Hazard will not play in El Clasico

Eden Hazard will miss the first El Clasison of his career with Real Madrid, after the Madrid club announced that his recovery from injury would take four to six weeks.

As previously reported, Eden Hazard will miss the match against Barcelona at Camp Nou after Real Madrid confirmed the Belgian suffered a minor ankle injury.

After being forced to quit Real Madrid’s semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain, which ended in a 2-2 draw in the Champions League, the 28-year-old was initially expected to return after ten days.

Initially Los Blancos had said Hazard’s injury was only “external bruising”. However, he is now expected to be absent for the next four to six weeks.

“After testing our player Eden Hazard from the Real Madrid medical department … he was diagnosed with a minor external fracture in his right leg,” the club said in a statement.

In addition to losing to El Clasico on Dec. 18, Hazard is expected to miss out on other La Liga games – against Espanyol, Valencia, Athletic Bilbao and Getafe.

He also appears to be in doubt for the Spanish Super Cup, in which Real Madrid will face Valencia in the January 8 semifinal, while, if Real Madrid reach the final, the Belgian is believed to be available for that match.