OFFICIAL: Hazard ruled out of the first El Clasico of the season with injury

Eden Hazard has been ruled out of the first El Clasico of the season with his leg injury much worse than initially feared.

It was first reported that the Belgian - who sustained the injury on 27 November and it was expected initially that he would be out for just one week, but now Cadena Cope say he will miss Real Madrid’s game against Barcelona on 18 December.

Hazard was withdrawn after 70 minutes after being caught by Paris Saint-Germain defender and his fellow Belgian international teammate Thomas Meunier during their Champions League draw last week.

Zinedine Zidane stated in his post-match press conference that he is concerned by the injury but initial tests revealed the injury is not as bad as first feared.

Diario AS then reported the following day that the attacking star will only miss the upcoming games against Alaves and Espanyol but will be fit in time to face both Valencia and Barcelona later in the month.

Hazard had not broken or damaged any muscles with only bruising detected by the tests, meaning that he was thought to be likely to return in under a fortnight.

But a fresh report in Cadena Cope stated there is ‘great concern’ at the club as Hazard is still using crutches a week after the incident and is in pain when he walks, with official news of his absence confirmed on Thursday.

Hazard was replaced by Gareth Bale against the Ligue 1 giants, and the Welsh international is now likely to get further game-time in his absence.