Lionel Messi ended his drought against Chelsea to earn Barcelona a 1-1 away draw and put them in the driving seat of an intriguing Champions League round-of-16 tie.
Willian put the hosts ahead on 62 minutes with a fine low shot when teed up by ‘false nine’ Eden Hazard, this coming after striking the woodwork twice. But Messi soon punished Andreas Christensen’s slack pass to slot in a first goal versus the Blues in nine games.
Here, we analyse Hazard’s display:
STATISTICS
Goals – 0
Assists – 1
Shots – 2
Shots on target – 0
Touches – 54
Passes – 35
Key passes – 3
Dribbles – 4
Dispossessed – 2
30-SECOND REPORT
Manager Antonio Conte’s decision to pack the middle of the pitch saw Belgium attacker Hazard utilised as the fulcrum of the front line in a 3-4-3 formation, with strikers Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud starting from the substitute’s bench.
Having played this role sporadically throughout the previous few seasons, this deployment provided few dramas. Indeed, his intuitive link-up play with Brazil winger Willian provided a constant menace and he was the source of Chelsea’s sole goal, showing real poise to look up from a corner.
Eden hazard (c) greets Lionel Messi.
GOT RIGHT
TACTICAL VERSATILITY – Hazard had been building up to this display. Since the turn of the year, he has spent much of his time as a false nine while Spain centre forward Morata struggled for form and fitness.
This ended with Giroud’s recent integration after the thrashing at Watford. But the memory remained.
KEEPING THEM GUESSING – Hazard was everywhere at the Bridge.
By being invariably central, wide or deep, he unsettled a Barca defence who struggled to keep a lid on him.
GOT WRONG
NO PERSONAL GLORY – Hazard showed eagerness and ability, yet it was his application which could be faulted.
Talk of raising his game to be at Lionel Messi’s level often surrounds the Belgium star. But for all the plus points, the Argentine lapped up his only chance while Hazard fired his two shots wide of target.
KEEPING IT UP – As Chelsea’s most-influential player, it is no surprise to learn Hazard’s output mirrored his team’s.
Barca taking a grip in the final stages was mirrored in Hazard’s output dropping.
30 - Lionel Messi has scored his first-ever goal against Chelsea in nine appearances, netting with his 30th shot against them. Finally. #CHEBAR pic.twitter.com/VKVfoiHmcX
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 20, 2018
KEY MOMENTS
5th min CHANCE: Hazard gave an early sight of his positive intentions for the night. A rasping shot when cutting inside from the right of the penalty box sliced narrowly over at some speed with Germany goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen athletically springing across, just in case.
13th min CHANCE CREATED: For all of Barca’s possession, Chelsea and Hazard looked more in the mood. His dumbfounding dribbling skills were on show when he skipped past midfielders Paulinho and Ivan Rakitic, only for his two low crosses to be repelled.
33rd min CHANCE CREATED: There was no panic when Hazard picked up the ball close to the Barca goal and looked up to see a plethora of markers. He expertly held the ball up and flicked it across for Willian to rattle the post for the first time.
42nd min CHANCE: What a goal this would have been. A defensive header from a Chelsea free-kick rose into the air and Hazard raced onto it, a rasping volley firing over the crossbar.
Ter Stegen would not have wanted to be in the way of that.
62nd min ASSIST: This was a simple moment for Hazard, looking up to find the willing Willian who was third-time lucky as his low shot threaded its way in at the near post.
90th min FOULED: Barca had no qualms about getting physical with Hazard, with five fouls against him being the most suffered by any player on the pitch. Spain anchorman Sergio Busquets scythed him down at the death to prevent a promising counter-attack.
VERDICT
Hazard could not be accused of failing to embrace this grandstand event, teeing up the excellent Willian for a number of chances – including the opener.
He also had no ego about accepting a role which is not a natural fit. These are laudable traits to hold.
The only negative comes through the lack of a box-office moment which Messi, or Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, deliver with regularity. It is something which keeps him in the band below.
RATING: 7/10
All statistics are compiled using whoscored.com
