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Chelsea v PSG: Champions League match preview

A look ahead to Tuesday night’s quarter-final first leg fixture at Stamford Bridge

Tuesday 08 April 2014 18:56 BST

Jose Mourinho takes training with the Chelsea team ahead of their Champions League game against PSG (GETTY IMAGES)

There was a slight feeling of déjà vu attached to Chelsea’s Champions League quarter-final defeat in Paris last week.

Two years ago, the Stamford Bridge side were also beaten 3-1, this time in the first leg of a last-16 clash in Naples. And like at Parc des Princes on Wednesday, Chelsea’s defence struggled to deal with the threat of Argentinian forward Ezequiel Lavezzi - he scored twice during that game in Italy and was Paris St-Germain’s stand-out player in the French capital too.

Chelsea turned the 2012 tie, and subsequently their season, around - progressing to the last eight following a 4-1 (after extra time) home victory. The win, coupled with the appointment of Roberto Di Matteo, instigated a run of form which brought only three defeats in the club’s next 18 games and ended with a first ever Champions League trophy after a penalty shoot-out victory over Bayern Munich at Allianz Arena.

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Now Chelsea need a similar injection of momentum. They comfortably saw off the challenge of Stoke City at the weekend but title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City won too and both hold an advantage going into the final month of the league season.

While Chelsea are still involved in a three-way battle for domestic honours, PSG have all but sealed the Ligue 1 title. They rested eight of the team that started last Wednesday for the 3-0 win against Stade de Reims on Saturday and, with only six games to play, have a 13-point lead over AS Monaco at the summit.

Lavezzi says he is “not worried” about Chelsea producing a comeback similar to the one he experienced when at Napoli in 2012 but Jose Mourinho has never lost a European quarter-final over two legs and Chelsea have scored at least twice in each of their last four home games. It promises to be intriguing.

Chelsea v PSG: 10 reasons why Chelsea can still reach the Champions League semi-finals

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Chelsea v PSG: 10 reasons why Chelsea can still reach the Champions League semi-finals

Mourinho doesn't lose in the last eight

The Portuguese has lost none of the eight European two-legged quarter-final ties he has managed in. On three of those occasions, Mourinho's teams went all the way, winning the Uefa Cup with Porto in 2003 and adding the Champions League a year later. He won the European Cup for the second time while at Inter Milan in 2010.

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Chelsea v PSG: 10 reasons why Chelsea can still reach the Champions League semi-finals

Chelsea's home record

The Blues have won 11 of their last 13 home Champions League games - with their only defeat coming at home to FC Basel in this year's competition. Chelsea average almost three goals a game over that period - they need to score at least twice on Tuesday night to have any chance of progressing.

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Chelsea v PSG: 10 reasons why Chelsea can still reach the Champions League semi-finals

Samuel Eto'o might be back

Chelsea have missed the Cameroonian striker since he strained his hamstring against Arsenal - winning only one of their next three games. Eto'o is Chelsea's joint top scorer in the Champions League this season and has won the tournament three times. He could play a role at Stamford Bridge after taking part in training on Monday morning.

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Chelsea v PSG: 10 reasons why Chelsea can still reach the Champions League semi-finals

They have done it before

In 2012, Chelsea looked to be on their way out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage after a 3-1 loss against an Ezequiel Lavezzi-inspired Napoli in Italy. But they turned the tie around in the return leg, Branislav Ivanovic's extra-time winner ensuring a thrilling 4-1 victory and a place in the quarter-finals. Chelsea went on to win the Champions League that season and won the Europa League the next year - overturning another first-leg defeat, this time against Steaua Bucharest, en route to the final.

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Chelsea v PSG: 10 reasons why Chelsea can still reach the Champions League semi-finals

French teams struggle to score in SW6

All but one of Chelsea's last five home matches against French opposition have yielded clean sheets. The exception was AS Monaco, who drew 2-2 at Stamford Bridge in 2004 - a result which secured a place in the final, where they were beaten by Mourinho's Porto.

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Chelsea v PSG: 10 reasons why Chelsea can still reach the Champions League semi-finals

And Chelsea rarely concede

Javier Hernandez was the last opposition player to score at Stamford Bridge - and that was in mid-January. Since then, Chelsea have kept eight clean sheets in all competitions at home, going over 12 hours without conceding a goal.

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Chelsea v PSG: 10 reasons why Chelsea can still reach the Champions League semi-finals

Zlatan is injured

Ibrahimovic may have been quiet in the first leg but the Swede has enjoyed an extremely productive season so far, scoring 40 goals in all competitions. His absence will take away from PSG's attacking threat - though they do still have Edinson Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi in their ranks.

EPA

Chelsea v PSG: 10 reasons why Chelsea can still reach the Champions League semi-finals

Chelsea do well when hosting French opposition

The Blues' last two home matches against teams from France have seen them score six goals and concede none. Chelsea have scored at least twice in three of their last five games against French sides at Stamford Bridge.

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Chelsea v PSG: 10 reasons why Chelsea can still reach the Champions League semi-finals

Blanc has lost at the Bridge before

The last time PSG manager Laurent Blanc visited SW6, while in charge of Bordeaux in 2008, Chelsea won 4-0, with Frank Lampard among the goals.

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Chelsea v PSG: 10 reasons why Chelsea can still reach the Champions League semi-finals

Chelsea are full of goals on their own patch

The Blues may need to score twice to have any chance of going through but they can take confidence from the fact that they have scored at least two goals in 19 of their last 25 home matches in all competitions.

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KICK-OFF: Tuesday, 7.45pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS:

Paris St-Germain 3 (Lavezzi, Luiz og, Pastore) Chelsea 1 (Hazard), Champions League, April 2014

Chelsea 0 Paris St-Germain 0, Champions League, November 2004

Paris St-Germain 0 Chelsea 3 (Terry, Drogba 2), Champions League, September 2004

READ MORE...

Mourinho should accept the blame if Chelsea go out - Cruyff
Mourinho to gamble on Eto'o over Torres and Ba
Lavezzi - on a revenge mission

STATS…

Chelsea have lost just one of their last 13 home Champions League games, winning 11.

PSG’s win over Stade de Reims at the weekend was their 11 straight success in all competitions - a club record.

Jose Mourinho has never lost a two-legged European quarter-final.

PSG have lost only two of their last 11 Champions League away games.

Chelsea have kept clean sheets in four of their last five home matches against French sides.

ODDS…

Chelsea to win: 1.80

Paris St-Germain to win: 4.50

Draw: 3.50

TV: Live on ITV1 at 7.45pm

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