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An inspired Paris Saint-Germain performance gave the French champions a two goal advantage to take to Stamford Bridge next week and left Chelsea with it a mountain to climb if they are to be in the draw for the semi-finals.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic may be PSG's superstar but it was another of their quality attacking threats, Ezequiel Lavezzi, who broke the deadlock with a superb swivel and strike past Petr Cech.
For the second, Lavezzi was involved again, curling in a terrific free kick that Chelsea failed to deal with and left David Luiz to bundle the ball into his own net.
Substitute Javier Pastore tricked his way into the Chelsea box and fired home to give PSG their third and, perhaps, vital goal late on.
Jose Mourinho went with no recognised striker in his starting line up and with Andre Schurrle playing in the 'false nine' position instead. Eden Hazard drew the Blues level from the penalty spot and could have given them the lead when he struck the post from an acute angle before half time.
So, on an entertaining night in the French capital, who were the stand-out players and who was found wanting?
Check out the gallery below for all the ratings...
PSG 3 Chelsea 1: First leg player ratingsShow all 24 1 /24PSG 3 Chelsea 1: First leg player ratings PSG 3 Chelsea 1: First leg player ratings Salvatore Sirigu 6/10 Italian safely gathered efforts by Luiz and Ramires but unable to do anything with the penalty. Could only watch Hazard’s volley against the post
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PSG 3 Chelsea 1: First leg player ratings Christophe Jallet 7 One of just two French starters for the hosts. Fortunate to be let off awful challenge on Hazard but one of PSG’s better performers on the night
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PSG 3 Chelsea 1: First leg player ratings Thiago Silva 7 The £35m man in the facemask conceded a penalty after needlessly diving in on Oscar to allow Chelsea to level. Resolute and authoritative thereafter
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PSG 3 Chelsea 1: First leg player ratings Alex 6 Booked for late challenge on Ramires as he came up against his former employers. Stood up well to visitors’ marauding midfielders
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PSG 3 Chelsea 1: First leg player ratings Maxwell 6 Sent in a cross that Lavezzi headed over and linked up well with Matuidi further forward. A strong muscular presence before Chelsea threat faded
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PSG 3 Chelsea 1: First leg player ratings Thiago Motta 7 Less lauded than the majority of this team-mates, the Italy international does the unheralded jobs well, broke up plenty of Chelsea attacks
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PSG 3 Chelsea 1: First leg player ratings Marco Verratti 6 Pulled back by Willian in first half. Made countless interceptions and was always willing to receive possession under pressure
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PSG 3 Chelsea 1: First leg player ratings Blaise Matuidi 8 Strong in the tackle and created a number of chances from the left side with his purposeful deliveries, while also popping up on the right
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PSG 3 Chelsea 1: First leg player ratings Ezequiel Lavezzi 8 Displayed fantastic technique to find the net from Terry’s clearance for the opener. Also hit the side-netting and gave Chelsea problems all night
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PSG 3 Chelsea 1: First leg player ratings Edinson Cavani 6 Prepared to drop back and help out defence. Tried to engineer penalty under pressure from Cahill but nothing doing. Shot past Cech’s post late on
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PSG 3 Chelsea 1: First leg player ratings Zlatan Ibrahimovic 6 Revelled in deeper floating role early on, one fine pass playing in Lavezzi. Policed well by Chelsea overall before succumbing to hamstring injury
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PSG 3 Chelsea 1: First leg player ratings Lucas Moura 6 (Substitute) Pacy Brazilian was given the final quarter as he played for a World Cup place in front of the watching Luis Felipe Scolari. One fine run came to nothing
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PSG 3 Chelsea 1: First leg player ratings Petr Cech 6 Not to blame for opener or Luiz own goal but disappointingly beaten at his near post by Pastore in injury time for would could prove a crucial third
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PSG 3 Chelsea 1: First leg player ratings Branislav Ivanovic 6 Serbian made some valuable clearances as the hosts pressed and always keen to offer Jose Mourinho’s side an attacking outlet down the right
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PSG 3 Chelsea 1: First leg player ratings Gary Cahill 7 Stood up well against Lavezzi to narrow the Argentine’s angles as he threatened a second. Couple of mix-ups with Terry but unlucky to be on losing side
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PSG 3 Chelsea 1: First leg player ratings John Terry 6 Despairing header clear in opening minute was punished in style by Lavezzi. Not quite up to heights he has reached this season but never hid
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PSG 3 Chelsea 1: First leg player ratings Cesar Azpilicueta 6 Has also excelled this season but did not enjoy best of nights here. Offered minimal resistance as Pastore danced through to add gloss to PSG’s victory
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PSG 3 Chelsea 1: First leg player ratings David Luiz 6 Whistled a shot at Sirigu after fine turn and shot and enjoyed time and space afforded him in first half. Found himself in wrong place for own goal
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PSG 3 Chelsea 1: First leg player ratings Ramires 6 Carded early on for challenge on scorer Lavezzi and now misses Tuesday’s return at the Bridge. Fortunate not to see second yellow with robust challenges
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PSG 3 Chelsea 1: First leg player ratings Willian 7 First match in a fortnight and was penalised for pulling back Verratti. Set up Hazard for cross-shot and broke with pace at every opportunity
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PSG 3 Chelsea 1: First leg player ratings Oscar 6 Coaxed Thiago into rash challenge to earn visitors the chance to level from the spot. Limited impact before being taken off for Lampard
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PSG 3 Chelsea 1: First leg player ratings Eden Hazard 6 Calmness personified as he slotted home from the spot on his return to French shores. Struck post with fine cross-shot but tired as hosts recovered
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PSG 3 Chelsea 1: First leg player ratings Andre Schürrle 5 Surprisingly given the advanced forward role following recent good form. Could not be faulted for effort but unable to affect proceedings to any order
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PSG 3 Chelsea 1: First leg player ratings Fernando Torres 5 (Substitute) Cometh the hour, cometh the man as the Spaniard finally gave some Chelsea some attacking threat. Well, that was the idea, anyway
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