This archive report was first published on 10 June 2020.
La Liga's title race has taken an unexpected turn with the return of Eden Hazard and Luis Suarez, who could play a crucial role in deciding the champion when the season resumes on Thursday.
Both players were written off after undergoing surgery, but they have been given a lifeline to revive their careers. Hazard, who underwent surgery on his right foot in March, was expected to focus on the Euros, while Suarez, who had a knee operation in January, was thought to have played his last game for Barcelona.
However, Real Madrid and Barcelona have thrown them a lifeline, with Suarez aiming to preserve his career at Barca and Hazard looking to kickstart his with Madrid.
After Real Madrid paid 100 million euros ($108.4 million) to sign Hazard from Chelsea last year, fans were excited to see him in action. However, questions were soon raised about his weight in pre-season, and he has struggled with injury all season.
Every time he has come back, Hazard has needed time to find form, lacking the burst of speed and change of direction that made him a threat at his best.
But reports from Real Madrid's training ground, Valdebebas, have been positive, with Thibaut Courtois saying he was surprised by Hazard's 'rhythm' before adding a note of caution.
Barcelona coach Quique Setien has been similarly circumspect over Suarez, who is not renowned for quick returns to sharpness after time away.
"He is better than we expected," Setien said on Sunday. "But the question is how ready he is after so long out and whether he is ready to start."
"He is better than we expected," Setien said on Sunday. "But the question is how ready he is after so long out and whether he is ready to start." — Quique Setien
Despite winning the Clasico on March 1, Real Madrid were in a slump before the hiatus, with only one win in five games. They lost their defensive steel and a familiar bluntness remains, still lingering from Cristiano Ronaldo's departure.
La Liga's title race has taken an unexpected turn with the return of Eden Hazard and Luis Suarez, who could play a crucial role in deciding the champion when the season resumes on Thursday.
Barcelona, meanwhile, need bodies as they have only 19 fit senior players, which leaves them surprisingly ill-equipped to capitalise on two extra substitutes.
The club sold back-ups in January to raise funds for a striker that never arrived and instead they were left to exploit La Liga's emergency signing rule in February to poach Martin Braithwaite from Leganes.
But Suarez brings experience and quality, not to mention the best out of Lionel Messi.
Barcelona have a two-point advantage and the marginally more favourable fixtures, particularly as the usually heated atmospheres at Sevilla and Alaves will be negated by empty stands.
Yet bubbling distrust of the Barca board could resurface at any moment and Real Madrid have the better head-to-head record, meaning they only need to be level on points to be crowned champions.
