Chelsea defied Manchester City's scintillating home form with a superb 1-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium on Monday that injected fresh intrigue into the Premier League title race.
Imperious in recent weeks, City were looking to reclaim top spot from Arsenal and move six points above Chelsea, but it was the visitors who prevailed thanks to a 32nd-minute bullet by Branislav Ivanovic.
City had won all 11 of their previous home league games this season, losing only to European champions Bayern Munich on home turf, while it was the first time they had failed to score at the Etihad in the league since November 2010.
The hosts had been seeking a ninth successive league win, but instead Jose Mourinho's Chelsea were left to celebrate a home-and-away double, having beaten City 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in October's reverse fixture.
Chelsea also hit the woodwork on three occasions, but Ivanovic's vicious strike proved enough as they moved level on points with City, two points shy of leaders Arsenal.
With City rattled, the irrepressible Hazard worked Hart with a low strike before skipping past Pablo Zabaleta and crossing for Samuel Eto'o, who could only slam against the crossbar from a narrow angle.
City manager Manuel Pellegrini sent on Stevan Jovetic for Negredo in the 56th minute, but Chelsea continued to threaten, with Cahill heading against the post from an in-swinging Willian corner.
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