Chelsea will welcome PSG to Stamford Bridge tonight, as they look to overturn a three goal deficit from the first-leg. The Blues are 5-2 down on aggregate after a thrilling clash in Paris last week, which saw PSG pull away in the tie thanks to brace from Kvicha Kvaratskhelia late in the game.
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These two sides have not met at the bridge since March 2016 when PSG picked up a 2-1 win to secure their spot in the Champions League quarter-finals, where they would be defeated by Manchester City. However, the Parisian’s are winnless in the other three trips to West London, with two ending in a draw and Chelsea coming out on top in the other.
Bradley Barcola, Malo Gusto, Ousmane Dembele, Enzo Fernández, Vitinha and the aforementioned Kvaratskhelia were all on the scoresheet last week at the Parc Des Princes in an end-to-end match. PSG’s match with Nantes this past weekend was postponed to allow the side to focus on tonight’s fixture, whilst Chelsea suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon.
Domestically, both sides are having differing seasons with PSG naturally sitting top of the tree in Ligue 1 whilst Chelsea remain in the fight for a Champions League spot next season, currently finding themselves 6th in the Premier League standings. PSG, much like last season, currently have one of the best attacks in the world having netted 31 UCL goals in 11 outings so far this term, as well as 54 from 25 games in the French top flight.
The hosts’ head coach Liam Rosenior confirmed his side will be without Reece James for this fixture. “He felt something against Newcastle and he is out for tomorrow’s game. With a hamstring injury, it is never great. Hopefully, we can get him scanned and find out the full extent.”
The 41-year-old also spoke on his team’s approach for tonight’s game, stating “We can’t make mistakes…we have to remember PSG are European champions for a reason, but we know we can compete.”
Meanwhile, PSG boss and two time UCL winner Luis Enrique compared tonight’s game to his side’s second-leg clash with Aston Villa last season at Villa Park. The Spaniard said “I think it was a clear example of what a soccer match can become. We prepared the match in Birmingham like the Chelsea one with the intention of winning, of scoring goals. But there will be moments during the match that will be difficult to manage, and you have to know how to control the match. But our objective is to seek to win the match. We will have moments of suffering, of course.”
Chelsea have never overturned a three goal deficit in the Champions League, they will need that to change tonight if they are to qualify for the last eight. Tonight’s match is scheduled to kick off at 8pm (UK time.)