At last, Hazard – AS.com

Nino spent two years in the Madrid quarry, as a cadet and as a youth, when Del Bosque was running La Fábrica (“He was a teacher; I learned at that school”), and they didn't see a future for him there. That happened 24 years ago. He then signed for Elche on the advice of former athletic player Pedro Pablo Matesanz. Then he passed through Levante, Tenerife and Osasuna and today, at the age of 40, the has the opportunity to play as a franjiverde against Madrid for the first time (follow the game live on As.com).

Nino debuted with a Second B Elche in 1998. He was 17 years old. It would take eight more to make his debut in the First Division, with Levante, and he has now 22 seasons, 784 games and 240 goals in professional football. He has not started any time in this league and he will not be today, but they may have to use him during the game because he continues to produce goal, what is missing in Elche. He has scored 12, the second-worst record in the championship, but his defensive strength has kept him out of the relegation spots so far, despite being two games short as a result of his late promotion.

A good start

He is in First almost by a miracle. He got into the playoff for the defeat of a Fuenlabrada devastated by COVID in the last and controversial day. And he went up with a goal from Pere Milla in the discount for the second leg of the tie against Girona. That happened on August 23 and, from there, everything was against the clock. Argentine Christian Bragarnik, who in December 2019 had acquired 58% of the club (he already controls 98%), did not renew Pacheta, the promotion coach, he hired his compatriot Almirón, a manager of his agency, and brought in 14 new players , six of them Argentine.

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Against all odds, the category soon caught on, but now he has eight games without winning. With good holding and brewing data, it produces very little: It is the team that shoots the least (5.2 times per game), the one that creates the fewest chances to score, the one that throws the fewest attacks and the one that bounces the fewest corners. He started with three centrals and now he is managing 4-1-4-1. Fidel, who has participated in 75% of the team's goals, is its player with the most weight. Today it will be directed by Jesús Muñoz because Almirón is confined by COVID. Recovers Diego González and Mfulu but they do not point to headlines.

In Madrid, this time yes and with express confirmation from Zidane, he returns Hazard. He has been training with the team since December 16, but the French did not dare with him against Eibar or Granada. He has not played since November 28 and has not played a full match with Madrid for thirteen months. He has lost 46 due to nine injuries in 18 months (Benzema has only missed five more in eleven and a half years) and the club now moves with extreme caution, but the truth is that it needs minutes to return to being Chelsea's.

The importance of Benzema

It will not start. In his place, after Rodrygo's injury, the favorite is Asensio, starting against Granada for the first time in Madrid's winning streak. He showed progress and overtook Vinicius, who is going down. Also returns Modric after his break game after playing 26 consecutive games in 74 days. Add up, in that short space of time, 1,798 minutes, a figure similar to the one that Marcelo, Isco or Vinicius reached throughout last season. his renovation is fully justified.

It remains to be seen if Zidane will play something else and if he will raise a player to this triumphal car. Eight have not played a minute in the six consecutive victories. Some as illustrious as Marcelo or Odegaard, who could be an option today. Jovic or Mariano, on the other hand, have it impossible with Benzema, author of six goals in the last five games. With eight goals and five assists in the league, he shares with Aspas his status as the most influential player on a team. He was absent in two games (against Villarreal and Alavés) and Madrid did not win any of them. Rest is prohibited.