PSG vs CHELSEA

 PSG 2 - 1 CHELSEA

Live Commentary

Commentary Main events

• 81'

  SubstitutionMarco VerrattiAdrien Rabiot
  Verratti's hardworking shift is clocked out as Rabiot enters. 
• 81'

  SubstitutionBlaise MatuidiJavier Matías Pastore
  Substitution Blaise Matuidi Javier Matías Pastore
• 80'

  Paris Saint-Germain's pressure finally tells, as they crack in the go-ahead goal to bookend a long second half of pressure. They show no signs of slowing down, and are chasing a third! 
• 78'

  Assist Ángel Fabián di María Hernández
  Great pass over the top of the defence by Di Maria to set up that one. 
• 78'

  Goal Edinson Roberto Cavani Gómez
  CAVANI HAS DONE IT! The crowd went silent as he sprinted onto a ball over the top, but they erupted as he slides a lovely finish through the wickets of Courtois from a tough angle! No less than PSG deserve! 
• 77'

  Half a chance there for Chelsea, as Oscar makes a run in behind the defence, and latches onto a ball behind the back line. Trapp is out to meet him, but the ball spills for a second before Marquinhos is able to clear. 

• 75'

  Time is starting to run a little short for PSG's liking, with Chelsea holding the advantage as things stand thanks to Mikel's away goal at the end of the first half. Just around a quarter hour to go. 
• 74'

  SubstitutionLucas Rodrigues Moura da SilvaEdinson Roberto Cavani Gómez
  The expected sub is made, with Cavani in for Lucas. 
• 73'

  Looks like another change in the offing for PSG, and it appears that Lucas will be the man to depart. He's been one of the biggest threats for the visitors, but Cavani is set to replace him. 
• 71'

  Yellow Card David Luiz Moreira Marinho
  Luiz is then shown a yellow card for a foul on Costa. 
• 71'

  SubstitutionEden HazardOscar dos Santos Emboaba Júnior
  Oscar enters the game in place of Hazard, who I'd forgotten was on the pitch to be honest. 
• 70'

  Yellow Card Lucas Rodrigues Moura da Silva
  Lucas has drawn his fair share of fouls in this game with his lightning-quick runs on and off the ball, but he gets a taste of his own medicine as Baba Rahman appears to have him beat. He tugs back the full-back, leading to a booking. 
• 69'

  COURTOIS IN ACTION ONCE AGAIN! The Belgian dives to his right to push away a free-kick from Di Maria, who had curled the set-piece through a gap in the wall. Chelsea still holding firm.
• 67'

  Yellow Card Pedro Eliezer Rodríguez Ledesma
  Pedro is pulled up by the referee and receives a yellow card for a high challenge on the spinning Verratti. This leaves PSG with a very tasty free-kick about 20 yards from goal, just off-centre. 
• 66'

  This has been relentless pressure on the Chelsea goal in the second half. It's clear that PSG want an advantage for the second leg, and they're doing everything in their power to get it. 
• 64'

  TREMENDOUS BLOCK! Ibrahimovic wins a header against Ivanovic, and it's loose in the area for a second, before Matuidi arrives to hammer it home. However, Ivanovic and Cahill both throw themselves at it, and the Serbian appeared to get the final touch that prevented it from heading in! 
• 62'

  BIG SAVE FROM COURTOIS! The Chelsea keeper has been on fire in the second half, and he gets down low to parry a stinger from Lucas, who had scampered through the centre once again. 
• 60'

  One hour gone now, and it's increasingly becoming PSG's match. They're keeping Chelsea penned back in their own half, and Courtois has been forced to be on his game here. 
• 58'

  There's panic in the Chelsea area as Maxwell races through past Azpilicueta, but Courtois is off his line quickly to confront the Brazilian , getting to the ball first. Moments later, Di Maria has a wild half-volley that sails over. 
• 56'

  PSG are back on the ball now and are forcing Chelsea to do some defending here. There's a little bit of vulnerability down the flanks for the visitors, especially with the opposition full-backs overlapping. 
• 54'

  Paris Saint-Germain are at it again, with Ibrahimovic this time getting space on the near side on the right. He shoots on the turn, but Courtois is again well positioned and makes the save. 
• 52'

  PSG try to hit back with their first opening of the second half, as Di Maria hammers one on goal from a long way out, only to be thwarted by the fingertips of Courtous, who read that one well. 
• 50'

  MASSIVE SAVE FROM TRAPP! After a PSG attack breaks down, Willian leads the visitors on the break, and Costa gets free down the left, only for the German keeper to deny him! That was close!
• 48'

  Chelsea pick up where they left off, dominating the ball in the opening exchanges of the second period and forcing PSG to do some defending. The fans are a little frustrated at this turn of events.

• 45'+1'

  Assist Diego Da Silva Costa
  Costa had Ibrahimovic draped all over him, but that didn't faze him as he was stil able to win the header. 
• 45'+1'

  Goal John Michael Nchekwube Obinna
  CHELSEA ARE BACK IN IT! Mikel makes amends with a flourish, as Costa flicks on a corner at the near post, leaving the midfielder with the time and space to lash home the leveler with the last kick of the half! 
• 45'

  Chelsea try to mount a late spell of pressure in a bid to steal a goal just before the break, but there's no way through as Matuidi races back to block Fabregas' cross, after a good entry pass from Willian. Corner to come. 
• 43'

  Azpilicueta races across to meet Matuidi, who was about to dribble his way into the box on the left-hand side. Moments later, the visitors have a free-kick that Willian takes, but a deflection takes it out for a corner, which comes to nothing. 
• 41'

  Do Chelsea have enough time for a response before the break? Yes, the deflection on the free-kick was unfortunate, but the set-piece came about thanks to the umpteenth burst from Lucas through the middle. Mikel and Fabregas have struggled with that move, and haven't done a good job of protecting the defence. 
• 39'

  Goal Zlatan Ibrahimovic
  PSG HAVE THE LEAD! What a terrible two-minute spell for Mikel. He conceded the foul that led to the free-kick and got booked in the process. He's punished further as Ibrahimovic's free-kick deflects off him, wrong-footing Courtois and heading into the back of the net! 

• 34' Two headed half-chances for Ibrahimovic, who can't trouble Courtois with either of them. He's had a few decent flick-ons in this match, but otherwise, hasn't really been involved to his usual standard. 
• 32'

  Chelsea force their way through on the right via Pedro, who stands a cross up to the back post. Ivanovic's initial header is blocked but he recovers, aiming for goal on the spin, only to hit the side netting. 
• 30'

  Marquinhos tries a low ball into the box, but once again, his crossing is not up to scratch, and Chelsea easily clear it from danger. PSG aren't looking as threatening as they did in the opening exchanges, which is a credit to the visitors. 
• 28'

  Chelsea are looking a lot more poised on the ball now, and Willian is at the heart of everything. He weighs up his options at the top of the box before releasing the ball to Pedro on the overlap, but the Spaniard's cross is cleared with team-mates in position to pounce. 

 

• • • 26'

      That chance came out of nowhere for Chelsea, but it shows the problems that they can cause. Luiz was supposed to be marking Costa, but had no idea that the striker was inching towards goal behind him. There were suspicions of offside on Costa, but the flag stayed down. 
    • 24'

      CHELSEA HIT THE CROSSBAR! The visitors enjoy a sustained spell of pressure in the opposition half, and finally make inroads inside the box as Baba Rahman hooks in a cross that is headed on target by Costa, but Trapp touches the effort with his trailing arm and diverts it onto the woodwork! 
    • 22'

      A lovely move from the home side sees Marquinhos freed down the right. His initial cross fails to arrive but he keeps it alive, hooking another one in that is just about cleared ahead of Lucas. 

    20'

    Just like that, Lucas gets the pass fom Matuidi, and scampers into space. He's got Azpilicueta for company though, and the Spaniard does well to force him wide, before winning the ball with a clean tackle. 
  • 19'

    Yellow Card Zlatan Ibrahimovic
    Yellow card Zlatan Ibrahimovic
  • 19'

    Chelsea's back four are being sucked a little high up the field here. Verratti fails to exploit that with a through ball to the right flank that is intercepted by Baba Rahman, but should the right pass arrive, then the Blues could well be in trouble. Something Hiddink needs to look at. 

  15'

  Ibrahimovic will be a little disappointed with himself as he lashes a 25-yard free-kick wide of the mark, but moments later, PSG are back on the attack once again. Maxwell is sent clear down the left wing, and curls a dangerous cross into the six-yard area that Courtois is able to smother. 
• 13'

  Costa gets the ball in stride down the left-hand side once again, and he tries to fool Silva on his way to goal. The defender is not having it though, and stands his ground to make a tremendous tackle right on the edge of the box. That was superb defending. 
• 11'

  Matuidi does excellently to somehow keep control of a powerful square pass from Maxwell, and beat his man in the process, but his resulting ball over the top for Marquinhos to chase is not so well executed, as it leads to an easy interception for Ivanovic down the flank. 
• 9'

  Baba Rahman tries to play a ball down the line for Costa to chase, but it's a little too heavy for the striker to catch up to. He then argues with his full-back, telling him to distribute a little softer next time. 
• 7'

  SAVE FOR COURTOIS! The space opens up at the top of the box for Verratti, who needs no second invitation to let fly, and it's pushed out by the goalkeeper, with his defence able to clean up. Excellent start this from the home side, who are applying relentless pressure. Moments later, Lucas tries his luck from distance, but can't keep it on target. 
• 5'

  Matuidi has grown into one of the finest midfielders on the continent, and he has already succeeded in winning the ball back for PSG twice in the opening exchanges. His ability to stride forward once in possession is something that will trouble the pair of Fabregas and Mikel, who both aren't known for their speed. 
• 3'

  Lucas makes some early headway down the centre, and leaves Fabregas for dead with a great run that requires a timely saving challenge from Cahill inside the penalty area before the Brazilian can pull the trigger. Good early move for the home side. 
• 1'

  Off we go!
• John Terry is injured, meaning that Baba Rahman is drafted into the side, and he will start at left-back as Gary Cahill partners Branislav Ivanovic. John Obi Mikel is also handed a start in place of Nemanja Matic, and he lines up alongside Cesc Fabregas in central midfield. 
• Laurent Blanc names six Brazilians in his starting XI, including a back four of Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, David Luiz and Maxwell. Zlatan Ibrahimovic also comes back into the side for Edinson Cavani, while Marco Verratti replaces Benjamin Stambouli in the middle of the park. 
• Chelsea subs: Begovic, Oscar, Traore, Kenedy, Remy, Miazga, Loftus-Cheek. 
• Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Cahill, Rahman; Mikel, Fabregas; Pedro, Willian, Hazard; Costa. 
• PSG subs: Sirigu, Stambouli, Cavani, Kurzawa, Van der Wiel, Raibot, Pastore. 
• PSG (4-3-3): Trapp; Marquinhos, Silva, Luiz, Maxwell; Verratti, Motta, Matuidi; Di Maria, Ibrahimovic, Lucas. 
• These sides have met in the knockout stages in each of the last two seasons, with the eventual winner advancing only on away goals after a 3-3 aggregate score. In 2014-15, PSG were the side to dispose of Chelsea, thanks to a 2-2 draw in the first leg at Stamford Bridge, and a 1-1 result in Paris. A year earlier, the Blues were the ones to progress thanks to a dramatic 2-0 win on their own patch in the second encounter following a 3-1 defeat in the initial game. We can expect a similarly balanced and fiercely contested tie. 
• Chelsea dispatched Newcastle by a commanding 5-1 scoreline, which extended their unbeaten run to 16 games in all competitions. Guus Hiddink's men are still in the bottom half of the table though, and winning the Champions League presents their only realistic route back into the competition next season.
• Only Real Madrid have beaten Paris Saint-Germain in 39 games this season, with the capital club romping to the Ligue 1 title, a full 24 points ahead of second-placed Monaco. Until a 0-0 draw with Lille over the weekend, PSG had won 16 matches straight in all competitions, and 13 at home. 
• Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Champions League clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea at Parc des Princes. Both of these sides have become very familiar in recent seasons in Europe, and this has already been billed as one of the ties of the round. Stick with us for all the action