• Real Madrid's Brazilian defender Marcelo kneels to celebrate his goal during the Spanish League match between Real Madrid and Eibar at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Valdebebas, on the outskirts of Madrid. AFP
    Real Madrid's Brazilian defender Marcelo kneels to celebrate his goal during the Spanish League match between Real Madrid and Eibar at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Valdebebas, on the outskirts of Madrid. AFP
  • Marcelo celebrates scoring their third goal. Reuters
    Marcelo celebrates scoring their third goal. Reuters
  • Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos celebrates scoring their second goal with Eden Hazard. Reuters
    Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos celebrates scoring their second goal with Eden Hazard. Reuters
  • Toni Kroos celebrates with his team after scoring Real Madrid's first goal against Eibar. Getty
    Toni Kroos celebrates with his team after scoring Real Madrid's first goal against Eibar. Getty
  • Sergio Ramos (L) celebrates with teammate Eden Hazard after scoring their second goal. EPA
    Sergio Ramos (L) celebrates with teammate Eden Hazard after scoring their second goal. EPA
  • Gareth Bale walks to the bench during the Liga match. Getty
    Gareth Bale walks to the bench during the Liga match. Getty
  • Real Madrid's Rodrygo Goes in action against Eibar's Rafa Soares. EPA
    Real Madrid's Rodrygo Goes in action against Eibar's Rafa Soares. EPA
  • Welsh forward Gareth Bale warms up. AFP
    Welsh forward Gareth Bale warms up. AFP
  • Real Madrid's James Rodriguez in the stands, as play resumed behind closed doors. Reuters
    Real Madrid's James Rodriguez in the stands, as play resumed behind closed doors. Reuters
  • Real Madrid's Luka Modric goes past Eibar's Edu Expositio. AP
    Real Madrid's Luka Modric goes past Eibar's Edu Expositio. AP
  • Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois concedes a goal scored by Eibar's Spanish defender Pedro Bigas. AFP
    Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois concedes a goal scored by Eibar's Spanish defender Pedro Bigas. AFP
  • Real Madrid's Belgian forward Eden Hazard in the stands after leaving the pitch. AFP
    Real Madrid's Belgian forward Eden Hazard in the stands after leaving the pitch. AFP
  • Luka Modric with coach Zinedine Zidane during drinks break. Reuters
    Luka Modric with coach Zinedine Zidane during drinks break. Reuters
  • Real Madrid's Marcelo celebrates after the match. Reuters
    Real Madrid's Marcelo celebrates after the match. Reuters
  • Marcelo and Gareth Bale celebrate the win. Reuters
    Marcelo and Gareth Bale celebrate the win. Reuters
  • Head coach Zinedine Zidane talks to player Gareth Bale. EPA
    Head coach Zinedine Zidane talks to player Gareth Bale. EPA
  • Eden Hazard of Real Madrid battles for possession, before being taken off. Reuters
    Eden Hazard of Real Madrid battles for possession, before being taken off. Reuters
  • The La Liga match between Real Madrid and Eibar at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano. Getty
    The La Liga match between Real Madrid and Eibar at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano. Getty
  • Eden Hazard bumps shoulders with Karim Benzema as they warm up. Getty
    Eden Hazard bumps shoulders with Karim Benzema as they warm up. Getty
  • Real Madrid players during the warm up. Reuters
    Real Madrid players during the warm up. Reuters

Marcelo takes a knee, Hazard and Ramos knocks, Real Madrid narrow gap on Barca - in pictures


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Marcelo celebrated by taking a knee as Real Madrid returned from three months in lockdown by beating Eibar 3-1.

After scoring Madrid's third goal in the 37th minute, Marcelo dropped on to his left knee and raised his clinched right fist into the air, in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Madrid's win may have come at a cost as Eden Hazard and Sergio Ramos were both substituted early in the second half and were seen with ice packs strapped to them while sitting in the stands.

Hazard was making his first start since February and his ice pack appeared to be around his troublesome right ankle, which he injured in November and February, before undergoing surgery in March.

"We knew Eden would lack a bit of rhythm playing the whole game," coach Zinedine Zidane said.

"He played well for an hour, he took a knock which was a scare but at half-time he said he was fine. He is happy with what he has done and we are happy with him."

Madrid's win means they narrowed the gap on league leaders Barcelona to two points after the Catalans thrashed Real Mallorca 4-0 on Saturday.

Madrid struck in the fourth minute after a superb strike from Toni Kroos before Ramos tucked away Hazard's pass on the counter-attack.

Eibar pulled one back in the second half through Pedro Bigas but never found the second to make Madrid nervous, despite a brief spell of pressure.

Before going off, Hazard was busy, the Belgian involved in all three goals.

After a miserable opening season in Spain, it was a bright start for Hazard, who could now redeem himself by playing a crucial role in the run-in, if he can stay injury-free.

Perhaps even more impressive though was Karim Benzema, who linked up brilliantly with Hazard and was unfortunate not to get the goal an excellent all-round performance deserved.

Gareth Bale started on the bench but came on and could start against Valencia on Thursday.

Zidane is likely to rotate heavily over the next few weeks, with the games coming thick and fast.

Madrid's coach will also have been pleased to get off to a positive start in their new training ground home, which was the 100th different stadium to be used in La Liga.

They will be playing all their remaining home matches at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium to allow renovation work at the Santiago Bernabeu to continue this summer.

"We know the situation, it's all a bit strange," said Zidane. "But the players are all champions and we have to get our heads around it."