Belgium playmaker Hazard made a rare start for Madrid at Stamford Bridge, where he shone for Chelsea before leaving for the Spanish giants in a mega deal almost two years ago that could be worth as much as $209 million.

Aside from testing goalkeeper Edouard Mendy in the second half, Hazard was anonymous by the standards he set during his time in London, doing little to prevent Madrid from slumping out of the semifinals with a 2-0 defeat on Wednesday.

Worse was to come as footage emerged of Hazard cheerfully congratulating Chelsea players on the pitch afterwards, embracing his opponents at a time when many supporters felt he should have been keeping a low profile after a drab display from the 13-time winners and his latest underwhelming showing in a hugely underperforming spell in Spain so far.

"Eden has to play," coach Zidane said afterwards, facing pressure over his questionable tactics and the decision to field a player who has provided no assists and only three goals in 18 appearances this season. "He has to regain his confidence, little by little, by playing."

Club legend Sergio Ramos was making an even rarer appearance, although his out-of-sorts performance fueled rumors that he was unfit and had played on the basis of Real Madrid's terrible record without him in crucial matches.

"We played a semifinal and the players were prepared," insisted Zidane. "If they played, it means that they were prepared. We can be proud of my players. We have tried and we have come this far, one step away from the final.