Chelsea know they have no room for error.
Chelsea welcome Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain to Stamford Bridge knowing they must produce an incredible turnaround to progress to the quarter-finals.
The Blues trail 5-2 from the first leg of the last-16 tie in the Parc des Princes, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scoring in the 86th minute and the 94th minute to give PSG a likely decisive advantage after a frenetic first leg.
There was more frustration for Chelsea as they followed up the loss in Paris with a 1-0 Premier League defeat at home to Newcastle United, with the decisive goal coming as Liam Rosenior saw his side’s defence split up far too easily by a ball through the middle.
And Rosenior knows Chelsea have no room for error as they look to keep their European season alive.
“If you look at the game [against PSG] in isolation and the scoreline, we were punished by very good players for our own mistakes,” Rosenior told his pre-match press conference.
“We have been undone in games by those moments. We can’t make mistakes tomorrow.
“We have to remember PSG are European champions for a reason but we know we can compete.”
Talisman Joao Pedro will be key if Chelsea are to pull off a comeback, and the Brazilian has no doubt they can upset the odds, having beaten the same opposition 3-0 in the Club World Cup final in July.
“I think this week was difficult for us,” said Pedro. “We know our strengths, we still believe because we showed in the Club World Cup when we won 3-0. The group believe, the manager believes, the fans should believe as well.”
PSG boss Luis Enrique is taking nothing for granted as his team aim to book a quarter-final against either Galatasaray or Liverpool.
“Playing and managing these matches is always different,” said Luis Enrique.
“For us, as a team and reigning champions, we try to focus on the important things and details, because that’s always important when you play against a team of the same level.
“We have an advantage, but we know it can disappear in an instant.
“In the Champions League, it’s impossible [to relax]. Chelsea will have the ability to create chances, but it’s impossible to let your guard down in the Champions League.
“You have to be able to take advantage of moments of suffering to change the momentum. These are matches impossible to control. It’s likely to be different from the first leg.”
Team news for Chelsea v Paris Saint-Germain
Chelsea have been dealt a huge blow with the news that captain Reece James is set to miss several weeks with a hamstring injury.
Exacerbating the loss of the versatile James is an illness for right-back Malo Gusto. Josh Acheampong may need to be drafted in to play at right-back if Gusto joins James on the sideline.
The Blues will have forward Pedro Neto available after he escaped a ban for pushing a ballboy in the first leg.
Estevao is back in training and could return from a hamstring injury, but Jamie Gittens is still out with the same problem. Goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen is still dealing with a groin issue.
Fabian Ruiz (knee) and Quentin Ndjantou (hamstring) are the only players set to miss out for PSG.
Predicted line-ups for Chelsea v Paris Saint-Germain
Chelsea: Sanchez; Acheampong, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Santos, Caicedo; Palmer, Fernandez, Neto; Pedro.
Paris Saint-Germain: Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Neves; Kvaratskhelia, Dembele, Barcola.
Where to watch Chelsea v Paris Saint-Germain: TV and online streams
Chelsea v Paris Saint-Germain will be broadcast on TNT Sports 2. It will be available to stream via Discovery Plus. Sky customers with a TNT Sports package can also stream the game via Sky Go.
Stats for Chelsea v Paris Saint-Germain
- Chelsea are winless in their last five Champions League games against PSG (D2 L3); their joint-longest winless run against an opponent in the competition (also 5 v Bayern Munich – April 2005 to September 2025).
- PSG are unbeaten in their last five games against English teams in the Champions League (W4 D1), and could go six in a row without defeat against them in the competition for the first time here.
- The holders are looking to progress from their fourth consecutive Champions League knockout stage tie against English opponents (previously v Liverpool, Aston Villa & Arsenal last season). Prior to last season, the Parisians had only progressed from two of their six knockout stage ties against English sides in the competition.
- Chelsea hold a three-goal deficit in this tie. Only one team in Champions League history has gone on to eliminate the holders in the knockout stages after losing the first leg by as many as three goals: Deportivo de La Coruña versus Milan in the 2003-04 quarter-finals (lost 1-4 away, won 4-0 at home).
- The Blues have lost their last three games in the knockout stages of the Champions League, and have never previously lost four in a row. They conceded five goals in the first leg of this tie, already just two short of the most goals they have conceded in a two-legged knockout stage tie in the competition (7 v Bayern Munich in 2019-20, round of 16).
- PSG have won 66.7 per cent of their Champions League knockout stage games under Luis Enrique (12/18). Of managers with 15+ KO stage matches with a team in the competition, this is the joint-highest win percentage by any team/coach duo, along with Barcelona under Luis Enrique (66.7% – 10/15).
- Luis Enrique’s side have had more different goalscorers (excl. own goals) than any other team in the Champions League this season (13) – this is now their most different scorers in a single edition, overtaking the 12 from last season when they lifted the trophy.
Prediction for Chelsea v Paris Saint-Germain
Chelsea
2
–
2
Paris Saint-Germain
Chelsea have the talent to attack the unenviable challenge ahead of them, but they are too vulnerable defensively to have realistic hopes of completing a famous turnaround.
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