Chelsea crumbled to a damaging 5-2 defeat at PSG in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
The Blues matched the current Champions League holders for much of the game and twice came from behind to level.
But a goalkeeping howler from Filip Jorgensen allowed Vitinha to score in the 74th minute and sparked a spectacular collapse from Liam Rosenior’s side, giving them with a mountain to climb in next week’s second leg at Stamford Bridge.
PSG were under pressure after being beaten by Monaco on Friday, with some of their players under scrutiny for not performing at their best this season. One of those was Bradley Barcola, who answered his critics by smashing home the opener via the underside of the crossbar.
Chelsea deserved to equalise though – despite lacking a finishing touch at times – and made the breakthrough just before the half-hour. Barcola was caught napping as an unmarked Malo Gusto’s shot bobbled goalwards, Matvei Safonov getting a hand on the ball as it bounced past him and in.
Ousmane Dembele celebrates his goal against Chelsea
PSG retook the lead five minutes before half-time. Fourteen seconds after Cole Palmer saw a header saved by the goalkeeper, the hosts hit Chelsea on the break. Ousmane Dembele bamboozled Wesley Fofana at the top of the box before firing past Jorgensen.
A quiet start to the second half soon sprang into life as Enzo Fernandez hauled Chelsea level again. Pedro Neto stormed down the left-hand side before finding his team-mate, with the Argentine’s confident finish arrowing into the back of the net.
But Jorgensen undid all of the good work with a horrendous mistake for PSG’s third. His attempted pass out from the back was intercepted by Barcola, who in turn found Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. He fed Vitinha who chipped over the devastated goalkeeper.
Enzo Fernandez celebrates after scoring Chelsea’s second equaliser
At that point, it still looked like Chelsea would be in with a chance of a result in the second leg – but two fantastic strikes from Kvaratskhelia secured what looks to be an unassailable lead for PSG.
The first was a stunning hit from distance, before slotting home the fifth from close range with the final touch of the game. It came after another PSG goal had been ruled for offside, which again came from a Jorgensen error – a let-off for Chelsea.
Sunday 15th March 4:00pm
Kick off 4:30pm
The game boiled over towards the end after Neto pushed a ball boy after not being given a ball as quick as he would have liked. Players from each side were involved in a melee as VAR checked for a red card, but ultimately nothing was given.
The result will go some way as PSG seek revenge for a 3-0 defeat by Chelsea in the Club World Cup final in July. The Parisians will not play in Ligue 1 this weekend as they are given every chance to prepare for next Tuesday’s second leg, while Chelsea face Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday, live on Sky Sports.
More to follow…
Story of the match in stats…
When are the knockout stages?
Round of 16 second legs: March 17-18
Quarter-finals: April 7-8 and 14-15
Semi-finals: April 28-29 and May 5-6
Final: May 30 (Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary)
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