In this work, the application of Complementary Split Rings Resonators (CSRRs) to the design of a rat-race hybrid in microstrip technology is analyzed. The use of a left-handed (LH) cell composed by a CSRR etched in the ground plane and series capacitive gap reduces the length of the required 270 - line by a factor of 5. Thanks to this length reduction, the area of the flnal prototype is 4 times smaller than the conventional distributed design. The measured results show satisfactory behavior in the frequency of interest.