Sources: Real Madrid's Eden Hazard ruled out of El Clasico with injury

Published on: 05 December 2019

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Real Madrid's Eden Hazard will miss El Clasico after medical tests revealed he has a fracture in his right ankle, sources have told ESPN.

The Belgium international, ranked the No. 3 winger in ESPN FC 100, sustained the injury in Madrid's 2-2 draw with Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last month.

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Initial testing suggested Hazard had suffered only bruising in the challenge from compatriot Thomas Meunier, and he was expected to be out for just 10 days.

In a statement on Thursday, Madrid confirmed the player has now been diagnosed with "an incomplete external microfissure" of his right ankle.

Club sources have told ESPN that Hazard had felt no improvement at the end of last week, and underwent further testing to reveal the source of the continued discomfort.

The news comes ahead of a key run of La Liga games for Madrid that includes a visit to Mestalla to play Valencia on Dec. 15 and the game with Barcelona at Camp Nou on Dec. 18.

Sources have told ESPN that Hazard's injury is "bad luck" because he had "at last found his best form" after a difficult adaptation process since his summer move from Chelsea.

A recovery time has not been given, but Hazard is expected to be out for action for at least an additional two weeks.

Marcelo is also a doubt for the Barcelona game, with Madrid confirming the Brazilian defender has suffered a calf injury. It means that Madrid could be without both first-choice left-sided players for the game at Camp Nou.

In the case of Marcelo, the club have an able deputy in the form of Ferland Mendy. The absence of Hazard may see coach Zinedine Zidane continue with the 4-4-2 formation that proved effective in their 2-1 win at Alaves last weekend.

Source: espn.co.uk

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