21:45: Round-Up: Well, after a horribly disappointing night for PSG and French football in general, it is time for me to call it a day. Let’s hope PSG can bounce back, but until next time, Au Revoir!
21:40: Desperately unlucky for PSG, who were 5 minutes away from a Champions League semi final. If Cavani had scored his chance before Chelsea’s second goal, PSG would be celebrating a first European semi-final in almost 20 years. As it is, they are eliminated on away goals for the second year running. That will hurt.
21:38: FULL TIME: Chelsea 2-0 PSG.
21:36: Corner for PSG at the death… Sirigu is up for it… and Cech tips a Marquinhos shot past the post! That should be that…
21:35: Mourinho is all over this now, stirring up the crowd whenever he can. PSG fans should turn off the post match conferences… Mourinho will be extremely smug if the result stays as is. PSG still attacking, just 1 minute left now.
21:33: Complete role reversal now, as PSG throw everyone forwards in the hope of salvaging a late winner. Chelsea now sitting back and defending for their lives, but they go through as we stand…
21:30: GOAL: Chelsea 2-0 PSG (Ba). A cross is deflected into Demba Ba’s path by Jallet, and he makes no mistake with a scrappy finish! PSG’s hearts are broken, unless there is another twist…
21:27: After chaos in the box, where the ball is bouncing around everywhere, the referee gives a very generous free kick to PSG to alleviate the pressure. PSG clinging on.
21:26: Chelsea are throwing everything at PSG at the moment, who are defending for their lives at the moment! Blanc brings on Marquinhos for Lucas Moura. Defensive to say the least…!
21:24: Substitution: Fernando Torres is on for Oscar, and Chelsea are playing with 3 strikers at the moment! Bold stuff from Mourinho, but he has little choice!
21:22: Close: PSG come close again! This time it is Lucas who has a go, with a shot from just outside the box, but it is straight at Cech, who makes a routine save.
21:20: Close: What a chance for PSG to put the tie to bed! Yohan Cabaye plays an unreal pass from 50 yards straight to Cavani, who is through on goal, but he shoots horribly over when he should have scored!
21:18: PSG really struggling to get any sort of stranglehold on this game. As you would expect, Chelsea are piling forwards, and PSG defensive line is moving further and further back towards their own goal.
21:16: Close: Matuidi plays Cavani in on the left, and his powerful first time shot flies narrowly over the bar. Pastore comes on for Lavezzi, can he be the hero again?
21:14: Chelsea’s fans are really getting behind them now to give them a much required second wind. Their team is pressing PSG too, who look content to sit back and hit Chelsea on the counter.
21:12: Close: Schurrle cuts inside from the right hand side, and has a pop at goal, but Maxwell has tracked him all the way and his diving block takes the sting out of the shot, allowing Sirigu to save easily.
21:10: Substitution: Frank Lampard comes off for Demba Ba. Mourinho attempting to inject some new energy into his side.
21:07: Chelsea win a corner, and the referee demands Maxwell, who has a cut on his face, leaves the field because of blood. It’s not too much of a problem for PSG though, as Sirigu comfortably punches the corner clear. Chelsea win another one though… which is cleared at the near post by Cavani.
21:05: Having said that, Mourinho appears to have told his team not to panic at half time. Chelsea know that, the later they get their second goal (if they do), then the less time PSG have to respond.
21:03: As expected, the Chelsea fans are beginning to get a little nervous. If PSG can hold out for another 10 minutes or so, the Premier League side could get a little desperate…
21:01: PSG win two consecutive corners… the first one is cleared easily, and the second is headed wide by Cavani at the front post. PSG having a very good spell after that double chance for Chelsea.
20:59: Yellow Card: Ivanovic hacks down Matuidi cynically and picks up a yellow. Promising free kick for PSG… but Cech tips the ball alertly past the post!
20:56: Hits the Woodwork: From a resulting free kick, Chelsea hit the woodwork again! Oscar bends a brilliant shot past Sirigu, but unluckily for the Brazilian it hits the same crossbar that Schurrle hit just moments earlier!
20:54: Hits the Woodwork: Willian pulls the ball back to goalscorer Schurrle, who crashes a shot against the crossbar with Sirigu beaten! Lucky there for PSG.
20:52: Lavezzi turns past two Chelsea players and drives towards goal, and it looks like Luiz brings him down, but the referee is unmoved and tells Lavezzi to get to his feet.
20:49: Chelsea have started the second half as they finished the first – on the front foot. They seem happy to take their time and wait until an opportunity comes for them. If PSG can hold out until the 70th minute or so, they have a great chance of catching Chelsea on the break late on.
20:47: Thiago Silva led a huddle just before the second half kicked off. Can the Brazilian inspire his team mates into action? Let’s find out…
20:46: KICK OFF: Back underway at the Bridge! Can PSG emerge victorious?
20:39: Half time analysis: PSG looked relatively comfortable until that Andre Schurrle goal, which was a result of some pretty shoddy PSG defending. After the goal, Chelsea had a period of domination, but PSG have stabilised and half time will be a good time to regroup for the Parisian side. They need to be super-concentrated for the second half, remember 2-0 sees Chelsea go through. Second period coming up…
20:32: HALF TIME: Chelsea 1-0 PSG (Aggregate 2-3).
20:30: The last chance of the half falls to PSG, as Motta swings in a free kick from the right hand side, but Cech is equal to it and punches clear confidently.
20:29: PSG have response quite well to going behind, and it looks like they will get into the break level, which Laurent Blanc would have taken after Schurrle’s opener.
20:28: Yellow Card: Frank Lampard. David Luiz back heels right into Lavezzi’s path, and Lampard is forced to hack him down and take one for the team.
20:27: Yellow Card: Edison Cavani. Really stupid there. Cavani stands in the way of a Chelsea free kick, and is booked for delaying the game. That rules him out of PSG’s next European match.
20:25: Ouch: Thiago Silva’s ankle is trodden on by the studs of Eto’o, and he looks in real pain here. He leaves the field limping, but it looks like he will come back on. Good news there for PSG.
20:23: Close: Another really poor foul from Jallet on Oscar gifts Chelsea another free kick in a good position… and Cahill shoots over from 6 yards! Really should have scored! PSG extremely lucky there.
20:21: That goal for Chelsea means that just one more goal would put them through. PSG really have to be careful not to concede a second in quick succession. They have to rebuild slowly, and once the game is stabilised again, then they can go for goal themselves.
20:19: GOAL: Chelsea 1-0 PSG (Schurrle). The substitue scores a goal! Ivanovic takes a long throw, which is headed on by Luiz to Schurrle, who taps in past Sirigu and into the net! PSG are outdone…
20:17: Chelsea are beginning to dominate the ball again, and they have had a recent spell of pressure following that free kick. PSG are content with playing it around the back when they get it, but Eto’o is applying good pressure and winning it back quickly for Chelsea.
20:15: Close: Lampard’s free kick deflects heavily off the wall, wrong footing Sirigu, but he recovers brilliantly to make a diving stop and keep the ball out of the bottom corner. Top, top save.
20:13: Yellow Card: Verratti goes into the book for a cheap foul on Oscar. Lampard has a chance to deliver from a good position… oooh that was close!
20:11: Cavani’s free kick is tame, and it his the bottom of the wall. Chelsea then try to break, but PSG crowd them out and recover in time to get back and defend in numbers. Interesting start to the game.
20:09: Lucas goes on another storming run at the heart of the Chelsea defence, and Willian cynically chops him down just outside the box. That will be a yellow for Willian, and a free kick in a brilliant position for PSG…
20:06: Again, PSG are dominating the ball. Chelsea had a little spell in which PSG were a little threatened, but generally it has been easy-going so far for PSG. Chelsea need to step it up.
20:04: Substitution: Hazard is injured, and is replaced by the German Andre Schurrle. Big blow for Chelsea there, who have lost their player of the season so far.
20:02: Both sides are having spells of dominating the ball, and in the last two minutes it has been PSG’s turn to play keep-ball. However, when all the Chelsea players are behind the ball, they do not look like scoring. Their best chance so far has come on the counter.
20:00: Close: The game is opening up now! Lavezzi gets the ball on the counter, and beats two players before laying the ball to Maxwell on the left wing, but his first time cross towards Cavani is cut out by a diving Cech. Better from PSG.
19:58: Chelsea have settled very well into the game, and PSG are struggling to keep the ball at the moment. It looks like Blanc’s tactic of keeping the ball might not work, and a counter-attack approach may be more suitable.
19:56: Close: Oscar skins Jallet down the left hand side and crosses for Eto’o, who has a quick snapshot at Sirigu’s goal which is blocked by Alex. Really poor play there from Jallet, who was beaten too easily, but luckily for him Alex was on hand to cover.
19:54: Lucas has been very involved in the opening minutes here. In his latest run, he is chopped down cynically by Frank Lampard in midfield, and despite his protestations, that is a clear foul.
19:52: Chelsea win a free kick in a good position for a delivery, Lampard behind it… but the delivery is low, slow and very poor, and the PSG defence can clear relatively easily. Chelsea need to be much more clinical in those positions.
19:51: The referee has given a couple of early decisions against Chelsea, which has angered the home fans, but they look like good decisions to me. No moments of danger from either side really in the opening 5 minutes.
19:49: The Chelsea fans are in great voice, but it must be said that the boos from the PSG fans can be heard whenever Chelsea get the ball. Great atmosphere out there. Cagey start from both sides, PSG just about getting the better of it.
19:47: PSG win the ball back relatively quickly from kick off, and begin a period of possession, which is eventually ended by Azpilicueta’s tackle on Lucas. Good start from the French Champions.
19:45: KICK OFF: We are underway at Stamford Bridge! Can PSG finish the job? Let’s find out.
19:42: Mourinho has said just now in an interview on ITV that his team ‘has to play at the top of our game,’ adding that ‘nothing less will do.’ He may just be right, PSG are really in the driving seat.
19:40: Final 5: Just 5 minutes to go now until kick off! The players are appearing in the tunnels and are about to walk out onto the pitch. Stamford Bridge is reaching fever-pitch, with both sets of fans going mad in anticipation of this huge match. Bring it on!
19:35: PSG’s attack: Could Ibrahimovic’s injury be a blessing in disguise for PSG? It allows Edison Cavani to play up front in his preferred position, in what is surely his biggest game in a PSG shirt, and, more importantly, it allows the energetic Lucas to come in on the right wing. That gives PSG’s front 3 much, much more pace than it had in the first leg, which could be crucial if the French Champions set up to counter Chelsea.
19:30: Stat Attack: PSG have scored at least one goal in each of the last 17 Champions League games. Remember, if they score 1 today, Chelsea need three just to force extra time. If they score 2, then only 5 goals or more would do for the English side. I guess attacking may not be such a bad idea after all…!
19:24: Talking Tactics: PSG come into this game 3-1 up on aggregate, so it would not be unreasonable to come to the Bridge looking to defend. However, manager Blanc has rubbished such claims, and has said that PSG will play as ever, looking to dominate the ball and create chances. Mourinho was not convinced by the Frenchman’s comments, claiming that Blanc could just be playing mind games, and then set his team up to ‘never cross the halfway line.’ In around 20 minutes, I guess we will find out!
19:18: Strength of the Bench: As you would expect in a Champions League quarter final, both teams have very strong benches to call on if needed in the latter stages of the game. PSG have the likes of Wednesday’s hero Pastore, ex-Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye, and the unpredictable Jeremy Menez to call upon, while Chelsea have the likes of Fernando Torres and Andre Schurrle, who both played a part in the first leg at the Parc des Princes. If it comes down to it, though, I would just about give PSG’s subs the edge.
19:14: PSG XI Reaction: Like Chelsea, PSG line up rather as expected. Cavani starts up front due to Ibrahimovic’s injury in the first leg, while Lucas Moura comes in on the right wing after his impressive performance off the bench last Wednesday. Lavezzi maintains his place in the team after his goal and assist in the first leg. The midfield trio of Verratti, Motta and Matuidi is as is has been pretty much all season for PSG, as is the defence, led by the brilliant Thiago Silva. Salvatore Sirigu is the last man on the team sheet, starting in goal as ever for the Parisian side. As expected, Laurent Blanc sticks with the 4-3-3 formation that has served his team so well this season.
19:10: Chelsea XI Reaction: Chelsea stick with their preferred formation of a 4-2-3-1, but Samuel Eto’o returns from injury to start in this crucial match, replacing Andre Schurrle, who started the first leg. David Luiz and Frank Lampard start at the heart of midfield, with the quick, dangerous trio of Willian, Oscar and Hazard behind the front man. The back four and goalkeeper remain unchanged from the first leg, with Cahill and Terry flanked by Azpilicueta and Ivanovic, and Cech in goal.
19:06: PSG team vs Chelsea: Sirigu – Jallet, Alex, Thiago Silva, Maxwell – Verratti, Thiago Motta, Matuidi – Lucas Moura, Cavani, Lavezzi.
Subs: Douchez, Cabaye, Marquinhos, Menez, Digne, Van Der Wiel, Pastore.
19:04: Chelsea team vs PSG: Cech – Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta – Luiz, Lampard – Willian, Oscar, Hazard – Eto’o.
Subs: Schwarzer, Cole, Torres, Mikel, Schurrle, Ba, Kalas.
19:00: Welcome one and all, to the game everyone has been waiting for. Yes, Ligue 1 Champions PSG take on Premier League frontrunners Chelsea in the second leg of their Champions League quarter final! The first leg ended in success for the Parisian outfit, with Javier Pastore capping off a 3-1 win at the Parc des Princes, but Mourinho’s Chelsea are reinvigorated and ready to go at the bridge. Do PSG have enough to hold their lead and advance to the semis? Let’s find out! Team news and reaction coming up…
