Chelsea moved into a tie with second-place Manchester United on 50 points following the club’s 4-0 beatdown of Brighton on Saturday morning. The Blues were led by the phenomenal Eden Hazard, who scored a brace while also contributing one of the filthiest hockey assists you’ll ever see.
We’re exactly 31 days away from Barcelona’s visit to Stamford Bridge in the Champions League Round of 16, and the 27-year-old Belgian is obviously back to his best a month before that titanic encounter.
Hazard gave Chelsea the lead in the third minute with a rifled finish from 10 yards out.
The match was effectively finished only three minutes later (in the sixth minute) when Hazard played a wonderful back heel to Michy Batshuayi near the top of the box. Batshuayi, in turn, played another back heel into the path of Willian. The Brazilian thumped in an effort just inside the 18. Joga Bonito.
Hazard gave Chelsea a 3-0 lead in the 77th minute after taking possession just inside the center circle in Brighton’s half. He immediately ran at the defense, drifted inside two Brighton defenders and bamboozled the goalkeeper with a disguised finish.
In the end, Hazard had completed 51 passes, 8 take-ons, created three chances and drawn six fouls. He now has eight goals in 20 EPL appearances.
Hazard was unplayable vs. Brighton. Photo: @SpreadexSport | Twitter
If Chelsea are to defeat the runaway La Liga leaders, they’ll need Hazard to perform like this on Feb. 20 and Mar. 14.
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