Tonight’s may be a Premiere Classic. One is certain: the uniform that Madrid will wear. The leader of the League skips tradition and will wear black at the launch of the new shirt designed by Adidas. It is Madrid’s fourth uniform this season and serves to commemorate the 120th anniversary (it was celebrated on March 6) of the club’s founding. The other premiere depends on Ancelotti’s decisions. This is Hazard’s. The Belgian is still unprecedented in the Classics.
The former Chelsea player has not played in any of the six Clasicos that his team has played in the three seasons he has been a Real Madrid player. In his first campaign, Eden missed both games against Barça due to the injury he suffered against PSG in the Champions League group stage. Last season, muscle injuries caused him to miss both league games. In the two stakes this campaign he has been available, but Ancelotti decided to leave him on the bench in both gamesboth in the first round at the Camp Nou and in the semifinal of the Super Cup. Hazard has faced Barcelona as a Chelsea player. Eden played both games of the Champions League round of 16 match in 17-18. Draw (1-1) in the first leg at Stamford Bridge and 3-0 in favor of the azulgrana in the second leg at the Camp Nou.
LaLiga Santander
*Data updated as of March 19, 2022
In any case, the chances of Hazard playing tonight are not very high either. The Belgian’s injuries are respecting him, but he is not enjoying Ancelotti’s confidence. He has played 879 minutes (the 17th of the squad and 23.4% of the possible minutes), spread over 22 games. He has only started nine games. The last one, on January 23 against Elche (2-2) at the Bernabéu. Since then, he has only taken part in four of the last nine games for the white team. He played 25 minutes at the Bernabéu against Granada, eight against Villarreal and PSG and five against Alavés. Yesterday, Saturday, it was a month. He has not played since February 19 and in the last four commitments he has remained as his record against Barça as a madridista: blank.