PSG v Chelsea: Champions League match preview

A look ahead to Wednesday night’s quarter-final first leg fixture at Parc des Princes

Zlatan Ibrahimovic pictured after scoring twice for PSG ina 4-0 Champions League win over Leverkusen (GETTY IMAGES)

For many, Paris St-Germain v Chelsea is the toughest of this season’s Champions League quarter-finals to call. On the one hand, Laurent Blanc has built - and is continuing to construct - one of Europe’s most exciting teams, with the often brilliant Zlatan Ibrahimovic its centrepiece. The Swede has registered 40 goals already this season and only Cristiano Ronaldo has scored more in the Champions League. PSG reached the quarter-final stage last season too, only exiting on away goals after posing plenty of problems for Barcelona.

For Chelsea, this trip to Paris offers a chance of rapid response after Saturday’s surprise loss at Crystal Palace. That result, plus the recent defeat against Aston Villa, has handed Premier League impetus to Liverpool and Manchester City but victory at Parc des Princes would put Jose Mourinho’s side one step closer to reaching a European final for the third consecutive year and build momentum ahead of what could still be an exciting end to the season.

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PSG are on a 13-match unbeaten run and have not lost at home in their last nine Champions League games while Chelsea have won just one of their last six games on the road.

KICK-OFF: Wednesday, 7.45pm

PAST TWO MEETINGS:

Chelsea 0 Paris St-Germain 0, Champions League, November 2004

Paris St-Germain 0 Chelsea 3 (Terry, Drogba 2), Champions League, September 2004

Jose Mourinho (Getty Images)

STATS…

Only Cristiano Ronaldo (13) has scored more goals than Zlatan Ibrahimovic (10) in the Champions League this season.

Chelsea have won just one of their last six matches on the road.

PSG have lost only two of their last 18 Champions League games.

Frank Lampard is the only Chelsea player still at the club to have started when the sides last met, in November 2004.

Chelsea legend Didier Drogba scored his first European goals for the club against PSG.

Chelsea have kept five clean sheets in their last seven Champions League matches.

ODDS…

Paris St-Germain to win: 2.00

Chelsea to win: 3.6

Draw: 3.5

TV: Live on Sky Sports 1 at 7.45pm.