Real Madrid held their nerve to beat Osasuna 2-0 in La Liga on Saturday as Eden Hazard made his first begin since January, elevating the potential for Zinedine Zidane choosing him for Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final second leg towards Chelsea.
After making a quick cameo off the bench within the first leg final week, Hazard performed 72 minutes at Valdebebas and will now face his former membership from the beginning within the pivotal return sport at Stamford Bridge.
“He was superb,” said Zidane. “He played close to Karim (Benzema), they tried things and I was very happy with him.”
Real Madrid have all of it to do towards Chelsea after drawing the opener 1-1 and they’re taking part in catch-up in La Liga too, after Atletico Madrid had earlier scraped to a 1-0 victory towards struggling Elche.
Elche’s Fidel Chaves missed a 91st-minute penalty in what might show a pivotal second in Spain’s thrilling title race, with Atletico sustaining their two-point lead over Real Madrid and stretching the benefit to 5 over Barcelona.
Barca journey to Valencia on Sunday whereas Sevilla, who are actually six factors again, play their sport in hand on Monday towards Athletic Bilbao.
“We’re getting into a defining interval and every victory is a vital step,” said Atletico coach Diego Simeone.
Atletico’s win meant victory for Real Madrid was essential and they had to work hard for it against a determined Osasuna side, Eder Militao breaking the deadlock in the 76th minute before Casemiro made it two four minutes later.
Zidane’s squad has been stretched by absentees in recent weeks and he left Luka Modric and Toni Kroos on the bench, while handing Hazard his first start since January 30.
There could be a fresh concern, though, after defender Raphael Varane was taken off at half-time.
“I hope it’s a little thing but right now I can’t say,” Zidane mentioned.
The finest probability fell to Hazard from a Marcelo cross however he didn’t catch the volley cleanly, as a substitute scuffing it into the bottom and goalkeeper Sergio Herrera did brilliantly to save lots of.
Benzema had already gone shut and Militao had a pair of headers early within the second half that once more drew Herrera into motion.
Hazard light and departed with 18 minutes left. Osasuna have been tiring too and at last Madrid obtained the breakthrough, Militao making it third time fortunate, rising excessive to go in Isco’s nook.
Four minutes later it was two, Benzema driving in from the left and slipping a reverse go via for Casemiro, who stretched to manage and as a substitute poked tha ball instantly into the web.
– Atletico edge out Elche –
Elche squandered two golden alternatives to grab a draw towards Atletico.
First, Antonio Barragan volleyed over from shut vary after which Marcos Llorente’s handball gave Fidel an opportunity from the spot however he struck the put up.
“I don’t consider in luck,” Llorente said. “If it didn’t hit the post, I think Oblak would have got to the shot. We have the points and that gives us a lot of strength going forward.”
Atletico are actually assured to be forward of Barca after they kick off at Camp Nou subsequent Saturday.
Real Madrid additionally face Sevilla at Valdebebas a day later in a crunch weekend on the high however the resistance of 18th-placed Elche towards La Liga’s frontrunners suggests the race might properly go to the ultimate day.
Simeone’s aspect have been denied thrice within the first half, Luis Suarez lacking a golden probability earlier than that they had a aim and a penalty dominated out by VAR.
Finally, Atletico broke via, with Yannick Carrasco weaving via down the left earlier than choosing out the coming Llorente, whose shot deflected off Josema Sanchez on its means in.
Barragan ought to have equalised with 5 minutes left when the ball was headed again to him six yards out however one way or the other he volleyed over.
There was extra drama to come back as Victor Rodriguez’s cross struck the hand of the leaping Llorente within the field and Fidel stepped as much as safe a degree. Instead, he discovered the surface of the put up.
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