Real Madrid struggled against Mallorca, suffering their first La Liga defeat of the season.
One absence though was very noticeable: where was Real Madrid star Eden Hazard?
Real Madrid lost their first league game of the season as Lago Junior’s early strike earned Real Mallorca a shock 1-0 victory at Son Moix.
With Barcelona having leapfrogged Zinedine Zidane’s side to lead the way earlier on Saturday, Madrid needed a victory to move back to the top of the pile. But Mallorca had other ideas and Lago stunned Madrid seven minutes by sending what was the home side’s only shot on target in the entire match into the bottom-right corner.
What was quite noiceable in the fact that former Chelsea star Eden Hazard was not even included int he squad for the league game. It has been understood that he was dropped from his team’s matchday squad, so that he can attend the birth of his fourth child. MARCA reports that Hazard’s wife Natacha Van Honacker gave birth to the pair’s fourth child on Saturday, 19 October.
Earlier, the 28-year-old had admitted that he has not been able to see the criticism on him, despite fans slamming him for his poor start to the season with Los Blancos.
“No, I have not lived through difficult weeks at Madrid. I know we talk a lot about Real everywhere, that’s why I’m here, but I still do not understand Spanish well. I don’t see the criticism,” he said.
Hazard only joined Dani Carvajal, Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Lucas Vazquez, Nacho and Marco Asensio as the notable absentees for the game. The Belgian was replaced by Frenchman Mariano Diaz, who hence made his first appearance in a matchday squad this season in the loss to Mallorca.
SEE ALSO:
- Forgotten Real Madrid winger Lucas Vazquez on radar of Serie A clubs
- Fabian Ruiz in centre of tug of war between Barcelona & Real Madrid
- Real Madrid confirm Luka Modric sidelined with muscle injury
