Chelsea Draw, but Fabregas and Hazard Display Against Schalke Is Major Positive

STAMFORD BRIDGE, LONDON — In the immediate aftermath of Chelsea’s draw with Schalke in their Champions League opener, Jose Mourinho, his players and the Blues fans were rightly disappointed.

All at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday evening had seen Chelsea totally dominate the Germans—in the first half particularly—only to receive a sucker punch from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar on the hour, cancelling out Cesc Fabregas’ brilliant opening goal.

The game finished 1-1, and while the scoreline suggests otherwise, this was another enthralling attacking display from Mourinho’s new-look team, continuing in the same vein we have seen in the early stages of the Premier League season.

Chelsea were up and at Schalke from the off, Branislav Ivanovic notably enjoying plenty of possession in the opposition half as the Blues stretched Jens Keller’s side.

Chances went begging, and as proceedings wore on, there was a growing sense Schalke could take something from the game despite Chelsea's dominance.

It was never going to be a foregone conclusion at 1-0, and after some determined play from Julian Draxler, the visitors got their reward, punishing Chelsea for lacking their usual bite in front of goal.

For all their attacking verve, defensive frailties had come back to haunt Chelsea again. That’s five games now this season and just one clean sheet—for a team that boasted the toughest defence in the Premier League last year, it’s not good enough.

Mourinho knows that and so do his defenders, so let’s put it to one side for now, as when the manager revisits the tape from this game, he will be able to marvel all the more at the form of Eden Hazard and Fabregas.

The duo was sublime on Wednesday evening—simply brilliant.

Given the roles they play in this Chelsea side, it’s difficult to label them a partnership, but whatever they are, it’s working.

Fabregas is proving the team-mate Hazard has always craved in west London. It’s as though the Spaniard and he have been acquaintances far longer than the three months or so Fabregas has called Stamford Bridge home.

Their understanding is impressive, demonstrating an innate sense of positioning, reading each other's game well enough to prompt the next movement and create space with it.

We saw that just last weekend against Swansea City when Fabregas assisted Diego Costa for his second goal of the game.

Against Schalke, when Fabregas found himself in a similar position—this time in front of the Shed End— Costa was 60 yards or so behind him warming the substitutes bench, so he took on scoring duties himself, slipping his effort under Ralf Fahrmann in goal.

Indeed, the build-up to Fabregas' goal was a carbon copy of the move that led to Costa's strike just days earlier.

Dispossessing the opposition on the edge of their box, quick thinking from Hazard and Fabregas left the Schalke defenders chasing shadows, and a neat one-two put the latter through on goal.

Such was the pace of their movement and passing, the speed of thought, the defence simply didn't know what had hit it.

From high up in the Stamford Bridge commentary positions, watching the play develop was a privilege. We were being treated to some extraordinary football from two extraordinary players.

The goal topped it off, but there was more besides.

Had Schalke faced an in-form Didier Drogba on Wednesday, the game would have been over by the interval. Dead and buried.

Time and again the Ivorian was given opportunities by Hazard and Fabregas to reopen his Chelsea account after two years away from the club, but the closest he came was in the second half, narrowly firing wide from an acute angle.

Some will question whether he can still produce the goods for Chelsea at 36, and time will give us the answer.

What isn't in doubt is the flourishing relationship Hazard and Fabregas are enjoying.

Mourinho has two players capable of delivering the biggest trophies, the very silverware Roman Abramovich craves to fill the gaping hole in the Chelsea trophy cabinet.

There are issues to address, such as that leaking defence, but if we cast our minds back 12 months, things are looking brighter.

Chelsea had just lost their opening game in the Champions League to an unfancied FC Basel. They lacked punch, and it seemed Mourinho's second spell was going to be far from what we had expected.

In 2014, Chelsea are free-scoring, top of the Premier League and a point better off in Europe than they were at this stage.

On paper, it's marginal progress. Hazard and Fabregas tell us the reality is far different.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes