Europa League final: Hazard's best goals ahead of possible Chelsea farewell
Eden Hazard might make his final appearance for Chelsea in the Europa League final against Arsenal in Baku on Wednesday.
The Belgium international's contract at Stamford Bridge will expire at the end of next season and Real Madrid are reportedly keen to tempt him away from Chelsea.
After the Blues' closing Premier League outing at Leicester City, Hazard said he had made up his mind and informed the club of his decision, but no official announcement on his future has been made.
Here, we look back at some of the goals that saw Hazard develop from a promising talent, signed from Lille in 2012, to undoubtedly the best player in Maurizio Sarri's side.
Stoke City 0 Chelsea 4 – January 12, 2013
Chelsea were already leading 3-0 when Hazard received the ball in a central area 40 yards from goal. He made light work of turning inside Glenn Whelan, who appeared to be running on rails, and then unleashed a fierce left-footed effort that swerved beyond Asmir Begovic and into the top-left corner.
Chelsea 2 Tottenham 2 – May 2, 2016
There was little for Chelsea fans to cheer in a dismal 2015-16 season that saw them suffer a dramatic fall from grace after clinching the Premier League title in the previous campaign. However, half-time substitute Hazard sent them into raptures when he finished a move he initiated inside his own half by curling a first-time finish into the top-right corner, ending rivals Tottenham's challenge to unlikely champions Leicester.
'Eden’s goal against Tottenham was beautiful.' - @willianborges88: https://t.co/pjddHWJD1Fhttps://t.co/67iLRrhiz9
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 22, 2016
Chelsea 3 Arsenal 1 – February 4, 2017
Pouncing on a loose ball in the centre circle, Hazard shuffled past Laurent Koscielny and sent Francis Coquelin spinning as he headed diagonally towards the touchline. Free of the terrier-like Coquelin, the Belgian angled his run towards the box, turned Koscielny inside out and got his shot away before Shkodran Mustafi could get a block in. The victory sent eventual champions Chelsea nine points clear at the top of the Premier League and opened up a 12-point cushion to the third-placed Gunners.
Liverpool 1 Chelsea 2 – September 26, 2018
Hazard looked destined to lose the ball when he shifted away from Jordan Henderson and towards Fabinho, who he turned away from and into Roberto Firmino. However, he slipped a pass to Cesar Azpilicueta between Firmino's legs and followed it out to the right wing. His change of pace and shielding of the ball enabled him to get around Naby Keita and into the box, where he switched direction by nutmegging Alberto Moreno before rifling a stunning finish across Simon Mignolet to seal a late win in the third round of the EFL Cup.
— Carabao Cup (@Carabao_Cup) October 11, 2018
It was extremely close, but @hazardeden10 has been voted the #CarabaoCup Goal of Round !@ChelseaFC will host @dcfcofficial in the next round
That goal is worth another look, isn't it? pic.twitter.com/emtm9k77Jp
Chelsea 2 West Ham 0 – April 8, 2019
One thing you cannot afford Hazard is space to run into, and West Ham did exactly that in this Premier League encounter at Stamford Bridge. He breezed past Mark Noble and proved too quick for the recovering Declan Rice as he surged towards the box. Two sensational, rapid touches saw him evade the challenge of Fabian Balbuena and leave the Paraguayan's centre-back partner Angelo Ogbonna rooted to the spot. Hazard followed it up by stabbing into the bottom-right corner from 12 yards for another sensational solo goal as Ryan Fredericks lunged in from the left.