Page 2 - Galatasaray 0-1 Real Madrid: 5 Talking Points

#4 Eden Hazard’s performance a fair reflection of his stuttering start to the season

During the off-season, not many transfer sagas dominated the back pages across Europe as much as that of Eden Hazard’s impending move to Real Madrid. Ultimately, Los Blancos got the deal over the line, meaning that the Spanish outfit had finally laid their hands on the Cristiano Ronaldo replacement they craved.

However, during the formative stages of the season, the Belgian has failed to get going with several voicing their discontent over the quality of his displays. Subsequently, he has been dealt a harsh lesson on how to handle pressure at arguably the world’s biggest club.

At the weekend, the forward was accorded a break as he attended the birth of his child. Thus, all eyes shifted to Tuesday, where Hazard was expected to spearhead Madrid’s faltering Champions League campaign. And, though he popped up with an assist, he blew hot and cold for large stretches of the game, thereby not quelling any fears regarding his form.

The Belgian looked bright in patches as he portrayed a telepathic understanding with Karim Benzema. However, he uncharacteristically lacked conviction when presented with opportunities in the final third.

On countless occasions, the forward opted for the safer option, rather than shooting himself. And, the only time he decided to shoulder the responsibility, he rattled the crossbar with the goal gaping.

Thus, through the course of the encounter, Hazard had unknowingly provided a fair reflection of his troubled tenure at Madrid: always seeming capable of a bit of magic but inevitably slipping out of games and into oblivion.

And, though he possesses enough quality to turn things around in a trice, maybe he might just be starting to worry about his start to the season.