Chelsea FC Host PSG: Team News, Prediction And Stats
Chelsea FC welcome Paris Saint-Germain to Stamford Bridge tonight for a huge Champions League clash. Will the Blues be able to capitalise on their away goal?
Stamford Bridge is the scene this evening as Chelsea and PSG go toe-to-toe in a Champions League battle of epic proportions. Right, I may have over-dramatised a bit but you get the point. It’s a big game.
Both teams are coming off disappointing draws at the weekend as the Blues were held by Stoke City while the French champions could not find a way past Montpellier. However, Guus Hiddink’s men will undoubtedly look to John Obi Mikel’s away goal in the first leg as they seek extra inspiration.
Key Details
Chelsea FC v PSG, 9th March 2016, Champions League Round of 16
Venue: Stadium Bridge
Time: 19:45 GMT, 14:45 ET
TV: BT Sport Europe (UK), Fox Sports 1 (US), check your country’s local listings here
Team News
Ahead of the game, Pedro, Diego Costa and Kenedy all trained in the team’s final training session. As a result, they should be available to start tonight. Guus Hiddink confirmed as much in his pre-match press conference, but stopped short of guaranteeing their involvement from the first whistle.
Given Costa’s form, he should be expected to start at almost any cost. Pedro, meanwhile, will likely come in for Oscar. The Brazilian has failed to impress in his couple of starts and thus the injured star should be reinstated to the starting eleven if fit.
As for Kenedy, his recovery presents an intriguing dilemma for Hiddink. With the choice being between two inexperienced youngsters, his decision will well and truly establish whom the management feels has the greatest potential.
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On the other side, Marco Verratti presents the biggest question mark for PSG. The midfielder has been struggling with injury recently and Laurent Blanc confirmed that it will be touch and go until kick-off.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic missed out at the weekend as he was rested in lieu of Edinson Cavani. Despite scoring the winner in the first leg, the Uruguayan was not able to provide the bite against Montpellier as PSG failed to score. However, it will be interesting to see whether Blanc starts both men later today.
Stats
The first leg saw PSG emerge as 2-1 victors, but Chelsea bagged the crucial away goal through John Obi Mikel. Hence, a 1-0 win would be sufficient to see the Blues progress.
Since the initial meeting, PSG have won two of their four fixtures. They saw their 36-game unbeaten Ligue 1 streak ended in a 2-1 loss to Lyon, while the victories came against relegation-threatened Stade Reims and Saint-Etienne in the cup.
Chelsea’s only loss since Guus Hiddink’s return came in the PSG game. The last two times that the Blues had to overturn a first leg deficit in the Champions League, they did so successfully (2012 Napoli, 2014 PSG).
Next: Chelsea FC Predicted XI TO Face PSG: Key Injury Returns
Prediction
Given what happened in 2012, you just have to believe. I’m going with a backs-against-the-wall 1-0 win.