Champions LeagueWhat will this virtue have done! After replacing the injured Karim Benzema on the hour, Eden Hazard has once again shown that he should not be written off yet. A foot in the first two goals in Real’s 0-3 win over Celtic in the Champions League. And with his goal, he immediately made the Spanish house newspapers AS and Marca dream: “Is he still the transfer of the summer.” He also received compliments from chef Ancelotti for his goals and his substitution: “He played the perfect match. He is and remains an important player.”
His first half lasted about fifteen minutes, after he replaced a knee-growing Benzema on the half hour. But you cannot say that Eden Hazard was not immediately present: he started with a few ball losses.
Then there was a frivolous gate at a Celtic defender, only to miss a big chance from close by and see Vinicius do the same after a very good pass from the Red Devil himself. Before that, the home team hadn’t been indifferent at all, but Courtois stood firm and our national number one was helped by the goalpost with a delicious slap from captain McGregor.
Anyway, Thibaut Courtois won’t mind for once that he had to leave the spotlights to his compatriot tonight. He had received 39 minutes from Carlo Ancelotti this season so far, but at Celtic Park he finally showed himself again.
In Vinicius’s opener he was well involved before Valverde kicked the decisive cross, in Modric’s second he showed off with a swift action and good assist. To finally put the crown on the work after a flawless preparatory work by Kroos and Carvajal.
“Eden is motivated”, said Carlo Ancelotti, the Italian success coach who gives him only a few chances. “He’s doing well. In the first half he had a bit of trouble, but in the second half he was decisive. He was perfect. He is and remains an important player. I hope he will continue to do so.”
In that other match in group F, RB Leipzig was surprised by Shakhtar Donetsk. It became 1-4, including after two goals from Marian Shed (ex-KV Mechelen). The Ukrainians are therefore in the lead together with Real.
Marca: “He can still drive everyone crazy in terms of class”
Marca, Real’s house newspaper, writes that Hazard had a night out of his dreams. “He shone as a substitute. He immediately made his presence felt and crowned his performance with a well deserved goal. He played a key role in the second goal. Hazard’s quality is beyond question, and although he’s a less flashy footballer after the injury, he’s still capable of driving everyone crazy for pure class.”
AS: “Hazard still the transfer of the summer?”
AS, that other Madrid sports newspaper, also saw a quick Hazard. “Hazard joins the party. Hazard joins the party. After sliding from star to false star himself, he now fulfills the role of false nine, something he never really was. His first opportunity was a semi-explainable blunder. He would get a deserved second chance. Who knows whether the Belgian can still become the transfer of the summer.”
British media: “Rusty Hazard gradually found his rhythm”
Chelsea’s defeat, goal machine Erling Haaland and Mbappe’s flashes dominate the English media. The Scottish newspapers mainly focus on the reality check for Celtic. And the energy that the stadium exhaled. The great Real and also Hazard are less discussed. There is nothing more to read than descriptions of what he did about the Devil who came to extinguish the fire. The Guardian: “The rusty Hazard gradually found some rhythm and was involved in the counterattack that led to the first goal. Hazard made the third and thus silenced a stadium that had previously trembled.”
Courtois: “Very important for Eden”
“This is very important for how Eden feels in the group,” said a satisfied Thibaut Courtois. “Especially after that missed penalty against Celta, because after that he didn’t play anymore. But he picked up the pace and was very important for us with an assist and a goal, which is very good for us and for the trainer, who has a big option with Eden.”
“This time the right substitution”: our Red Devils watcher explains why Eden Hazard extinguished a slumbering fire with his golden substitute
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and don’t miss out on any of the stars.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/elimparcial/LAZDSYMV7NDDDKY5CDXRJUDJBU.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1)