Paris Saint-Germain beat Chelsea 3-1 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League tie at Parc des Princes on Wednesday.
Ezequiel Lavezzi put PSG ahead but an Eden Hazard penalty made it 1-1 at half time, then an own goal from David Luiz put PSG 2-1 up early in the second half. However one of the major taking points from the game will be a hamstring injury to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, as Paris Saint-Germain’s talisman limped off and his status for next Tuesday’s second leg at Stamford Bridge looks to be hanging in the balance.
However PSG now have a massive advantage heading into the return game, as substitute Javier Pastore danced past three Chelsea defenders in the 93rd minute and slammed the ball past Petr Cech to potentially put the tie beyond Chelsea. The 3-1 victory was the tenth in a row in all competitions for Laurent Blanc’s side and gives them a two-goal advantage heading into the second leg. Can Jose Mourinho rally his side for a Champions League comeback in West London?
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PSG took a deserved lead in the fourth minute, as Lavezzi capitalized on a poor defensive header from John Terry and half-volleyed the ball into the roof of the net to put Les Parisiens in front. That stunning start energized PSG, with the home fans baying for Chelsea’s blood as the English side were caught cold early on. Ramires was then booked for Chelsea after a bad tackle and will miss the second leg, with the marauding midfielder walking a tight-rope for the rest of the game.
However as the first half wore on Chelsea settled down and the West London side drew level in the 27th minute from the penalty spot. Oscar was brought down by Thiago in the box, as the Brazilian defender took down his countryman with a needless lunge in the box. Hazard stepped up and sent Salvatore Sirigu the wrong way, as Chelsea bagged a valuable away goal.
PSG still looked dangerous, with Ibrahimovic, Lavezzi and Edinson Cavani causing plenty of problems. Yet it was Chelsea who came closest to going in ahead at the break, as Hazard met Willian’s right-wing cross with a perfectly executed volley across goal but the Belgian’s effort hit the foot of the post and PSG cleared.
(MORE: Zlatan injures hamstring, huge blow for PSG)
A hugely entertaining first half carried over into the second period, as Matuidi’s cross from the left was headed just over by Lavezzi as PSG started the second half superbly. A midfield battle then ensued, as Chelsea soaked up pressure and tried to hit the reigning French champions on the break.
However in the 61st minute PSG took the lead, as David Luiz gave away a cheap free kick on the left after a clumsy foul on Matuidi. Lavezzi then whipped in a delightful ball into the ‘corridor of uncertainty’ and amongst a whole host of bodies Luiz knocked the ball into his own net to put PSG back in front and compound the Brazilian’s misery.
After that setback Chelsea, predictably, surged forward time and time again as substitute Fernando Torres, Hazard and Oscar linked up to take the game to Paris Saint-Germain. Then in the 67th minute a pivotal moment in the tie arrived, as Ibrahimovic fell to the ground and clutched his hamstring after he lofted the ball forward but then struggled to accelerate. PSG’s Swedish talisman limped off the field, as the Ligue 1 club were dealt a huge blow ahead of the second leg at Stamford Bridge in just six days time.
(RECAP: Minute-by-minute updates from PSG 2-1 Chelsea)
PSG’s players were dropping likes flies late on as Marco Verratti was caught late and the Italian youngster also limped of, with Blanc forced into two quick-fire substitutions. Late on Chelsea pushed for an equalizer, but the home side almost extended their lead late on as Cavani worked some space on the edge of the box and curled a vicious effort just wide of the post. Substitute Pastore then scored a crucial goal, as he picked the ball up in the box and looked to be running down a blind alley. However the Argentine danced past three Chelsea players and rifled in a hammer blow to Chelsea’s hopes of advancing in the UCL.
The battle between two teams from either side of the English Channel will recommence in less than a week, with the French side sitting on a two-goal cushion as Chelsea have it all to do.
LINEUPS
Paris Saint-Germain: Sirigu, Jallet, Alex, Thiago Silva, Maxwell, Verratti (Cabaye, 76'), Motta, Matuidi, Ibrahimovic (Moura, 68'), Cavani, Lavezzi (Pastore, 85')
Goals: Lavezzi (4'), David Luiz - Own Goal (61'), Pastore (90+3')
Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill, Terry, Willian, Ramires, Schürrle (Torres, 59'), Oscar (Lampard, 79'), Hazard
Goal: Hazard (27')