EDEN HAZARD flashed a smile as he joined Real Madrid stars in flying to Manchester on Thursday.
Los Blancos are out to overturn a 2-1 deficit to Manchester City in their Champions League last-16 clash.
Eden Hazard smiled when pictured with Real Madrid winger Lucas Vazquez
Sergio Ramos travelled despite being banned from the second leg, with Marcelo fighting to be fit
But Gareth Bale will not be able to help his side at the Etihad after being dropped from Zinedine Zidane’s travelling party.
The 24-man squad includes rarely-used former City midfielder Brahim Diaz and the suspended Sergio Ramos – but not Bale or James Rodriguez.
Neither player is thought to be injured with Colombian playmaker James reportedly set for Atletico Madrid and Bale an outcast under Zidane.
The Welshman, 31, only played one game after the restart as Real scooped the LaLiga title.
Perhaps Bale’s biggest contribution during the run-in was a series of prank gestures from the stands, at one point pretending to fall asleep under his face mask and making a binoculars motion in another game.
The decision to leave out the winger comes despite a question mark hanging over Hazard’s fitness.
Thibaut Courtois will be in goal on his return to England
French pals Raphael Varane and Karim Benzema gave the thumbs up before the flight
Luka Modric faces a nervous wait to find out if he is in the XI for Friday’s game
After undergoing an operation on an ankle injury at the start of the coronavirus shutdown, he has been in and out of the side amid fears of aggravating the problem.
Should the 29-year-old start Friday’s crucial clash on the bench, Vinicius is primed to step in and partner Karim Benzema in attack.
Marco Asensio is also set to get the call from coach Zidane with Rodrygo Goes and Isco vying to start.
Eder Militao should feature alongside Raphael Varane in defence during Ramos’ absence while Luka Modric and Fede Valverde compete for the final spot in midfield.
How we expect Los Blancos to line up in the last-16 second leg
James Rodriguez set for sensational Atletico Madrid transfer from Real Madrid for £13.5m with no future under Zidane
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
