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PSG logo
Champions League | Round-Of-16
Feb 17, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Chelsea logo

1-1

Cavani (54')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Ivanovic (36')

Preview: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Chelsea

Sports Mole looks ahead to Chelsea's upcoming Champions League clash with French outfit Paris Saint-Germain.

There will be a number of reunions on show when Chelsea make the short trip to the Parc des Princes for the first leg of their Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain tomorrow evening.

The majority of the attention will fall upon David Luiz, who swapped England's capital for France's main city during the summer for a reported £50m.

Then there is relationship shared between Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho and PSG striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The pair are known to have a strong bond following the time that they spent working together at Inter Milan.

And, of course, these two sides met in the quarter-finals of the competition last year when a late goal from Demba Ba sent the West Londoners through to last four on the away goals rule.

In terms of team selection, Luiz is almost certain to start against his former employers following a hamstring injury suffered by his fellow centre-back Marquinhos.

That is just one of a large number of fitness concerns for PSG head coach Laurent Blanc, who also has doubts over the availability of Yohan Cabaye, Blaise Matuidi, Serge Aurier and Lucas Moura.

There are no such problems for Mourinho, with John Obi Mikel the only member of his squad that is likely to miss out through injury.

Leading goalscorer Diego Costa, who has sat out the last three domestic games through suspension, is available and the Spaniard is expected to lead the Chelsea attack.

The Blues have made six previous visits to France, but they have only won on one occasion. However, that did come in Paris back in 2004 when John Terry and Didier Drogba were among the goals in a 3-0 victory.

The hosts will head into this clash on the back of a disappointing 2-2 draw with Caen at the weekend - a game which saw Blanc's men surrender a two-goal lead in the closing stages.

PSG:

Form in Champions League: DWWWWL
Form in all competitions: WWWDWD

Possible starting lineup: Sirigu; Maxwell, Thiago Silva, Luiz, Van der Wiel; Verratti, Matuidi, Motta; Lavezzi, Cavani, Ibrahimovic

Chelsea:

Form in Champions League: DWWDWW
Form in all competitions: DLWDWW

Possible starting lineup: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Terry, Cahill, Ivanovic; Matic, Fabregas; Oscar, Willian, Hazard, Costa

Sports Mole says: 1-1


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Paris Saint-Germain's French coach Laurent Blanc watches his players during the French L1 football match Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) against Bastia (SCB) on October 19, 2013
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