The 3 key battles as Chelsea host Manchester City this evening

Eden Hazard vs Pablo Zabaleta

Eden Hazard registered his fifth assist of the campaign on Saturday but it wasn’t enough to help Chelsea avoid defeat against Crystal Palace.

But it was another reminder that the Belgian is in fine form ahead of the run in.

The 26-year-old has scored 11 Premier League goals this term to help propel Conte’s men into a commanding position at the top of the division, with some individual moments of brilliance underlining his return to his 2014/15 form.

Hazard was hugely influential in the Blues’ 5-0 hammering of Everton back in November, a performance many labelled as one of the best in the Premier League era, while his solo strike against Arsenal in February was absolutely majestic.

And it all points to City right-back Pablo Zabaleta enduring a difficult evening at Stamford Bridge tonight.

The 32-year-old is likely to come in for the more attack-minded Jesus Navas as a result of Hazard’s stunning form this term, for what would be Zabaleta’s 11th league start of the season.

Quite simply, the Argentine will have to be at his very best, as well as get help from his City teammates, to thwart the 26-year-old this evening, and doing so may help Guardiola’s men get the three points.