. Getty

Toni Kroos - 7. Quiet in the first half but grew into the game after the break, achieving 93 per cent passing accuracy including 100 per cent of his 11 attempted long balls. Getty

Federico Valverde - 8. Preferred to Rodrygo on the right wing and it proved the right move from Carlo Ancelotti after the Spaniard played the killer pass for Vinicius Jr's winning goal. Beyond the assist, Valverde had a good game. AP

Karim Benzema - 7. Capped a sensational season by winning a fifth Champions League title. There was to be no final goalscoring heroics but surely Benzema is headed for the Ballon d'Or. EPA

Vinicius Junior - 9. A constant threat down Madrid's left flank and popped up with the game-winning goal. Vinicius finished the season with 22 goals and 20 assists. Getty

SUBS: Eduardo Camavinga (Valverde 85') - N/A. Brought on for the final five minutes to help Madrid over the line. AP

Dani Ceballos (Modric 90') - N/A. Provided fresh legs for injury time. Getty

Rodrygo (Vinicius 90'+3) - N/A. AFP

Both Ancelotti and Roberto Martinez, the Belgian head coach, are looking for reassurance that Hazard, 31, can become “the player [he used to be,” and whether the sudden changes of pace and direction that were such a key part of his game are still in his make-up.

He will never match Vinicius for speed, but there may be a role for a fit, confident Hazard playing off the central striker, Karim Benzema, at Madrid, or switching flanks with Vinicius.

He is not, for all his legacy to Belgium – 117 caps, 33 goals, inspirational in taking the country to third place at the 2018 World Cup – guaranteed a first XI slot under Martinez. Against Poland, Hazard went off after 66 minutes.

His replacement, Leandro Trossard, of Brighton, promptly scored two excellent goals. There is competition for attacking places, and besides Trossard, it comes from the 21-year-old Bruges starlet Charles de Ketelaere, and Hazard’s younger brother, Thorgan, of Borussia Dortmund.

Up next is Saturday’s Nations League meeting with Wales, and perhaps with Gareth Bale, with whom the older Hazard has spent many long hours watching from the sidelines of Madrid these past three seasons.

Both the €100m men vanished from the club’s line-ups for long periods, Bale far more resented by madridistas than Hazard for his anonymity, but still envied by Hazard for Bale’s secure place in the club’s history thanks to decisive performances in the early part of the Welshman’s eight-year service at the Bernabeu.

Bale treasures some truly standout trophy-clinching moments in a Madrid jersey; Hazard is still waiting for one of those.