Hazard to make Real Madrid debut today

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said yesterday that big-money summer signing Eden Hazard has been passed fit and will make his long-awaited La Liga debut against Levante today. “We all want to see Eden,” said Zidane. “There’s a lot of pressure on him, a lot of expectation. But he is ready and that is the most important thing.”Hazard was expected to make his debut in Vigo in the opening round in mid-August after joining Madrid for an initial 100mn euros from Chelsea in June. But the Belgian pulled up with a thigh strain at the club’s training base in Valdebebas and had to sit out the first three weeks of the season during which Real struggled, collecting one win and two draws.Zidane, however, called for patience as Hazard finds his feet again. “We have to go gently,” he said. “He (Hazard) was injured for three weeks, he has been back for a week. We have seven games in 21 days and we will have to go gently. It will be up to me to keep an eye on his minutes and his playing time, because we need him over a long period, for several matches, not for one.”Hazard’s return is timely for Madrid who also start their Champions League campaign against PSG, especially as Luka Modric was ruled out this week with a groin strain. “The season starts now,” said Zidane. “We have seven games in 21 days and I think that’s what we need, anyway, to play, make matches, compete... that’s what players want.”The Frenchman also shrugged off criticism of the team following their indifferent start to the season. “The comments, everything that is said, that’s not going to change,” he said. “We know what we want to change within (the team), we will do everything to do things well. Enough talk, we have perform on the pitch.”In addition to Modric and Hazard, James Rodriguez and Isco are also missing with muscle injuries. Marco Asensio is a long-term casualty with ligament damage. Messi still out but Barcelona could welcome back SuarezMeanwhile, forward Luis Suarez could return to the Barcelona team for their La Liga game against Valencia, coach Ernesto Valverde said, adding that he was pessimistic about Lionel Messi’s recovery. “Suarez participated in a full training yesterday and again today,” Valverde said. “We hope he can play.”The 32-year-old Uruguayan limped off with a calf problem in a 1-0 opening-weekend loss to Athletic Bilbao on 16 August. At the time the club forecast he would be out for a month.A return today would be in line with that prediction. On Thursday, Messi, who also has a calf problem, encouraged hopes that he would be back for Barcelona’s opening Champions League game at Borussia Dortmund next Tuesday. His coach was more cautious at a press conference yesterday. “We think he’s about to come back,” Valverde said. “I don’t want to say anything to avoid creating expectations, but I think it will be difficult for Tuesday.”Barcelona have one win in three games, their worst league start since 2008. Today, they welcome a Valencia team that has the same record but has been plunged into crisis following the surprising dismissal of coach Marcelino.FixturesToday: Real Madrid v Levante (1100), Leganes v Villarreal (1400), Real Sociedad v Atletico Madrid (1630), Barcelona v Valencia (1900)Tomorrow: Eibar v Espanyol (1000), Alaves v Sevilla (1200), Celta Vigo v Granada (1400), Valladolid v Osasuna (1630), Betis v Getafe (1900)