Zidane hopeful Real Madrid duo return for Liverpool clash

The Spanish giants resume their Champions League campaign on Tuesday for the first leg of their quarter-final tie with Liverpool.

Zinedine Zidane is hopeful Federico Valverde and Eden Hazard will be fit to face Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Despite returning to training last week, Hazard didn’t make the squad for Saturday’s 2-0 win over Eibar. Zidane announced last Friday that he won’t risk restoring the Belgian back to the fold too soon as he recovers from a psoas injury.

Valverde, meanwhile, was also missing over the weekend after suffering a knock to his right leg against Celta Vigo on March 20.

🎙️ Zinédine Zidane: "Hazard and Valverde? Today it wasn't possible but like always we have to wait. We hope to have them back on Tuesday." pic.twitter.com/CdKDnWbLgN

— Real Madrid News (@onlyrmcfnews) April 3, 2021

“I hope that Fede [Valverde] and Eden [Hazard] are available,” said Zidane in a post-match conference on Saturday.

“They didn’t make today’s game, but, as always, we’ll hold on and I hope that they’re able to feature.”

Marco Asensio and Karim Benzema scored the goals on Saturday to seal Real Madrid a 2-0 win and, for now at least, move them to within three points of La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid, who visit Sevilla on Sunday.

‘We did very well, starting the game very well,” Zidane said on the victory.

“Now we have to rest and prepare well. We know where we come from, we’ve suffered a lot this season and now it’s time to enjoy.

“We’re in a good moment, because the results are good. We defended the goal very well and we’re playing well, for us it’s important.”