Eden Hazard does not feel like a Galactico

Eden Hazard joined Real Madrid from Chelsea

The Real Madrid forward, 28, has started three games in La Liga but is yet to record a goal or an assist.

The Belgian has inherited all-time top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo’s number seven shirt and is widely regarded as his replacement for the 2019-20 season.

“I’m not a Galactico yet. I have to show that I can be one,” said Hazard.

“We all know the history of the number seven shirt at this club and I want to show I can be the best in the world. I want to give my all, not just in matches but in training too.”

Hazard, who cost an initial £89m, could start Real Madrid’s Champions League group-stage clash with Club Bruges on Tuesday having played 70 minutes in their 3-0 defeat by Paris St-Germain.

Wales international Gareth Bale has been left out of the squad despite starting the 0-0 draw with league rivals Atletico Madrid on Saturday but midfielder Isco has been included.

That defeat by PSG leaves Real bottom of Group A and they are looking to avoid three successive Champions League defeats for the first time in their history.

“I can do better, I’m critical of myself as well, but working every day we will change things,” said Hazard.

“Not everything is perfect but we’re first in La Liga, we lost in Paris, maybe I was set back because of the injury but now I’m at 100% and hope to give my all in the coming games.”

Hazard’s debut for the club was delayed after he picked up a thigh injury the day before the start of the season but the ex-Chelsea star says he “just needs to score goals” now.

“When I start to score and get some good performances, everything will be easier. I’m missing a goal or assist to start to turn things around,” he added.

Manager Zinedine Zidane backed Hazard to improve, saying: “I know he will triumph here but the important thing is to be calm and back him. I know how it works, I was worse when I arrived in Italy. There, I took three months [to hit form], at Madrid a bit less.”

The best of the stats

• Real Madrid and Bruges last met in the European Cup in 1976-77, with the Belgian side progressing 2-0 on aggregate (W1, D1). Bruges were later eliminated in the quarter-final by Borussia Monchengladbach.
• They played out a 0-0 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in October 1976 in the European Cup – their only previous meeting in Madrid.
• Real have won all three of their Champions League home matches against Belgian opposition by an aggregate score of 14-2. Their last competitive home defeat by a Belgian side came back in December 1969 versus Standard Liege in the European Cup (W4, D1, L0 since).
• The Spanish giants have lost their past two Champions League games at home (0-3 vs CSKA Moscow and 1-4 vs Ajax) – their longest such losing run in European history.
• Bruges have failed to score in nine of their 18 Champions League away games, including in four of their last seven (W1, D1, L5). However, they’ve won as many points in their last two away CL games (four – W1, D1), as they had in their previous eight combined (W1, D1, L6).
• They have kept clean sheets in each of their past four Champions League matches, they had only kept five shutouts in their first 33 games in the competition.
• Three of Real Madrid’s past four Champions League games have ended in three-goal defeats – only three of their previous 152 games in the competition ended in defeat by three or more goals.