PSG vs Chelsea Preview
Chelsea FC visits Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night for their crucial UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie. The Premier league leaders will look forward to at least salvage a point from this tough away encounter against the French Champions. It will be a repeat of last year’s quarter-final clash in the Champions League were Chelsea qualified by virtue of away goal. They had lost the first game in Paris 1-3 but won it by 2 goals to 0 at Stamford Bridge. It will always be an uphill to face Paris Saint-Germain at Paris. Being a master tactician, Jose Mourinho is expected to guide his team through this difficult fixture.
Chelsea’s Champions League journey has been satisfactory so far. They emerged as group champions winning four games and drawing two. PSG on the other hand finished second in their group behind FC Barcelona. Laurent Blanc’s men are currently third in the Ligue 1 table.
Another interesting angle of this clash is that, former Chelsea defender David Luiz, who joined the French club this season for a record transfer fee, will be up against his former side, first time since he joined the French champions.
Paris Saint-Germain vs Chelsea Team News:
Paris Saint-Germain manager Laurent Blanc had mentioned that the team will miss the services of Lucas Moura, Yohan Cabaye and Serge Aurier. However, much to the local fans’ delight, right-back Marquinhos and midfielders Javier Pastore, Blaise Matuidi and Thiago Motta will return to action after injury.
Jose Mourinho will happily welcome the return of Chelsea’s star striker, Diego Costa into the starting lineup. Cesc Fabregas too is likely to start. Chelsea will go into the field with full strength and all guns blazing. The entire team except John Obi Mikel, attended the training sessions on Monday. The Nigerian midfielder is suffering from injury.
Paris Saint-Germain:
Group stage Form: DWWWWL
Group Standing: 2
Predicted Line Up: Salvator Sirigu; Gregory van der Wiel, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Maxwell; Thiago Motta, Blaise Matuidi, Marco Verratti; Ezequel Lavezzi, Edinson Cavani, Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Possible Formation: 4-3-3
Chelsea:
Group stage Form: DWWDWW
Group Standing: 1
Predicted Line Up: Thibaut Courtois; Branislav Ivanovic, Gary Cahill, John Terry, Cesar Azpilicueta; Nemanja Matic, Cesc Fabregas; Willian, Oscar, Eden Hazard; Diego Costa
Possible Formation: 4-2-3-1
PSG vs Chelsea Prediction:
Both teams are capable of winning the game but Chelsea is expected to play safe and earn at-least a point. The match is likely to end in a 1-1 draw.