Real Madrid: Bale apparently amused by Hazard’s reserve role
Hazard & Bale
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Eden Hazard will not feature in Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey defeat. Gareth Bale apparently makes fun of it.
Permanent reserve Gareth Bale apparently amused that his team-mate Eden Hazard was not taken into account when Real Madrid were eliminated from the Copa del Rey.
TV images show Hazard going past Real Madrid’s bench in the quarter-finals at Athletic Bilbao (0-1) towards the end of the second half after warming up for some time. However, Real coach Carlo Ancelotti finally decided against a substitution. As Hazard walked past Bale, who was sitting on the bench, the Welshman made eye contact and couldn’t help but laugh.
Real Madrid: Bale and Hazard usually only on the bench
While Bale has been almost permanently in the role of spectator this season due to injuries, Hazard has played more often recently – but not beyond the role of supplementary player.
Coach Ancelotti, who made only two changes, then justified the ignoring of the attacking stars. “I still had a few options that I wanted to do in extra time,” Ancelotti said at the press conference. “Unfortunately, they scored in the end and I didn’t have time to bring other players.” Alex Berenguer (89th) shot the Basques into the semi-finals with his goal.