Finally good news for Zidane. The top reinforcements arrive just before the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Atalanta. Ramos and Hazard, Hazard and Ramos. They have been waiting but, almost certainly, both will be in the eleven on Tuesday (9:00 pm) against the Italians to defend the 0-1 first leg in Bergamo. The two completed with the group, this Thursday, the second full training with the group and, Although they will not be in the eleven against Elche, they will have the maximum number of minutes with a view to that European appointment.
Of the two, Hazard and Ramos, it has been the Belgian the one who has been waiting the longest. He was injured again on February 3. His tenth injury in the little over a year and a half since he signed for Madrid, from Chelsea, for 100 million plus 40 for goals. Since his ankle operation, muscle injuries have been recurring in him. In the latter, if he was given a recovery period of one month, he has needed five weeks. But the reality is that, at least, he has met the goal of being in the round of the eighth.
With Ramos there have been no surprises. It always complies. He has given everything to be ready when before after undergoing surgery on his knee meniscus. The captain underwent that surgery on his left knee on February 6 and, if in his case he spoke of at least six weeks of recovery, the captain has shortened it to just over a month. His situation is special, in addition, because he has not yet solved his renewal. His contract ends on June 30 and he has between now and the end of the season to be in the window either for that renewal or to try to sign the best possible contract in another team.
Either way, even with the two of them, Zidane will have another important loss in defense for the game against Atalanta, La de Carvajal. Against the Italians, in defense Lucas Vázquez will form for him. And, presumably, already with Hazard the eleven will be next. Courtois; Lucas Vázquez, Ramos, Varane, Mendy; Casemiro, Modric, Kroos; Asensio, Benzema, Hazard. Regarding this idea of a team, there are three men with the possibility of entering it, perhaps through the Belgian: they are, in this order, Valverde, Vinicius and Isco.