My colleague Ben Blake has previewed tonight’s Champions League action:
Chelsea are in the French capital for a quarter-final tie with Ligue 1 powerhouses Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes tonight.
PSG, 13 points clear at the top of their domestic table, will be led by the talismanic Zlatan Ibrahimovic — who has scored 40 goals this season in all competitions and comes up against his former mentor Jose Mourinho.
The Swede famously wrote in his book that he would “die” for Mourinho having worked under him at Inter Milan.
Now 32, Ibrahimovic said yesterday that a move to the Premier League would be “impossible” but gets another chance to show English fans why he is classed as one of the finest strikers in the world against the Blues this evening.
PSG 1-0 Chelsea: Poor header from John Terry to Lavezzi on the edge of the area.
The attacker gives the goalkeeper no chance with a brilliant left-footed strike into the top corner (3 mins).
2 Apr 2014
7:52PM
Real Madrid 1-0 Dortmund: There’s an early goal in the other game as well, with Gareth Bale giving the Spanish side the lead (3 mins).
2 Apr 2014
7:53PM
Chelsea have no natural strikers on the field, and started this game with quite a defensive set-up.
But they may need to revise that strategy slightly now that the French champions have taken the lead.
2 Apr 2014
7:57PM
The atmosphere is noticeably impressive, with PSG giving the crowd plenty to shout about in the early stages.
That said, Chelsea have just earned a second consecutive corner, though as I type, the French side deal with it comfortably and clear.
2 Apr 2014
7:59PM
Ramires has just been booked for a cynical foul on Lavezzi.
The midfielder will now be suspended for the second leg at Stamford Bridge.
2 Apr 2014
8:03PM
Still 1-0 and PSG look very comfortable right now.
Chelsea have barely threatened, though the hosts have still felt the need to make a tactical switch, with Ibrahimovic now playing a little deeper than before.
2 Apr 2014
8:05PM
Chelsea are finally coming into this game a little more.
David Luiz has just produced a clever turn, though his shot from distance is quite tame.
PA Wire / Press Association Images
PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy (left) in the stands with Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay.
2 Apr 2014
9:01PM
The crowd are growing increasingly frustrated, as a series of stoppages disrupt the flow of the game.
Meanwhile, the false 9 system is no more, with Torres replacing Schurrle.
2 Apr 2014
9:03PM
Real Madrid 3-0 Dortmund:Cristiano Ronaldo gets Madrid’s third (58 mins).
The game and possibly the tie looks all over.
2 Apr 2014
9:03PM
GOAL FOR PSG!
2 Apr 2014
9:06PM
PSG 2-1 Chelsea: David Luiz gives away a needless free-kick.
It’s then dangerously flighted in and the retreating Luiz can only help it into the net for an own goal (60 mins).
2 Apr 2014
9:09PM
Ibrahimovic is currently limping off after pulling up while running unchallenged.
It’d be a huge blow for PSG if he had to come off.
2 Apr 2014
9:11PM
Lucas Moura has replaced Ibrahimovic, who goes straight down the tunnel.
An uphill task for PSG has just got even more daunting for the French side without their best player.
2 Apr 2014
9:15PM
Frank Lampard has replaced Oscar, as Chelsea go in search of an equaliser.
Less than 20 minutes remain…
2 Apr 2014
9:18PM
Good skillful dribble from Lucas, but he then gives it to Cavani, who seems to get his feet tied up, allowing Cahill to intercept the ball easily.
Shortly thereafter, the injured Verrati comes off for ex-Newcastle man Yohan Cabaye.
2 Apr 2014
9:23PM
Substitute Torres carries the ball forward, but he’s outnumbered and easily concedes possession.
The Spaniard has had little impact since coming on.
2 Apr 2014
9:28PM
PSG very close to making it 3. Cavani evades the despairing lunge of Cahill, but his shot curls marginally to the wrong side of the post.
Meanwhile, Lavezzi, who’s played well tonight, comes off for Pastore, in PSG’s final change.
2 Apr 2014
9:30PM
With less than five minutes of normal time remaining, Chelsea don’t look like scoring.
Then again, 2-1 isn’t the worst result in the world for the London side.
2 Apr 2014
9:34PM
Ivanovic makes a somewhat desperate sliding clearance as the hosts push for a third.
Meanwhile, George Hamilton has just referred to Thiago Silva as the “Lone Ranger”.
2 Apr 2014
9:35PM
GOAL FOR PSG!
2 Apr 2014
9:37PM
PSG 3-1 Chelsea:Pastore wriggles away from about three defenders at the byline and squeezes the ball into the net from the tightest of angles (90 mins).
That’s going to make life very difficult for Mourinho’s side now.
As it happened: PSG v Chelsea, Champions League
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PSG 3-1 Chelsea (FT)
Real Madrid 3-0 Borussia Dortmund (FT)
Hello, and welcome to our liveblog of tonight’s game.
We’ll have team news for you shortly and we’ll also be keeping you up to date with what’s happening in the Real Madrid-Dortmund clash.
The team news for both games is in…
PSG: Sirigu, Jallet, Alex, Thiago Silva, Maxwell, Verratti, Thiago Motta, Matuidi, Cavani, Ibrahimovic, Lavezzi. SUBS: Douchez, Cabaye, Marquinhos, Digne, Rabiot, Pastore, Lucas Moura.
CHELSEA: Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Ramires, Luiz, Willian, Oscar, Hazard, Schurrle. SUBS: Schwarzer, Lampard, Torres, Mikel, Ba, Ake, Kalas.
REAL MADRID: Casillas, Carvajal, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Fabio Coentrao, Modric, Alonso, Isco, Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo. SUBS: Diego Lopez, Varane, Casemiro, Nacho, Morata, Illarramendi, Jose Rodriguez.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND: Weidenfeller, Piszczek, Hummels, Papastathopoulos, Durm, Kehl, Sahin, Grosskreutz, Mkhitaryan, Reus, Aubameyang. SUBS: Langerak, Friedrich, Hofmann, Jojic, Kirch, Schieber, Duksch.
Robbie Keane is on punditry duty for Fox Sports tonight…
H/T Robbie Keane/Facebook.
My colleague Ben Blake has previewed tonight’s Champions League action:
Chelsea are in the French capital for a quarter-final tie with Ligue 1 powerhouses Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes tonight.
PSG, 13 points clear at the top of their domestic table, will be led by the talismanic Zlatan Ibrahimovic — who has scored 40 goals this season in all competitions and comes up against his former mentor Jose Mourinho.
The Swede famously wrote in his book that he would “die” for Mourinho having worked under him at Inter Milan.
Now 32, Ibrahimovic said yesterday that a move to the Premier League would be “impossible” but gets another chance to show English fans why he is classed as one of the finest strikers in the world against the Blues this evening.
Check out more talking points here.
We’re underway…
GOAL FOR PSG!
PSG 1-0 Chelsea: Poor header from John Terry to Lavezzi on the edge of the area.
The attacker gives the goalkeeper no chance with a brilliant left-footed strike into the top corner (3 mins).
Real Madrid 1-0 Dortmund: There’s an early goal in the other game as well, with Gareth Bale giving the Spanish side the lead (3 mins).
Chelsea have no natural strikers on the field, and started this game with quite a defensive set-up.
But they may need to revise that strategy slightly now that the French champions have taken the lead.
The atmosphere is noticeably impressive, with PSG giving the crowd plenty to shout about in the early stages.
That said, Chelsea have just earned a second consecutive corner, though as I type, the French side deal with it comfortably and clear.
Ramires has just been booked for a cynical foul on Lavezzi.
The midfielder will now be suspended for the second leg at Stamford Bridge.
Still 1-0 and PSG look very comfortable right now.
Chelsea have barely threatened, though the hosts have still felt the need to make a tactical switch, with Ibrahimovic now playing a little deeper than before.
Chelsea are finally coming into this game a little more.
David Luiz has just produced a clever turn, though his shot from distance is quite tame.
Gerard Depardieu is in the building…
Swift counter-attack from PSG, as a well-judged through ball is played up to Lavezzi.
The striker can only find the side netting with his finish.
GOAL FOR CHELSEA!
GOAL FOR REAL MADRID!
Chelsea 1-1 PSG: Thiago Silva makes a rash challenge on Oscar in the box and Hazard steps up to coolly slot away the subsequent penalty (25 mins).
Advantage Chelsea!
Real Madrid 2-0 Dortmund: Isco has doubled the advantage of Carlo Ancelotti’s side (26 mins).
A heart-in-mouth moment as Cech comes for the ball from a corner and Azpilicueta nervously heads it away from him.
Chelsea’s defence has looked uncharacteristically unstable at times tonight.
Willian produces a pinpoint cross to Hazard. The Belgian international’s well-executed volley comes off the post and bobbles away to safety.
Chelsea undoubtedly have the momentum now.
Shouts for a penalty as Cavani goes down in the box as a cross is flighted in, with Cahill in close proximity.
Judging by replays, both players seem to have slipped at the vital moment, so it’s probably the correct decision from the referee.
The PSG players are not happy though.
HALF-TIME: PSG 1-1 CHELSEA
HALF-TIME: REAL MADRID 2-0 DORTMUND
Ibrahimovic might be the new Ronaldo in one sense.
Dunphy is currently laying into him for contributing “nothing”.
Joey Barton is similarly unimpressed.
The second half is underway…
PSG slightly on top at the start of this second half, with no real chances for either side.
Fernando Torres is currently warming up and could soon be set to come on for Chelsea.
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy (left) in the stands with Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay.
The crowd are growing increasingly frustrated, as a series of stoppages disrupt the flow of the game.
Meanwhile, the false 9 system is no more, with Torres replacing Schurrle.
Real Madrid 3-0 Dortmund: Cristiano Ronaldo gets Madrid’s third (58 mins).
The game and possibly the tie looks all over.
GOAL FOR PSG!
PSG 2-1 Chelsea: David Luiz gives away a needless free-kick.
It’s then dangerously flighted in and the retreating Luiz can only help it into the net for an own goal (60 mins).
Ibrahimovic is currently limping off after pulling up while running unchallenged.
It’d be a huge blow for PSG if he had to come off.
Lucas Moura has replaced Ibrahimovic, who goes straight down the tunnel.
An uphill task for PSG has just got even more daunting for the French side without their best player.
Frank Lampard has replaced Oscar, as Chelsea go in search of an equaliser.
Less than 20 minutes remain…
Good skillful dribble from Lucas, but he then gives it to Cavani, who seems to get his feet tied up, allowing Cahill to intercept the ball easily.
Shortly thereafter, the injured Verrati comes off for ex-Newcastle man Yohan Cabaye.
Substitute Torres carries the ball forward, but he’s outnumbered and easily concedes possession.
The Spaniard has had little impact since coming on.
PSG very close to making it 3. Cavani evades the despairing lunge of Cahill, but his shot curls marginally to the wrong side of the post.
Meanwhile, Lavezzi, who’s played well tonight, comes off for Pastore, in PSG’s final change.
With less than five minutes of normal time remaining, Chelsea don’t look like scoring.
Then again, 2-1 isn’t the worst result in the world for the London side.
Ivanovic makes a somewhat desperate sliding clearance as the hosts push for a third.
Meanwhile, George Hamilton has just referred to Thiago Silva as the “Lone Ranger”.
GOAL FOR PSG!
PSG 3-1 Chelsea: Pastore wriggles away from about three defenders at the byline and squeezes the ball into the net from the tightest of angles (90 mins).
That’s going to make life very difficult for Mourinho’s side now.
FULL-TIME: PSG 3-1 CHELSEA
Right, that’s all from me, but we’ll have more reaction shortly.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
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