There was a new experience for Chelsea supporters during Tuesday night's Champions League semi-final first leg against Real Madrid. Although it's one they never wanted to go through.
In the 66th minute of the contest at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano, Eden Hazard was introduced from the Real Madrid substitutes' bench. It was the first time the Belgian had ever been on the opposing side to the Blues.
Fortunately, Chelsea didn't come against Hazard at his best. The 30-year-old was certainly not fully fit having only returned from a muscle injury a few days prior against Real Betis.
There was one moment of quality from Hazard has he slipped a perfectly weighted pass through to Alvaro Odriozola. Fortunately, Antonio Rudiger was able to block the Spaniard's threatening cross.
“It’s always good to play against friends," Hazard told BT Sport after the game. "I have a couple of friends over there."
That was evident after the full-time whistle was blown. As the two sets of players shook hands, Hazard shared an embrace and joke with Rudiger as he walked off the pitch.
He then headed over to the sidelines where Cezar Azpilicueta stood in conversation with Marco Asensio and former Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Azpilicueta and Hazard are good friends and that was patently clear as the two shook hands before warmly hugging.
Then came another embrace, this time with Callum Hudson-Odoi, who gave his shirt to the Belgian.
Hazard responded in kind. He peeled his rain-sodden shirt off and jokingly attempted to pass it to Azpilicueta before it was handed over to the Blues academy graduate.
Hazard and Hudson-Odoi were both part of the Chelsea first-team squad during the 2018/19 campaign under Maurizio Sarri.
That season proved to be the Belgian's last at Stamford Bridge, while it was the young winger's first as a regular in the senior set-up.
And Hudson-Odoi clearly made an impression on Hazard. "He's the future of Chelsea," the former Blues No.10 told Sky Sports in April 2019.
"I've told him already. He's still young but when you see him he looks like he's played ten years. He's a great guy to work with, he's been fantastic. He wants to learn and he's young so I hope Chelsea can keep him for a long time.
"He's got quality, sometimes I understand it's hard to get young players in the team because we have people like me, Willian, Pedro.
"But when he has the chance to play they have to show they're ready and Callum is showing that right now."
