Hazard returns to Stamford Bridge tonight for first time since move
Stunning solo efforts, two Premier League titles and THAT goal against Arsenal – Eden Hazard had the best moments of his career at Chelsea and Real Madrid’s £143m man returns to Stamford Bridge tonight… with place in the Champions League final at stake
- Eden Hazard is back at Stamford Bridge for the first time since leaving in 2019
- The Belgian had some tremendous moments during seven seasons at Chelsea
- Solo goals against London rivals Arsenal, Tottenham and West Ham stand out
- His time at Real Madrid so far has been overshadowed by form and fitness issues
- But Hazard could play a vital role tonight in the Champions League semi-finals
He was the Blues hero who wowed supporters with his mesmeric skill on the ball but tonight Eden Hazard returns to Stamford Bridge on a mission to deny his former employers a spot in the biggest game in club football.
The advantage is with Chelsea after a 1-1 draw at Real Madrid last week, in a game Thomas Tuchel’s side dominated and, frankly, should have won.
Late in proceedings, Hazard returned from injury and played a cameo role. On Saturday, he started and played 70 minutes in the win against Osasuna. So, is the Belgian returning at just the right time, to knock-out the club which once loved him?
Eden Hazard had some memorable moments at Stamford Bridge as he returns tonight
Hazard has struggled at Real Madrid but showed signs of form on Saturday against Osasuna
Games: 352
Goals: 110
Assists: 92
Trophies: Premier League (2014-15, 2016-17), FA Cup (2017-18), EFL Cup (2014-15), Europa League (2012-13, 2018-19)
The 30-year-old had the best moments of his career at Stamford Bridge, progressing from one of Europe’s brightest young talents upon signing from Lille in 2012 to a £143m player seven years later.
The moments which spring immediately to mind are the individual flashes of brilliance, often on the biggest of stages.
Arguably his best ever goal came on this ground, against Arsenal in February 2017.
Any Blues fan will remember it like yesterday. Receiving the ball in the centre-circle, Chelsea’s No 10 pushed aside the tepid challenge of Francis Coquelin and advanced towards the penalty area.
From there, he shimmied left, than back to the right – leaving Gunners centre backs Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi stranded – before finishing cleverly into the corner beyond former team-mate Petr Cech.
It was Hazard’s finest moment in a campaign where he picked up his second Premier League winners’ medal, this time under Antonio Conte.
The Belgian attacking star won two Premier League titles at Chelsea – in 2015 and 2017
One of the best performances that season was a 5-0 thrashing of Everton, with Hazard scoring two exquisite goals.
Two years earlier, Hazard registered 19 goals in 52 games in all competitions and was voted the PFA Player of the Year for his work in Jose Mourinho’s title-winners.
That season, he scored the goal which clinched the Premier League, against Crystal Palace at the Bridge.
But it was his goal a season later – in a 2015-16 campaign which actually saw the Belgian’s performance level drop considerably – which is perhaps the most memorable of them all.
London rivals Tottenham needed to win at the Bridge to keep their slim title chances alive. Anything else, and Leicester were champions.
Hazard scored the crucial equaliser against Tottenham which handed Leicester the 2016 title
On a feisty, raucous occasion, Spurs went 2-0 up but Chelsea roared back, with Hazard scoring the equaliser with 10 minutes to go to break Spurs hearts.
It was the sort of goal you feel you saw every other week from Hazard. Cutting in from the left at rapid speed, a give-and-go with a midfielder before curling inch-perfectly into the far corner.
In the years that followed, Hazard became Chelsea’s most important player and the side’s constant threat when the likes of Diego Costa came and went, and the old guard were recycled for upcoming talent.
His final season though was the most prolific of them all, under Maurizio Sarri.
The Belgian scored 21 times to, practically single-handedly, guide Chelsea to a Champions League finish as well as glory in the Europa League.
Hazard’s most prolific season was his last at Chelsea, which secured him a move to Madrid
In his penultimate month, he scored an incredible solo goal, weaving past three players right through the heart of the West Ham defence before a low finish into the corner.
By this point in his career, Chelsea fans instinctively knew they were seeing his last hurrah.
Yet despite a mega-£143m move that summer to Madrid, Hazard has struggled badly in the Spanish capital.
Hazard appeared from the bench last week and could he make the difference late on tonight?
His fitness has been in the spotlight, he has been unlucky with injuries and in nearly two years has scored just four times for Zinedine Zidane’s side.
However, he showed a few flashes at the weekend of his stunning ability. He is unlikely to start tonight, but don’t discount Hazard making the difference from the bench.
These huge games often come down to big moments. Hazard was the king of the big moment at Stamford Bridge only this time, Chelsea will be hoping he fails to perform at the place he used to call home.
HAZARD’S BEST MOMENTS AT STAMFORD BRIDGE
5) Brace in 5-0 win against Everton, November 2016
The Belgian was in mesmeric form in the early months under Antonio Conte, stealing the show against the Toffees with two goals of the highest quality – the first an accurate finish into the corner and the second a brilliant run and finish.
The winger scored twice in one of the most complete team performances under Antonio Conte
4) Stunning solo goal against West Ham, April 2019
By this point, his time at Chelsea was coming to an end but boy did he give the Chelsea fans a goodbye gift, beating three players and finishing with aplomb from the edge of the box.
Hazard scored a sublime goal against West Ham in one of his final games at Stamford Bridge
3) Title-clinching goal against Crystal Palace, May 2015
This was the first season – his third at Chelsea – where Hazard reached the next level , as he won the PFA Player of the Year award in a title-winning season under Jose Mourinho. He scored the title-clinching goal too, from a penalty rebound, against Palace.
Hazard celebrates his goal against Palace on the day he won his first Premier League title
2) Equaliser vs Tottenham, Battle of Stamford Bridge, May 2016
One of Hazard’s most memorable moments came as Chelsea denied Tottenham a win at the Bridge in 2015-16, thus handing the crown to Leicester in a clash famous for a number of scraps throughout the evening.
Hazard’s equaliser against Spurs in the Battle of Stamford Bridge handed the title to Leicester
1) Phenomenal solo goal against Arsenal, February 2017
He picked the ball up in the centre-circle, shrugged off Francis Coquelin, turned Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi inside-out before finishing beyond Petr Cech – a goal of individual beauty.
The Belgian’s goal against Arsenal was a stunning display of individual quality back in 2017
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