Should Hazard Start Against Chelsea?

Eden Hazard has been declared fit to face his former side on Tuesday, but is he ready to return to Real Madrid's starting XI?

GOAL

Real Madrid will face Chelsea in the highly anticipated Champions League semi-finals, with Zinedine Zidane and Thomas Tuchel both looking to get a step closer to continental glory.

There will also be a potential reunion for Eden Hazard and Chelsea, as he prepares to welcome his former side in the first leg before travelling to Stamford Bridge a week later.

Goal has what you need to know if Hazard has been deemed fit to feature against his old team.

Will Eden Hazard play vs Chelsea in the Champions League?

The Belgian has been included in the Champions League squad to face Chelsea on Tuesday evening, and has been declared fit by Zidane.

Hazard had been sidelined with a hip injury since March 13, but was able to make a 15-minute cameo in the 0-0 draw to Real Betis on Saturday.

Whether or not he will actually feature in the game is a different question, based on the injuries and fitness levels he has struggled with this season.

Should Hazard be selected to play in the game, it will be the first time he has come up against his former club since his €100 million (£88m/$112m) move in 2019.

What has Zidane said?

Zidane gave Hazard the all-clear to be named in the team, and outlined the forward's importance to the squad.

“I don’t see Eden having any doubts. He looked very good on the field the other day," Zidane told reporters at a press conference on Monday.

“That was the most important, not feeling anything from his old problems. Now he is good, and now to push on.

“We are happy to have him with us, he will bring a lot to the team.”

Eden Hazard this season

Hazard has had plenty of injury woes this season, making just 15 appearances for Los Blancos in all competitions so far.

The former Chelsea man had been diagnosed with an injury in the "right psoas muscle" after he was taken off against Elche last month, but did not undergo an operation as two doctors who previously worked on his right ankle strongly advised against doing so.

Real Madrid had been hoping for Hazard to return to fitness in time to face Liverpool, and then Getafe on April 18, but was only given the green light to play against Real Betis on April 24.