Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane says Eden Hazard and Marco Asensio are both ready to help Los Blancos in their fight for LaLiga.
Asensio ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in pre-season and Hazard underwent ankle surgery in February, with neither expected back in 2019/20.
But the extended break due to coronavirus has seen the two players return to full fitness and they could be important in the final 11 rounds of matches.
“The good news is that they have had time to prepare like all the others,” Zidane said in his press conference ahead of Sunday’s game at home to Eibar.
“Asensio is training normally and Eden as well. They are going to be available and that’s good news.”
One player who may not feature again this term is striker Luka Jovic, who returned to training with a foot fracture last month.
“Jovic was hurt at home and is going to be out for a while,” Zidane said. “We’ll see if he can come back before the season ends.”
Madrid are playing their remaining home games at the 6,000-seater Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano as renovation work goes on at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“The Di Stefano is our stadium as well,” Zidane said. “We are used to playing at the Bernabeu, but we will adapt.
“We are delighted to play at the Di Stefano. The measurements are the same, we have trained there and we are ready to play at the Di Stefano.”
LaLiga’s protocol after the pandemic, taking advice from health authorities, means games are being played behind closed doors.
“I don’t like playing without fans,” Zidane said. “That’s the situation and we will adapt. We respect what they tell us.
“Nobody can take away our excitement to be playing again. We’re going to give everything on the pitch, just as we would with the fans there.”
