PSG vs CHELSEA- 3rd season in a row & It's time for Revenge!

PSG’s Form

Paris St Germain’s form is one of the best in Europe going into their Champions League clash with Chelsea. 24 points ahead at the top of Ligue 1, Laurent Blanc’s men are unbeaten in 35 Ligue 1 matches. They had won 17 games consecutively in all competitions before surprisingly drawing (0-0) with Lille at home. Although the sound argument can always be made that Ligue 1 is not competition for Les Parisiens it continues to be admittedly tough to go that many games without a loss.. The addition of Angel Di Maria has made the team even more devastating when going forward. He has assisted Cavani and Ibrahimovic for the best part of the season whilst also marking sumptuous goals himself. Lavezzi has left for China recently; it will not affect PSG in the slightest. Good news for Chelsea is that right back Serge Aurier has been indefinitely suspended by PSG.

Chelsea’s Form

Since Mourinho’s departure Chelsea have gone on an unbeaten run of 12 games in all competitions. Guus Hiddink has been successfully righting the ship, just as he was the last time he took charge, since his arrival at Stamford Bridge. That run includes 6 draws and 6 wins. The Blues have beaten London rivals Arsenal recently, drawn in a thriller with Everton as well as twice with both Watford and Manchester United. Their most recent game against Newcastle, a 5-1 demolition, was a game in which ex-Barcelona winger Pedro notched two wonderful goals to his name. Diego Costa got his 8th in 10 games. Hazard had been starting on the bench but when he enters the pitch it is by no means lucky that the Blues attain numerous scoring opportunities. Unfortunately Kurt Zouma has been ruled out with a cruciate ligament injury for 6 months, ending his 2015/16 campaign. John Terry looks doubtful for the game.

This time around

PSG won all of their games but those against Real Madrid in the group stages. Hence coming second in Group A. The games against Real were competitive and the Parisians now seem like they can compete and hold their own whilst also being solid at the back against some of the best competition in Europe.  Marco Verratti and Javier Pastore look doubtful   for Laurent Blanc.

Chelsea came top of Group G with the same record as PSG with 4 wins, a draw and a loss. Contrary to their domestic form  the Blues won their first 3 games,  practically securing their place very early on in the Round of 16. Kurt Zouma’s season is over due to his recent injury so Cahill joins Terry at centre back. With the history between these two sides, this eliminatory encounter leaves football fans around the world impatient in anticipation.

Best Odds

• PSG to win 1st leg –

• PSG to win 1st leg 2-1 –

• PSG to qualify –

• Chelsea to qualify –

A look back at their meetings...

• Round of 16 Chelsea 2-2 PSG 11th March 2015 Stamford Bridge

This match was quite incredible, filled with calls of injustice from both sides when both in fact committed about as many as each other. The game was gearing to be one of intrigue but without too much cutting edge. The early highlight was Zlatan Ibramhimovic’s sending off in 30 minutes for a lunge on Oscar. PSG felt hard done by whilst Diego Costa only added to their fervour due to his continuous aggravation towards David Luiz and Thiago Silva. The game was bereft of quality for long periods. Gary Cahill seemingly put The Blues through from an uncertain corner. But then David Luiz entered the storyline in an ironic way as he put in and celebrated with emotion as his bullet of a header went past Courtois, taking the game into extra time. Thiago Silva was the villain and hero in very short succession in extra time. The Brazilian captain gave away the penalty that Eden Hazard slotted home confidently before leaping from yet another corner, his header looping over Courtois at the far post. Uncharacteristically Chelsea gave away both goals from set pieces, something they are known to be strong at.

• Quarter-final Chelsea 2-0 PSG 8th April 2014 Stamford Bridge

Chelsea brought the away goal into this game provided by Eden Hazrad’s penalty at the Parc des Princes. David Luiz, playing for the Blues at the time scored an own goal in the 1st leg. All the pressure was on Jose Mourinho’s side. Both teams though came into the game with injuries in attack. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was unavailable and Samuel Eto’o was playing even though he carried a hamstring problem. Hazard had to come off half way into the first half. His replacement Andre Schurlle certainly made his mark. From Ivanovic’s long throw and a flick from David Luiz the German international simply placed the ball into the near post. Chelsea hit the bar twice in the second half, opportunities gone begging from Schurlle and Oscar. But their workrate unparalleled by the Parisian side, still finding their feet against top European competition. Edinson Cavani was wasteful with two golden opportunities. But it was to be the forgotten man of the Bridge at the time, Demba Ba, whom was to bundle in the winning goal in the 86th minute. Petr Cech, blamed in the first leg, was this time infallable, saving from Marquinhos in the dieing embers of the match. Ba’s goal saw Jose Mourinho sprinting down the pitch into a scene etched into Chelsea’s history.