Real Madrid monitoring Hazard

Eden Hazard's fitness continues to be a regular problem for Real Madrid, despite the assertions that his injury woes were behind him.

The Belgian alternates between training with the group as normal and working alone on a daily basis, and on Friday he was working separately, which suggests he will not be involved in the Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk.

Tests were performed on Hazard to rule out a muscle injury following his participation in the Nations League with Belgium, with it confirmed that he was merely suffering from cramp and muscle fatigue against Italy.

Los Blancos have been so careful with Hazard all season and there has to be an element of frustration that they now must wait further for his availability.

There is a genuine fear that he is so frail at this point that an injury could occur at any opportunity, and Carlo Ancelotti himself has even stated that playing the 30-year-old in successive matches is not an option at this stage.

With the first Clasico of the season on the horizon on October 24, Hazard will have to be vigilant if he is to be fit enough to play in that fixture.

Ever since he joined the club in 2019, Hazard has actually never taken part in a Clasico, with injury keeping him on the sidelines for every single clash with Barcelona.

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